Gov. Reynolds Signs Legislation Outlawing Handling Smart Phone While Driving

Governor Kim Reynolds signed legislation Wednesday (04.02) that will make it illegal to handle a smart phone while driving in Iowa, starting July 1st.

Reynolds said Iowa now becomes the 31st state to have such a law on the books. Those states include Minnesota, which saw a 31% reduction in crashes in year one of a similar law and a 25% in the second year. Illinois saw a 22% reduction in crashes in the first year and 6% in the second year.

Reynolds was surrounded by dozens of people for the bill signing ceremony, including families of Iowans who have died in accidents caused by distracted drivers.

Among them, Peter Bengston, whose 28-year-old daughter, Ellen, was on a Sunday afternoon bicycle ride just south of Charles City in August 2020 when she was struck and killed by a distracted driver, Colby Elliott of Clarksville.

Bengston says it’s been frustrating it took lawmakers so long to pass this law.

Bengtson is thankful for the Governor signing the bill into law Wednesday.

Starting July 1st, Iowa law enforcement officers may begin giving warnings to motorists caught illegally handling a phone while driving. Then, starting January 1, 2026, violators will be fined one-hundred dollars.