(Des Moines) The Iowa Senate voted Tuesday to ban the use of handheld cellphones and other devices behind the wheel, while turning down an effort to extend the ban to drivers of farm implements.
A few minutes later, senators also voted to raise the state’s “default” speed limit from 55 mph to 60, a change that largely affects undivided paved highways.
Senators approved Senate File 22 on a vote of 47-1 with Republican Sen. Kerry Gruenhagen of Walcott as the only “no” vote. The bill expands Iowa’s current prohibition on texting while driving to any use of a handheld cell phone or other electronic device while driving.
State law enforcement officials have been asking for the change for years, arguing that the current law is difficult to enforce. While an officer may see a device in a driver’s hand, they typically can’t see whether it’s being used for text messaging or some allowed use, like navigation.
Sen. Tony Bisignano, D-Des Moines, proposed an amendment to eliminate an exemption in the bill for drivers of farm equipment, saying lawmakers should focus on safety for all Iowans on the roads.
The amendment failed on a vote of 13-35, with opponents arguing in part that the bill would not pass the House if senators expanded the bill.
Sen. Dan Zumbach, R-Ryan, said the bill needed to be narrowly crafted to make it through both chambers of the Legislature, and he said the legislation is focused on where there are problems. “I don’t think anyone has a statistic on distracted driving with a piece of farm equipment that created an accident. I tried to find those statistics. They’re not out there,” he said.
The bill now moves to the House.
Senate votes to raise speed limit
Senators also passed Senate File 378 to raise the speed limit to 60 mph on roads where a limit is not otherwise designated. Gruenhagen, who led debate, said the change brings Iowa in line with other states.
Gruenhagen cited the Department of Public Safety saying that the average speed on paved, undivided highways is 62 to 64 mph, exceeding the current limit. Opponents argued that drivers would go even faster if the limit were raised.
“It’s easy to state the reason for opposing this. Two words: speed kills,” Sen. Herman Quirmbach, D-Ames, said.
“I can feel the hypocrisy right now in this room,” added opponent Sen. Art Staed, D-Cedar Rapids, said, noting the focus on safety in approval of the previous bill.
The bill generated more opposition than the cellphone legislation, but passed on a vote of 36-12. It also moves to the House for consideration.
