Iowa Legislature mulls tougher distracted driver law

Iowa is considering a stricter distracted driving law.

2013-03-13

March 13, 2013 (Press-News.org) Iowa Legislature mulls tougher distracted driver law

Article provided by Shanks Law Firm
Visit us at http://www.shankslaw.net

The dangers that distracted drivers pose to other motorists on our nation's roadways has received a lot of attention in the press lately, and for good reason. After all, common sense tells us that taking our eyes off the road is a dangerous behavior that dramatically increases the risk of a car accident. Unfortunately, Iowa drivers are not immune to such behavior. As a result, the Iowa legislature has proposed toughening its laws against distracted drivers.

The bill, Senate File 33, would prohibit Iowa drivers from engaging in many types of distracting activities while operating a motor vehicle. To accomplish this, the bill would repeal the current law that bans a driver from using a hand-held communication device to send, read or write a text message while driving. Additionally, if passed, the bill would also repeal Iowa's law banning young drivers from using cellphones while behind the wheel.

In place of the old law, the new legislation would create a new broad offense called "driving while engaged in a distracted activity." The legislation defines this phrase as "any activity that is not immediately necessary to the operation of the motor vehicle and that impairs, or could reasonably be expected to impair, the person's ability to drive safely." Although this offense would apply to a wide variety of distracting activities, it specifically would ban the use of a wireless telephone.

Besides the broad ban against distracting activities while driving, the legislation would make driving while distracted a primary offense--meaning that a police officer can ticket a driver whom he or she observes violating the law. Under the current law, it is a secondary offense--meaning the a police officer must observe the driver violating another motor vehicle law before he or she may pull the car over and issue a citation.

According to the legislation, a person convicted of distracted driving would initially be guilty of a simple misdemeanor and punished with a $30 fine. However, if the violation causes serious injury to another driver, the court may impose a fine up to $500 and a license suspension of up to 90 days. If the violation causes the death of another person, the fine could be up to $1,000 and the license suspension up to 180 days.

Consult an attorney

Due to the broad language that would prohibit a wide range of distracting activities, the legislation is controversial. Therefore, it is a matter of speculation as to whether it will pass. Thankfully, Iowa drivers have other means of legal recourse should they become injured by a distracted driver. Iowa law considers such behavior negligent, and holds the distracted driver liable for medical bills, lost wages and pain and suffering caused by his or her careless behavior.

If an inattentive driver has injured you or a loved one, it is important to seek the advice of an experienced personal injury attorney. An attorney can advise you of your right to compensation and work to hold the responsible parties accountable for their actions.

ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

2013 tax changes may spell confusion for small business owners

2013-03-13

2013 tax changes may spell confusion for small business owners Article provided by The Gartzman Law Firm, P.C. Visit us at http://www.gartzmantaxlaw.com After a no small amount of last-minute scrambling to avert the so-called fiscal cliff, Congress recently passed a number of changes to the federal tax code. Some of these changes, both good and bad, could have a significant impact on small business owners. While the potential for increased tax liability under the new plan is a major concern for many small business owners, some say the real challenge will be keeping ...

Tax payment plan vs. tax settlement: What's the difference?

2013-03-13

Tax payment plan vs. tax settlement: What's the difference? Article provided by The Gartzman Law Firm, P.C. Visit us at http://www.gartzmantaxlaw.com Many serious tax problems stem from a simple and relatively common situation: being unable to pay the amount due to the IRS. What many people who find themselves in this situation do not realize, however, is that being unable to afford a tax payment is not necessarily what lands a person in hot water with the IRS. Instead, it is how these individuals choose to deal with the situation -- or not deal with it -- that ...

Personal bankruptcy options: liquidation vs. reorganization

2013-03-13

Personal bankruptcy options: liquidation vs. reorganization Article provided by Purrazzella & Purrazzella, P.A. Visit us at http://www.purrlaw.com When financial difficulties turn from bad to worse and people fear they may never be able to catch up on their overdue bills, many turn to bankruptcy as a way to make a fresh financial start. While most people have heard of bankruptcy, many are unaware of how the process works and how it can benefit people who are struggling with unmanageable debt. What is bankruptcy? Bankruptcy is a legal procedure that helps ...

