The countdown is over. As of July 1, 2025, Iowa drivers can no longer hold their phones while behind the wheel, marking a historic shift in the state’s approach to combating distracted driving. This groundbreaking legislation makes Iowa the 31st state in the nation to implement comprehensive hands-free driving laws, fundamentally changing how Hawkeye State residents interact with their devices on the road.
The Game-Changing Legislation Takes Effect
Starting Tuesday, July 1, it will be illegal for Iowa motorists to hold a cell phone, scroll through it or watch videos on it while driving. Governor Kim Reynolds signed Senate File 22 into law on April 2, 2025, culminating years of advocacy from families who lost loved ones to distracted driving crashes.
The hands-free law prohibits drivers from using electronic devices while driving unless the device is in a hands-free setting. This means drivers cannot hold their phone, type, scroll, enter GPS coordinates, stream video, view content, or make calls unless voice activated.
The timing of the bill’s signing held special significance. Reynolds chose to sign the legislation exactly two years to the day after Roland Taylor of Terril was tragically killed by a distracted driver, honoring his memory and countless other victims of preventable accidents.
What’s Different from Iowa’s Previous Law?
Until now, Iowa’s distracted driving regulations focused primarily on texting while driving, creating what law enforcement officials describe as a “gray area” that made enforcement challenging. Unlike Iowa’s past distracted driving law, which permitted law enforcement to stop drivers who are texting or using another electronic device, the new law doesn’t leave room for confusion.
Sergeant Alex Dinkla, public information officer for the Iowa State Patrol, explains the clarity this new legislation brings: “This new ‘hands free’ law says exactly that. Get that phone out of that hand. Find another place for it.”
Previously, drivers over 18 could handle their phones to make calls or use GPS navigation, while texting remained prohibited. The new law eliminates these exceptions, creating a uniform standard that’s easier for both drivers and law enforcement to understand.
The Six-Month Grace Period: Education Before Enforcement
Understanding that changing deeply ingrained habits takes time, Iowa lawmakers built in a transition period to help drivers adapt. Law enforcement will begin issuing warnings and focus on education starting Tuesday, before the law takes full effect on January 1st, 2026.
This approach reflects lessons learned from other states that have implemented similar laws. For the first few months, law enforcement will only issue warnings. Starting Jan. 1, 2026, they can issue citations with $100 fines. Dinkla said the initial grace period is to help change driver habits and educate the public about the new law.
During this educational phase, the Iowa State Patrol and local law enforcement agencies are distributing informational materials across the state, working alongside the Department of Transportation and various safety coalitions to raise awareness about compliance options.
Financial Consequences: Understanding the Penalties
When the warning period ends on January 1, 2026, the financial consequences become real. Beginning Jan. 1, 2026, using handheld personal electronic devices while driving will result in a fine of $100. If the incident results in an injury, the fine is raised to $500, and incidents that cause death will raise the fine to $1,000.
Violations of the new law will result in a $100 fine and also a moving violation, beginning January 1st, 2026. This moving violation status means the infraction will appear on driving records, potentially affecting insurance rates and accumulating points toward license suspension.
For more serious consequences, if a person is convicted of violating the law and causing a serious injury, a court could impose an additional $500 fine and suspend the person’s driver’s license. If someone causes a death because they were using their phone while driving, they could face a $1,000 fine and a license suspension.
How Law Enforcement Will Identify Violations
Many drivers wonder how police will determine whether someone is violating the hands-free law. Iowa State Patrol Trooper Ryan DeVault added his team is still talking over what designates pulling over a distracted driver, but said: “Obviously if a phone is in somebody’s hand for more than five seconds, and law enforcement here in Iowa were to witness that, that’s a pretty good indication that that phone is being used for something other than talking on and answering at the moment that phone rings.”
Law enforcement officials emphasize they won’t be conducting random stops based solely on phone usage. “Swerving in and out,” or “staying a long time at a stop sign,” would lead law enforcement to pull you over, according to Prairie City Chief of Police Kevin Gott. The law requires observable driving behavior that suggests distraction before initiating a traffic stop.
Hands-Free Solutions: Staying Connected Safely
The new law doesn’t require drivers to purchase expensive equipment to comply. People can use Bluetooth, auxiliary cables or phone mounts on their dashboard to use their devices hands-free. He said using speakerphone also works. Drivers can use several options to stay hands-free: phone mounts, auxiliary cables, speakerphone features, Bluetooth, and other voice command systems.
