Starting Thursday, Jan. 1, Iowans caught handling a smartphone while driving could face a $170 citation, including the fine, court fees and other charges.
The hands-free law officially took effect July 1, but law enforcement officers have been issuing warnings rather than citations during an initial grace period.
By the end of November, Iowa State Patrol troopers had issued about 10,000 warnings, according to Sgt. Alex Dinkla.
Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau Chief Brett Tjepkes says the warning period was modeled after other states with hands-free laws, where a soft rollout helped educate drivers before full enforcement began.
Tjepkes says his agency printed about 60,000 informational cards explaining the law. The cards were placed in rest areas and driver’s license stations across the state, and were also distributed by law enforcement officers.
