DES MOINES — Law enforcement and safety advocates — with Gov. Terry Branstad’s backing — are pushing for a tougher anti-texting while driving law as a way to reduce distractions that are helping drive up Iowa’s traffic death toll.

And, members of a Senate subcommittee looking to change current Iowa law to make texting a primary offense that by itself could trigger a traffic stop indicated they would also consider expanding Senate Study Bill 1002 to include restrictions on communications and other activities using hand-held devices while driving — if this extra provision wouldn’t kill the bill.

“We just feel that distracted driving is just far too big of an issue to pass the buck another year and not do something that’s going to make real change,” Amber Markham, legislative liaison for the state Department of Public Safety, told members of a Senate Transportation subcommittee considering the bill to make texting a primary offense carrying a $30 fine.

Read the full article on the Cedar Rapids Gazette website.