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News
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Texting
While
Driving Ban and New Seat Belt Law Take Effect
Posted 1 July
2010
On the steps of the
State Capitol, Governor Chet Culver today reminded Iowans that two new
highway safety laws take effect July 1 that affect drivers and
passengers. Both laws are aimed at saving lives and preventing serious
injuries by curbing two of the most unsafe driving behaviors – texting
while driving and not buckling up.
The event featured a Safety Teens Erasing Pain (STEP) presentation by
the Creative Visions Traffic Safety Team of Des Moines. STEP is
sponsored by the Iowa Department of Public Safety’s Governor’s Traffic
Safety Bureau to raise awareness about the importance of traffic
safety. Representatives from law enforcement, first responders, and
public and private organizations, as well as legislators, attended to
show their support of these important safety measures.
A new rest area sign was unveiled that features the Iowa Department of
Transportation and Department of Public Safety’s educational campaign
slogan: Curb it-Click it.
Governor Culver also reaffirmed his commitment to the law by taking
AT&T’s pledge to never text and drive. AT&T has been a leader
in Iowa and the country in reaching out to their subscribers and others
to prevent texting while driving through its “Txtng & Drivng…It Can
Wait” campaign. The campaign is a nationwide educational effort to
remind those who use wireless devices, especially young drivers, that
text messaging can wait – and should wait until after driving.
“We know distracted driving is an important challenge for Iowa drivers
because last year more than 6,000 people nationally died in accidents
related to it,” Governor Culver said. “Law enforcement will be
offering warnings this year, but every Iowa driver should know there
are real penalties in this law because keeping drivers safe on the
roads is a priority of this administration.”
Iowa’s new electronic communication device law prohibits all drivers
from texting while driving. It also prohibits teen drivers who hold a
restricted license (i.e., minor school permit, instruction permit,
intermediate license, or license issued to teens working but not
attending high school) from using any electronic communication or
electronic entertainment device while driving.
Iowa’s seat belt law was also amended by the legislature. Now, all
persons in a motor vehicle under age 18 must use a seat belt, safety
harness or child safety restraint system.
Iowa’s seat belt laws already require all persons, regardless of age,
to buckle up when in the front seat of a motor vehicle.
Starting Thursday, July 1, law enforcement officers will be issuing
traffic citations to persons 14 and older who violate Iowa’s seat belt
laws. Stepped-up enforcement activities are planned for the holiday
weekend, and officers will be looking to make sure everyone in the
front seat is buckled and that all children (under age 18) in the back
seat are properly secured.
Persons convicted of violating the Safety Belts and Safety Harnesses
law face a fine of at least $127.50. Persons convicted of violating the
Child Restraint Devices law face a fine of at least $195.
Today’s news conference also kicked off a one-year educational period
in which law enforcement officers will be issuing warnings to any
drivers violating the no texting while driving law and to teen drivers
using electronic entertainment/communication devices while driving.
To learn more about the provisions of these new safety laws, the
associated fines and possible sanctions to a person’s driver’s license,
visit www.iowadot.gov/curbitclickit.
“Curb it-Click it” is the slogan of the Iowa Department of
Transportation and Iowa Department of Public Safety’s year-long
educational campaign aimed at fostering compliance with these new laws.
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