Author: admin Published: July 14th, 2010
Jointly with the Governor’s Office, the Departments of Transportation and Public Safety launched the “Curb It-Click It” campaign in an effort to make Iowa’s roads safer. This campaign comes as a result of two bills passed by the Legislature: banning texting while driving and the youth seatbelt law.
Detailed information about Iowa’s seatbelt and texting laws can be found at www.iowadot.gov/CurbItClickIt
Curb It – Texting Ban
Curb It refers to the texting ban for drivers of all ages and a ban on electrical entertainment devices for youth drivers. The message that the Departments of Transportation and Public Safety want to send is that reading or writing a text can wait until you are at your destination, or until you can pull the car over safely. These bans were passed in House File 2456.
• Drivers under the age of 18 are prohibited from using an electronic mobile device or an electronic entertainment device. Exceptions are if the car is at a complete stop off the traveled portion of the roadway, or the electronic entertainment device is permanently installed in the vehicle or is operated through permanently installed equipment. This ban applies to persons with the following licenses and permits: a restricted license for a person between 16 and 18 years who is not enrolled in school, an instruction permit, an intermediate license, and a special minor’s license (also known as school permit).
• Drivers 18 years and over are prohibited from using a hand-held electronic communication device to read, write, or send a text message. They may use the device to make and receive phone calls, and the ban does not apply if the car is at a complete stop off the traveled portion of the roadway. The following individuals are exempted from the ban: a member of a public safety agency performing official duties, a health care professional in the course of an emergency situation, and a person receiving safety-related information including emergency, traffic, or weather alerts.
While the bans on both age groups became law on July 1, 2010, warnings will be issued until July 1, 2011. At that time citations will be issued, which are $30. Higher fines and possible suspension of license will be issued if the driver violates the ban and gets into an accident that results in a serious injury or death.
Click It – Youth Seat Belt Law
Click It references the youth seatbelt law (Senate File 2381), which requires all kids under the age of 18 to buckle up, no matter where they are sitting in the vehicle. If the youth is at least 14 years and not wearing a seatbelt, they will get the ticket, not the driver. Violations are a $100 scheduled fine. Previous law said that youth at least 6 years, but under 11 years, must use either a child safety seat or a seat belt.
While Iowa’s seatbelt usage rate is at 93%, it is lower for teenagers. The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration reports that six out of ten children who died in passenger vehicles were not belted. 
Tags: Curb it-Click it, seatbelt, texting ban, texting while driving
Category Public Safety |
Author: deanfiihr Published: June 24th, 2010
A number of new laws will go into effect on July 1, the start of the state’s fiscal year. Several changes were made during the 2010 legislative session that will affect Iowans, including new seat belt requirements for kids in the back seat, a ban on text messaging while driving, and new protections for victims of domestic abuse.
Some of the changes taking effect on July 1 include:
Support for Small Businesses – Focuses state job creation efforts on small Iowa businesses instead of large Wall Street companies by increasing the Research Activities Credit available for small businesses. (Senate File 2380)
Domestic Abuse – Forfeiture of Guns – If a person is convicted of domestic abuse or is the subject of a permanent protective order, the person will lose the ability to own guns. (Senate File 2357)
Texting Ban – Drivers under the age of 18 years cannot use an electronic device while driving, unless it is installed in the vehicle or operated through permanently installed equipment. Drivers over 18 cannot use a hand-held communication device to read, write, or send a text message, but can use the device to make a phone call. The penalty for all ages is a $30 fine, with harsher penalties if in an accident with serious injury or death. Warning citations begin on July 1, 2010, and fines begin on July 1, 2011. (House File 2456)
Seat Belts – Requires all persons under the age of 18 years to use either a safety seat or seat belt unless all seat belts are already being used. If a person age 14 years or older is not using a seat belt, they will get the ticket, not the driver of the vehicle. (Senate File 2381)
Military Spouse Benefits – Allows unemployment benefits for an individual who left employment because of the relocation of the individual’s spouse due to a military assignment in another area. (House File 2110)
Grain Weight Limit for Farmers – Allows commercial motor vehicles, other than special trucks, on non-interstate highways, to haul up to 90,000 lbs. on six axles and 96,000 lbs. on seven axles. Currently allowed for livestock or construction vehicles, this allows farmers to haul heavier grain on trucks with more axles. (House File 2512)
Health Insurance & Cancer Trials – Insurers say they pay for routine care for cancer patients in clinical trials, but many patients are reluctant to participate fearing they will lose their health insurance. This bill makes it easier for patients to participate in these trials by assuring them that routine care will continue to be covered. (House File 2075)
Mental Health Hospitalization Notification (Ed Thomas Bill) – Assures that law enforcement are notified when individuals hospitalized for a serious mental impairment are released from care if there is an arrest warrant or pending charges against the individual. (House File 2352)
Smart Growth and Comprehensive Planning – Establishes a set of ten comprehensive planning principles that state and local governments should use in preparing for future growth. These principles are guides and are not mandates. (Senate File 2389)
Tags: domestic abuse, Health Insurance, Mental Health, New Laws, Public Safety, small businesses, smart growth, texting ban
Category 2010 Session Information |
