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State Patrol releases numbers for first year of change to texting and driving law

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The first year of a measure designed to crackdown on distracted driving in Iowa resulted in State Patrol Troopers issuing more than 1,100 citations to motorists.

A law that made texting while driving a “primary” offense took effect on July 1, 2017. “Since that time, Troopers in Iowa have written 1,131 citations for texting while driving,” according to Sergeant Nate Ludwig. “That compares to only 182 violations the year before, when it was a secondary violation.”  Prior to the last year, officers could only issue a citation for texting while driving if the officer stopped the driver for another offense.

The figure released today by the patrol indicates Troopers, over the last year – on average, issued three texting while driving citations per day. “Hopefully these numbers will make an awareness for people to know that it is still happening, we’re on the lookout for it, and we need these numbers to go back down,” Ludwig says. The tally only covers the tickets handed out by the Patrol, NOT the citations also issued by local police and sheriff’s deputies across Iowa.

“I think the interesting thing would be to tally every single agency in the state of Iowa, just to see how big of a problem it really is,” Ludwig says. “Because, if in one year just one agency is writing 1,131 tickets, it would be interesting to see…of all the agencies – city and county – how many tickets there would be.” Ludwig says most motorists in Iowa are aware of the new law, but many don’t have a full understanding of it.

“People still think that they can pull up to a stop sign or stop light, grab their phone, and surf the net or send a text message or receive a message,” Ludwig says. “The state law is you have to be off the traveled portion (of the road) and at a complete stop in order to use your phone to do those specific things.”

Motorists who are caught texting while driving in Iowa can face a fine of over $100.

 

Extra officers out looking for distracted drivers this holiday

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A special traffic enforcement effort is underway this Memorial Day weekend called the Crash Awareness and Reduction Effort, or CARE.

Iowa State Patrol Trooper Vince Kurtz says extra officers will be out on the roadways with the main focus on speed and distracted driving.

The DOT reports that 106 people have died in accidents on Iowa roads so far this year. Kurtz says the numbers are nearly the same from last year. He says the total is a relative number because one death on the roadways is too many. Kurtz says you have to look beyond the numbers to see the real impact.

“You go and talk to a family member who has lost a loved one in a crash and ask them how many fatalities are too many in Iowa each year,” Kurtz says, “and their answer is going to be ‘one.’ It’s their family member who no longer is around — that one is too many.” He says the goal for the Iowa State Patrol is to always strive for zero fatalities and he says the extra officers on the roadways should serve as a reminder.

He says they want people to thing about slowing down, buckling up and having a sober ride. Two people died in Memorial Day weekend accidents on Iowa roadways last year.

(By Dennis Morrice, KLEM, Le Mars)

 

Fallen law officers remembered in annual memorial ceremony

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Hundreds of officers, family and friends attended the Peace Officer Memorial Ceremony.

Hundreds of law officers gathered in the rotunda of the Iowa State Capitol today for the annual ceremony honoring fallen officers. Rain forced the ceremony that’s normally held outside at the Peace Officer Memorial site up the hill to the capitol building.

Iowa Department of Public Safety commissioner, Roxann Ryan, opened the ceremony to honor six fallen officers. “This is always a time for heartfelt remembrance and a time to thank all of the peace officers who are here today. And every officer who serves across the state and across the country, and every retired peace officer who is here, so that we may show our respect for all of our law enforcement officers.”

Colonel Jeff Ritzman of the Iowa State Patrol read a description about how each officer died in the line of duty — with the most recent death being Pottwattamie County Deputy Mark Burbridge. “On May 1st, 2017, Deputy Mark Burbridge was shot after he and fellow deputy Pat Morgan transported two prisoners to the Pottawattamie County jail from the courthouse,” Ritzman says. Burbridge died following the shooting.

Police cadets watch the ceremony from above.

The others honored are: Special Officer Timothy O’Brien of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad, who died October 2, 1893 after was shot by a man he found riding a freight train.

