Law enforcement agencies across Iowa issued hundreds of citations during the recent statewide crackdown on distracted driving as officials continue efforts to enforce the state’s relatively new hands-free driving law. The enforcement effort was organized by the Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau (GTSB) and took place from April 6 through April 10, in conjunction with Distracted Driving Awareness Month. During the five-day initiative, officers issued 551 citations and 329 warnings for violations of Iowa’s hands-free driving law, totaling 880 enforcement actions statewide. The effort was designed to educate motorists about the dangers of distracted driving while reinforcing compliance with the law, which prohibits the use of electronic devices while driving unless they are in hands-free mode. Since enforcement of the new law began on Jan. 1, authorities have issued more than 3,600 citations and about 3,100 warnings statewide. State safety officials attribute 2025’s historically low traffic fatalities at least partially to the new law.
