Police departments across the Des Moines metro will be conducting special enforcement of Iowa’s hands-free law on Friday, April 10.
It’s part of the first statewide push to have police departments — from state, county and local municipalities — specifically look for people using their cell phones while driving. Violations of the law can lead to a $170 fine.
Iowa saw the lowest number of traffic deaths last year since 1925, when the state began tracking data. Law enforcement told the Register in January that the historic number can be attributed to the hands-free law.
“If successful, I would anticipate more projects like this one in the future,” Tony Higgins, an Ankeny police officer and Secretary of Central Iowa Traffic Safety Task Force, wrote in an email.
When will Des Moines metro police departments conduct special enforcement of the hands-free law?
Special enforcement will run from around 8:30 a.m. to about 2 p.m., said Ankeny Police Department Sgt. Trevor McGraw.
McGraw confirmed that officers will be stationed throughout the metro, but a list of which cities are participating and enforcement locations was not available.
How are police officers enforcing Iowa’s hands-free law?
There will be static locations around the metro where police officers will be looking for violations of the hands-free law, McGraw said.
Officers will be looking through windows to see if a driver has a phone up to their ear or is visibly scrolling through their phone.
“Ultimately, the goal with this is to raise awareness and get people to stop using their phones,” McGraw said. Law enforcement officers hope changes in driver habits will continue to reduce accidents that lead to serious injury and death.
What is Iowa’s hands-free law?
Iowa Code 321.276 prohibits the use of electronic devices beyond a single touch while driving unless the device is being used in a hands-free mode.
If you’re using your phone to navigate, buying a mount to attach to your dashboard is recommended.
Des Moines Register reporter Kyle Werner contributed to this article.
Lucia Cheng is a service and trending reporter at the Des Moines Register. Contact her at lcheng@gannett.com or 515-284-8132.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Phones down, Iowa. Hands-free law gets special enforcement Friday.
Reporting by Lucia Cheng, Des Moines Register / Des Moines Register
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