Special Officer Charles E. Crill of the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad, died March 17, 1917 after being shot while trying to apprehend a man breaking into a boxcar.

Deputy William A. Maxwell of the Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office, died November 16, 1919 after being shot by a pistol smuggled into the jail as he and his father Hugh who was the Sheriff, tried to feed the prisoners.

Deputy Robert McKinley of the Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office, died March 13, 1947 as he responded to an accident and his patrol car went into a creek bed.

Officer William E. Hickman of the Indianola Police Department died December 6, 1957. He lifted a drain tile while investigating an accident and that led an injury and a blood clot in his lung.

Audio: Colonel Ritzman’s information about the offices.

The family members or representatives of the officers were each presented a flag to honor the officer. Governor Kim Reynolds spoke about the fallen officers. “Their courage, valor and tenacity will be eternally captured on the monument, so that we, all of us may never forget their selfless sacrifice on behalf of others,” Reynolds says. The governor also spoke to the law officers in the crowd.

“We deeply appreciate your dedication, passion and bravery within this noble profession,” Reynolds says. “It is important to show our gratitude to all of those who serve protect us. In addition, we should recognize their families and loved ones as well. Because we know behind every uniform and badge is an officer who has others depending on him or her returning home after each shift.”

The Iowa State Patrol Honor Guard stood outside on the state capitol steps for the 21 gun salute. The Peace Officer Memorial was moved in 2012 and now sits down the hill from the Iowa State Capitol near the Department of Public Safety building.

 

 

Many people still text and drive in Iowa despite law change

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April has been distracted driving awareness month and a state trooper says it continues to be a problem across the country and in Iowa.

Sergeant Nathan Ludwig with the Iowa State Patrol says they see motorists texting driving every day on Iowa’s roadways despite a change in law that makes it illegal.

“It just seems like everybody is doing it because people just can’t seem to get that phone out of their hand,” Ludwig says. The law changed last July 1st so law enforcement officers don’t have to pull over violators for something else to charge them with texting and driving.

“Just since last July 1st, just the Iowa State Patrol we’ve written 915 citations so far and those are just the ones we’ve actually seen and gotten stopped,” Ludwig says. Ludwig says texting while driving can be a tough law to enforce.

“It is hard to get up right beside someone and actually see their fingers texting on the phone,” Ludwig says. “for us, it’s unless they actually put their phone up to their ear and they’re dialing a number or talking, then it’s pretty obvious that they’re texting or doing something else on their phone.” Sergeant Ludwig believes auto manufacturers contribute to the distracted driving problem with the other things in cars.

“People don’t look down the road when they’re driving. They’re relying on sensor on their vehicle, they rely on their GPS, and they don’t look at road signs. We’re distracted from kids in the car, movies in the car, and I see people putting on makeup or eating breakfast or doing something in their car all the time,” Ludwig says.

He says the Patrol’s biggest advice to people is to get stuff done ahead of time and then get in your car and just drive. A common misconception is that it’s legal to text when stopped at a stop sign or stoplight. Ludwig says you can only legally text while behind the wheel when your car is off the traveled portion of the roadway and at a complete stop.

(By Mark Freie, KLMJ, Hampton)

 

Law officers put together holiday food packages for the needy

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Putting together food packages.

About two dozen Des Moines police officers and Iowa State Patrol troopers packaged Thanksgiving meals at the Food Bank of Iowa in Des Moines this morning in an event called “Arrest Hunger”.

It took about 20 minutes for officers to assemble the 150 meal kits that food will be distributed to families in need in all of Iowa’s 99 counties, plus a couple dozen more in Des Moines. Colonel Jeff Ritzman is the Chief of the Iowa State Patrol says it’s their way to help out.

“If we’re able to help with food security, I think there’s a great trickle effect to that and everybody benefits,” Ritzman says. Law officers raised the funds for the food and he says it is an opportunity to show law enforcement in a different role in the community.

The “Arresting Hunger” crew.