New technologies lead to new dangers on our nation's highways

2013-03-13

New technologies lead to new dangers on our nation's highways Article provided by Noel M. Ferris Visit us at http://www.noelmferris.net Over the past decade, cell phones have become an essential tool for people in nearly every walk of life. While these devices definitely have their benefits, they are also responsible for the emergence of a significant threat on our nation's highways: distracted driving. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 3,092 people were killed and an additional 419,000 people were injured in motor vehicle accidents ...

Rhode Island divorce: basic family law considerations

2013-03-13

Rhode Island divorce: basic family law considerations Article provided by Law Office of Hoopis & Hoopis Visit us at http://www.hoopisandhoopis.com When a couple plans to divorce in Rhode Island, the parties must address several legal topics that go beyond the relationship, itself. For example, litigants must assess property division, child custody and visitation, child support and other similar issues if they are applicable to the end of the marriage. Jurisdiction The first step in the process concerns jurisdiction. In Rhode Island, divorce proceedings ...

Guilty until proven innocent?

2013-03-13

Guilty until proven innocent? Article provided by Kenneth L. Baritz & Associates, P.C. Visit us at http://www.baritzlaw.com In the 2002 movie Minority Report, Tom Cruise's character, police Chief John Anderton, leads Washington D.C.'s "Pre-crime" unit that uses a trio of gifted humans ("Pre-cogs") to see the future and prevent crime before it actually happens. The Pre-cogs are trusted so implicitly in the year 2054 A.D. that future criminals are punished for crimes they supposedly would have committed before being stopped by police. While ...

Young drivers more likely to use cellphones while behind the wheel

2013-03-13

Young drivers more likely to use cellphones while behind the wheel Article provided by Goicoechea Law Offices Visit us at http://www.lawnorthwest.com/ To the parents of teenage children, the results from a national survey of drivers regarding cellphone use while on the road should come as no surprise. According to the research conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, more young drivers are involved in motor vehicle accidents while distracted behind the wheel. In addition, a large proportion of younger drivers answer phone calls while they ...

Adequate savings the key to financial wellness

2013-03-13

Adequate savings the key to financial wellness Article provided by Ferguson Scarbrough Hayes Hawkins & DeMay, PA Visit us at http://www.fspa.net No one ever plans to go into bankruptcy. To the contrary, a significant number of bankruptcies can be traced back to unexpected life events, like a job loss, divorce or illness. When these crises hit, the combination of interrupted income and added expenses can be financially devastating. When events like these happen, having a robust emergency savings account can mean the difference between weathering the storm ...

After foreclosure, "zombie titles" may haunt homeowners for years

2013-03-13

After foreclosure, "zombie titles" may haunt homeowners for years Article provided by Caldwell & Kearns, P.C. Visit us at http://www.caldwellkearns.com Six years after the collapse of the U.S. real estate market, thousands of homeowners across the country are discovering that they are still on the hook for houses they thought had been foreclosed upon years ago. According to a recent Reuters report, these so-called "zombie titles" are wreaking havoc on the lives of homeowners nationwide, resulting in garnished wages, lawsuits and even threats ...

Struggling with student loans? Bankruptcy may help

2013-03-13

Struggling with student loans? Bankruptcy may help Article provided by Enderton & Mathews, LLC Visit us at http://www.emlegal.net/ Since the recession began in 2008, many Americans have drastically reduced the amount of debt that they carry. However, there is one exception: student loans. According to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, there is $956 billion in outstanding student loan debt--an increase of almost 20 percent from the beginning of 2012 until the end. As it has been difficult for many students to find gainful employment following graduation, ...

Iowa Legislature mulls tougher distracted driver law

ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES: