House File 155 - Introduced



                                       HOUSE FILE       
                                       BY  GASKILL


    Passed House,  Date               Passed Senate, Date             
    Vote:  Ayes        Nays           Vote:  Ayes        Nays         
                 Approved                            

                                      A BILL FOR

  1 An Act relating to the use of wireless communication devices by
  2    motor vehicle operators and providing a penalty.
  3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
  4 TLSB 1828HH 83
  5 dea/nh/5

PAG LIN



  1  1    Section 1.  NEW SECTION.  321.363A  USE OF WIRELESS
  1  2 COMMUNICATION DEVICES RESTRICTED.
  1  3    1.  A person shall not do any of the following while
  1  4 operating a motor vehicle on a highway:
  1  5    a.  Operate or use a handheld cellular telephone or other
  1  6 handheld wireless communication device.
  1  7    b.  Use a wireless communication device to read, write, or
  1  8 send a text message.
  1  9    2.  This section does not apply when the motor vehicle is
  1 10 at a complete stop off the roadway.
  1 11    3.  This section does not apply to a member of a public
  1 12 safety agency, as defined in section 34.1, while using a
  1 13 cellular telephone or other wireless communication device in
  1 14 the performance of the member's official duties.
  1 15    4.  A person who violates this section commits a simple
  1 16 misdemeanor, punishable as a scheduled violation under section
  1 17 805.8A, subsection 6, paragraph "e".
  1 18    Sec. 2.  Section 805.8A, subsection 6, Code 2009, is
  1 19 amended by adding the following new paragraph:
  1 20    NEW PARAGRAPH.  e.  For a violation under section 321.363A,
  1 21 the scheduled fine is twenty=five dollars.
  1 22                           EXPLANATION
  1 23    This bill prohibits the driver of a motor vehicle from
  1 24 operating or using a handheld cellular telephone or other
  1 25 handheld wireless communication device while operating a motor
  1 26 vehicle on a highway.  An exception is allowed for members of
  1 27 public safety agencies.  The bill also prohibits a driver from
  1 28 reading, writing, or sending a text message while operating a
  1 29 motor vehicle on a highway.  The bill does not prohibit a
  1 30 driver from using a handheld cellular telephone or other
  1 31 wireless communication device or text messaging when the motor
  1 32 vehicle is at a complete stop off the roadway.
  1 33    A violation of the bill is a simple misdemeanor punishable
  1 34 by a scheduled fine of $25.
  1 35 LSB 1828HH 83
  2  1 dea/nh/5