“Law enforcement has been portrayed in a negative light in some ways and this is really an opportunity for us to do something that everyone sees as positive,” according to Ritzman.

The kits include a frozen turkey and other traditional Thanksgiving fixings.

(Reporting by Clay Masters, Iowa Public Radio/ Photos courtesy of the Food Bank of Iowa)

Five rural counties to be targeted in an effort to reduce accidents

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Trooper John Farley.

The Governor’s Safety Traffic Bureau has identified five Iowa counties it wants to target to try and cut an increase in traffic accidents during the past year. Carroll, Marshall, Benton, Muscatine and Plymouth County are part of the project known as the “High Five Rural Traffic Safety Program.”

Iowa State Patrol trooper, John Farley, says for Plymouth County making the list was based on the number of accidents — not just accidents resulting in a death.

“Plymouth County only had three fatality accidents last year — but there was 80 personal injury accidents or fatalities total. And that does represent kind of a large number for the population — so per capita,” Farley says. “Sixteen of those accidents did occur within the city limits of Le Mars, but the other 64 did happen outside of Le Mars, or in the county areas.”

Farley says for Plymouth County and the others on the “High Five” list, they will do some additional patrolling of the county’s roads and highways. He says they will work projects throughout the year and focusing on impaired drivers. Farley says it’s not just drunk driving. It will be drivers impaired by alcohol, narcotics and prescription drugs.

The Iowa State Patrol trooper says in addition to a step up of enforcement activity, there will be several educational and informative ads. Farley says they will focus on driver’s ed programs and give educational talks to civic organizations. Farley says in addition to watching for impaired drivers, the “High Five” program will look for distracted driving, primarily those drivers that are texting while driving, and drivers who are speeding.

“We’ve said it before — speed kills. We’ve always heard that and it still is.The number one factor in accidents is speed related,” Farley says.

The Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau says 72 percent of the fatal crashes in Iowa in 2015 occurred on secondary rural roads. Rural roads make up approximately 79 percent of the total roadways in the state.

(Story and photo by Dennis Morris, KLEM, Le Mars)

Trooper hopes more awareness leads to less texting and driving

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Iowa’s new distracted driving law is nearly one month old. It allows police to pull drivers over if they are spotted texting behind the wheel.

Iowa State Patrol Trooper Alex Dinkla admits it can be difficult for law enforcement officers to see obvious signs of texting – especially on interstates and highways when vehicles are moving so fast.

Dinkla says the ultimate goal is increasing roadway safety, so simply warning drivers about the dangers of texting and driving should go a long way.

“Our statistics already show that a person driving distracted, texting and driving, looks away from the steering wheel for approximately five seconds – that is the distance of covering a full length football field at 55 miles an hour,” Dinkla said. “So, that is a long time for a person to be looking away from their steering wheel that they could possibly have a really bad accident.”

The new law still lets people use an electronic device to talk or to navigate with some sort of GPS app. Dinkla said officers will need solid evidence if a driver wants to challenge a texting ticket in court. “All of our vehicles are equipped with video cameras, so anytime we would see a person who might be texting and driving, those things might be videotaped and offered as evidence,” Dinkla said. “Also, we will ask a driver, ‘were you texting and driving?’ Those admissions would be used as well.”

Recently, the State Patrol issued a warning that troopers may be disguising themselves in order to catch distracted drivers. Dinkla suggested that might involve plain clothes officers in unmarked vehicles or a trooper monitoring traffic from a bulldozer in a construction zone. The fine for a texting-while-driving ticket is $30.

State Patrol using several methods to catch texting drivers

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The Iowa State Patrol is warning motorists that troopers are getting creative in efforts to enforce the state’s new distracted driving law.

Trooper Alex Dinkla says drivers should think twice about picking up their cell phone, even if they don’t see a marked state patrol vehicle in the area.

Troopers in each district are coming up with ways to disguise themselves in order to catch drivers breaking the new law. “In eastern Iowa, they’re doing an effort with an undercover RV…so troopers will be riding in the motor home and looking out the window as they head down the interstate, looking for those violations,” Dinkla said. “We might have a trooper sitting on a bulldozer in a construction zone area.”

