A senate committee has unanimously approved more than tripling the fine for people caught handling their smart phone while driving.

Drivers gripping their cell to text or talk when they’re involved in serious accidents could have their driver’s licenses suspended for three months if the bill becomes law. Senator Jeff Danielson, a Democrat from Cedar Falls, said modern technology provides plenty of “hands-free” options for drivers.

“I am a fire fighter,” Danielson said during the Senate Transportation Committee meeting Wednesday afternoon. “…It is a pretty common occurrence on accident scenes to see the phone somewhere on the dash, in the driver’s seat on and clear that they were using it during the accident.”

Read the full article on the Radio Iowa website.