Local law enforcement has already handed out a number of warnings on new hands-free law
MASON CITY — It’s been about a week and a half since Iowa’s new hands-free law went into effect.
The new law means all drivers must use electronic devices in a hands-free setting. With the implementation of the new law, warnings will be issued from now until the end of the year, with the law going into full force on January 1st.
Cerro Gordo County Sheriff David Hepperly says his department has found a number of violators of the law out on the roads. “We have, especially the people that are just very open about violating this. You can’t be running down the road looking at your phone looking over the steering wheel, we have encountered that. Those are pretty egregious violations. We’re pulling people for that and issuing the warnings.”
Hepperly says he’s glad that the law is being phased in with a warnings-only period from now until the end of the year. “That way people hopefully will from the get-go will obey the law, but they will have a little bit of a grace period so to speak as far as not being ticketed with an actual monetary violation for six months. That will get everyone hopefully used to the new law and it will be safer for everyone on the road.”
Once the new law takes effect, a violation of the hands-free law will be $100. If a violation leads to injury, the fine increases to $500, and if it results in death, the fine is $1000.
