One particular state is joining several other states in terms of setting a new rule for what citizens cannot do while driving in the state. Citizens in this state will have to say goodbye to doing something in particular while driving or they could face up to $1,000 fines. The bill was signed early on Wednesday, 2 April 2025, and this state will join the 30 other states that value the same law.
Which state has embraced a new bill?
The state of Iowa will be joining the 30 other states that have already embraced the “hands-free law”. Despite the fact that it has taken several years for the law to come into effect in this particular state, the bill was finally signed on April 2, 2025. On Wednesday morning, Governor Kim Reynolds signed the bill that prevents drivers in Iowa from using their phones while they are driving.
The bill came into effect after tragic stories surfaced of how reckless drivers were when they were using their cell phones and driving. The story of Peter Bengston’s daughter Ellen who was killed whilst riding her bike on the outskirts of Charles City in 2020 is one to be remembered. The man who had hit Ellen had been on social media attempting to purchase a boat at the time.
Despite the man who bumped Ellen admitting to being on his phone when the accident occurred, the law stated at that time that he could not be convicted. Since Iowa has embraced this “hands-free law,” it seems like the tables may be turning and there will finally be hefty fines for citizens who deliberately go against this law. Perhaps justice will finally prevail.
How does the new law work?
As per the new law, citizens will be unable to hold their phones whilst being behind the wheel. Phones will have to be switched to hands-free mode and citizens will have to rely on various voice activation features should they need to use their phones while driving. Despite the law being signed in April, the law will only come into effect in July.
From July up until January 2026, officers will be able to hand out warnings to those citizens driving while texting. However, from January 2026, fines will start rolling out to those citizens responsible for breaking the law. According to Governor Kim Reynolds, the law will be effective as Minnesota saw a 31% reduction in crashes during the first year that a similar law was enacted. Within the second year of having the law in place, Minnesota saw a 25% reduction in car crashes. Hopefully this will curb the problem of reckless driving in Iowa, however, drivers in another state could also be fined up to $350 for driving too slowly.
More about the fines that drivers in Iowa will face
As per Iowa’s DOT’s crash data, the number of distracted crashes has increased to up to 43% in the last ten years. While justice for Ellen cannot be served now, there is hope that other children and victims won’t face a similar fate as Ellen due to the enactment of this law.
Senate File 22 signed by the Governor of the State of Iowa talks about the use of cellphones in hands-free mode while driving. The fine for holding your phone while driving starts at $100. This fine has gone up from the initial fine of $45 that was charged under the current law. Citizens caught driving with their phones when a serious injury to another person is caused will be subjected to a $500 file. Besides the $500 fine, there is also the possibility of having their license suspended.
The fine for someone who has caused a death while driving simultaneously with a cell phone in hand is $1,000. While the fine seems hefty, it is not merely enough for the devastation caused by taking someone’s life unnecessarily. Ellen Bengston’s dad wishes that no other ghost bikes would be installed outside Charles City like the ghost bike installed in memory of Ellen. While fines are the order of the day for law breakers in Iowa, it would be interesting to find out why thousands of driver’s licenses will be suspended in another state.
