(Denison) On Friday, December 12, law enforcement officers across Iowa will focus on drivers using their cellphones behind the wheel. Iowa State Patrol Trooper and Public Information Officer Shelby McCreedy states that agencies across the state will be cracking down on motorists who violate the hands-free law while operating a vehicle.
Trooper McCreedy says since the law took effect 150 days ago, there have been 9,534 warnings issued amongst all law enforcement agencies across Iowa. McCreedy says the Iowa State Patrol has issued 45 percent.
Trooper McCreedy says that when the law first changed in July, 2,660 warnings were issued, compared to 1,555 in November. McCreedy says there is still some work to do before the grace period ends on January 1, 2026, and law enforcement will start issuing citations for these violations.
Beginning January 1, violators will be subject to a $100 fine plus additional fees. The hands-free law prohibits drivers from using electronic devices while driving unless the device is in a hands-free setting.
This means drivers cannot hold their phone, type, scroll, enter GPS coordinates, stream video, view content, or make calls unless voice-activated. Drivers can use several options to stay hands-free: phone mounts, auxiliary cables, speakerphones, Bluetooth, and other voice-control systems.
