Iowa House, Senate differ on laws regulating cellphone distractions

DES MOINES - Separate proposals being considered by state lawmakers differ on whether to ban drivers from making hand-held phone calls.

Bills in the Iowa House and Senate designed to address distracted driving worked their way through the chambers Tuesday.

A House panel advanced a bill that would ban drivers from making calls and using social media, email, and other forms of electronic communication, unless drivers use hands-free devices.

The proposal also strengthens the current ban on distracted driving by making it an offense for which officers can stop a driver. Currently, officers can only cite a driver after stopping the driver for a separate offense.

The Senate legislation was similar until, during a transportation committee meeting, the call ban was stripped out. That means making phone calls - including while holding the phone - would remain legal under the Senate proposal.

The call ban was removed from the Senate bill for fear it would jeopardize support for the legislation, said Sen. Tod Bowman, D-Maquoketa, chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee.

'So it's kind of one of those things you weigh. You can push and you can try to convince people. At the end of the day, you want to have the votes,” Bowman said. He noted the call ban could be amended back into the bill, if legislators desire.

The House Transportation Committee will consider its proposal Wednesday. Chairman Josh Byrnes, R-Osage, said he will gauge the interest of committee members on the Senate's version without the call ban.

Supporters say cracking down on distracted driving will make the state's roads safer.

'We're facing an epidemic when it comes to distracted driving,” Bowman said. He compared the distracted drivers he sees to drivers operating under the influence. 'They jeopardize the safety of the people they share the road with.”

Opponents mostly cite civil liberty concerns. The American Civil Liberties Union, for example, said allowing officers to stop a driver for texting is likely to lead to an inordinate number of stops of minorities.

Rep. Brian Moore, R-Bellevue, who signed off on the House bill Tuesday, said commercial truck drivers who are banned from making calls while driving have largely been supportive of the measure.