State lawmakers to debate texting while driving, the tracking of uninsured motorists

DES MOINES - Two transportation issues - whether police should be able to stop motorists for texting while driving and whether the state should be able to establish a registry of uninsured motorists - appear to be intertwined as state lawmakers begin debating their differences on the state's transportation policy bill.

A conference committee of state legislators from both parties met Thursday for the first time to discuss their differences on transportation policy.

Among them is whether to make texting while driving a primary offense, which was proposed by Senate Democrats, and whether to create a database of uninsured motorists, which was proposed by House Republicans.

Each policy passed with bipartisan support in one chamber, but neither was debated by the opposite chamber.

Rep. Brian Moore, R-Bellevue, said he would like to see both pieces approved in the final compromise bill. He said he thinks House Republicans will support the texting-while-driving element if they also get the uninsured motorist registry.

'We either take both, or we take neither,” Moore said. 'That's what's on the table.”

Sen. Tod Bowman, D-Maquoketa, said he is willing to discuss both policies but does not think their fates should be tied together.

'I prefer good policy in both. So if my colleagues have suggestions on either or both, then that's what I'm looking at,” Bowman said. 'I don't necessarily see this as horse trading. I don't think that's a great way to produce quality policy. …

'To hold one hostage for the other I don't think is a good way to proceed.”

A bill that would permit police to stop drivers for texting while driving passed the Senate, 44-6, on March 17.

A bill that would establish the driver's insurance verification program passed the House, 75-23, on April 8.

Bowman said Democrats on the conference committee also would like to discuss two more policies in the bill: one that would allow out-of-state trainees at a training center for truck drivers to obtain an Iowa license, and another that would place on disabled parking placards a large warning to not hang the placard while driving.

Moore said because those elements were in the bills that passed both chambers they should not be a part of negotiations.

'We'll see where things lead, I guess. If they consider those other two (policies), it's OK, we won't take any of it,” Moore said. 'We have to have compromise here.”