Voice activation becomes the key to legal phone use while driving. Drivers can still make calls, send texts, and use navigation apps – but only through voice commands or a single touch to activate hands-free mode. Video calling remains prohibited even with voice commands.
The Human Cost That Drove This Change
Behind every statistic lies a human story, and Iowa’s hands-free law exists because of families who transformed their grief into advocacy. According to data from the Iowa Department of Transportation, there were more than 900 crashes last year caused by drivers distracted by their phone or another electronic device.
According to the Iowa DOT’s crash data, distracted driving crashes have gone up by 43% over the last decade. These aren’t just numbers – they represent shattered families and preventable tragedies.
Peter Bengston lost his 28-year-old daughter Ellen while she was cycling near Charles City in 2020. “As a father, you’d do anything to trade places with her on that bike ride that day. She had her whole life in front of her. She was 28 years old. Her high school yearbook identified her as a person who would probably most likely cure cancer,” he said. Bengston says the man that hit Ellen was trying to buy a boat while reading social media when the accident happened.
Kristi Castenson lost her husband Dave and mother-in-law Velma in a crash a decade ago in Dayton. “This year, when we got the phone call, I was speechless. I mean, I was just so excited and happy, and it’s just I know Dave smiles down on us, and so is Velma. We did it,” said Castenson.
Evidence from Other States Shows Promise
Iowa joins a growing movement of states recognizing the deadly consequences of handheld device use while driving. Currently, 31 states ban handheld cellphone use while driving, according to an April 2025 report from the Governors Highway Safety Association.
The governor said that Iowa has become the 31st state in the country to have a “hands free” law on the books, and that neighboring states like Minnesota and Illinois have seen major decreases in car crashes since enacting similar laws.
Trooper McCreedy discussed the hands-free laws established in Minnesota and Illinois. In 2019, both states enacted these laws, leading to a reduction in traffic crashes. This data provides hope that Iowa will see similar improvements in road safety.
Economic Impact Beyond Safety
The legislation’s benefits extend beyond preventing injuries and saving lives. “According to a recent study, a 10% reduction in distracted driving in Iowa will prevent over 1,200 crashes, 700 injuries and six deaths, as well as over $50 million in economic damages.”
These economic savings come from reduced medical costs, property damage, emergency response expenses, and lost productivity. For a state already dealing with budget constraints, the financial benefits of preventing crashes provide additional justification for the new law.
Special Circumstances and Exemptions
The law includes reasonable exemptions for specific situations and professions. There are some exemptions in the bill for people like bus drivers, emergency responders and people driving farm machinery. The law also includes exceptions for emergencies and certain employees, like members of public safety and public transit employees.
These exemptions recognize that certain professions require communication while driving for public safety or operational necessities. However, the vast majority of drivers will need to adapt to hands-free communication methods.
Preparing for the Change
With the July 1 deadline now in effect, Iowa drivers should take immediate steps to ensure compliance. The Iowa Department of Public Safety recommends drivers familiarize themselves with their vehicle’s Bluetooth capabilities, invest in a phone mount, or practice using voice commands.
“Too many people are comfortable with the minute they get behind the wheel, that’s their time to be scrolling their devices, checking social media, responding to emails,” he said. “We need to get back and change that driver behavior to make sure that people are not tempted to grab those devices.”
The transition represents more than just following a new law – it’s about fundamentally changing the culture around driving and technology use. As Iowa State Patrol Colonel Nathan Fulk noted, “Every life lost to distracted driving is a tragedy.”
Looking Ahead: A Safer Iowa
The implementation of Iowa’s hands-free driving law marks a pivotal moment in the state’s ongoing battle against distracted driving. While changing habits won’t happen overnight, the combination of education, enforcement, and community awareness creates the foundation for lasting change.
As families who lost loved ones to distracted driving finally see their years of advocacy come to fruition, the law represents hope for preventing future tragedies. The grace period provides time for adjustment, but the message is clear: Iowa roads are about to become safer for everyone.
For drivers, the choice is simple – adapt to hands-free technology or face the consequences. For families like the Castenons, Bengstons, and Taylors, this law represents the possibility that no other family will have to experience their devastating loss.
The July 1 deadline has arrived. Iowa’s roads are ready for change. The question now is whether drivers are ready to embrace it.