The Iowa State Patrol is also getting help from DNR officers in their marked DNR trucks. They’re calling troopers if they spot texting drivers. According to Dinkla, these initiatives are all about increasing safety on Iowa’s roads.

“That is ultimately our goal whenever we’re out enforcing these violations – we are trying to reduce accidents and reduce fatality accidents,” Dinkla said. Motorists are often on the lookout for marked law enforcement vehicles so they can quickly put their phone down until the uniformed officers are no longer in sight. Dinkla is hoping the threat of an undercover or disguised officer will encourage motorists to keep their focus on the road at all times.

“If they think about that device and they’re going to grab that device, they might think twice about it, because they never know where an officer might be looking from,” Dinkla said. The state law, which took effect July 1, makes text and app use a primary offense, meaning police can pull over and ticket a driver who is spotted texting or checking email with their phone.

The fine for a texting-while-driving ticket is $30.

State Patrol handing out phone signal blockers to help prevent accidents

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Studies find one in every four car accidents is caused by texting and driving and it will soon become much easier for Iowa law officers to pull over and ticket texters.

Iowa Highway Patrol Sergeant Scott Bright says the state’s received a donation of 1,000 signal-blocking devices called CELLslips which are being given away at all patrol district offices this week.

“What these CELLslips will do is prevent an incoming text message or having your phone ring,” Bright says. “It’s going to give that person that’s driving the opportunity not to be tempted to answer that phone or if they receive a text, to respond to that text as they’re driving.”

The CELLslips are bright red pockets with special linings that block all incoming and outgoing transmissions, be they phone calls, texts or app notifications.

“They are not cheap to produce,” Bright says. “We only have 1,000 of them. AAA has given us those and we’re going to get them out just to get the message across that texting and driving is a primary offense now. If you get the temptation, put the cell phone in its CELLslip and you won’t have that temptation because you will not receive the text or the phone call.”

The messages aren’t lost, they’ll just be blocked while your phone is inside the pocket. You will receive all voicemails, text messages and app notifications within seconds of removing your phone from the CELLslip. A new state law will go into effect this Saturday making texting a primary offense in Iowa.

“That basically means we can stop you, if a state trooper sees you out there texting while you’re going down the roadway or using social media,” Bright says. “Before, it was a secondary offense which means we had to observe another violation before we could stop you for texting but after July 1st, it’s a primary offense and we can stop you for texting while going down the interstate or highways.”

Being caught texting and driving brings a $30 fine, but when court costs and fees are added, the total reaches $127.50.  Studies find motorists are six times more likely to be in a crash texting while driving than drinking and driving. Also, more than 21 percent of teen drivers who were involved in fatal crashes were distracted by their cell phones.

 

 

Car stopped near Council Bluffs going 115 in 65 mph zone

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The Iowa State Patrol stopped a car near Council Bluffs going 115.

The Iowa State Patrol is reporting another “extreme speed” incident.

A trooper on Sunday clocked a vehicle on Interstate 80 near Council Bluffs going 115 miles-an-hour in a 65 mph zone. A picture of the radar reading and the car that was pulled over was posted by the Patrol to Facebook.

Patrick Hoye, Chief of the Iowa Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau, says that motorist is not just putting their own life at risk – but many others on the road.

“When a driver is going that fast, there is just absolutely no reaction time for them to stop,” Hoye said. “They’re in and out of lanes…it’s an extremely dangerous situation.” Other motorists who spot another vehicle traveling at such an extreme speed are encouraged to safely report it to police.

“What we ask citizens to do is pull over at the next exit, call the local sheriff’s department and alert them of that vehicle traveling at that extreme speed,” Hoye said. “A lot of times, that’s how law enforcement is notified if there’s no officers in that area.”

In recent months, the State Patrol has posted several photos of traffic stops on Iowa interstates involving vehicles clocked at speeds over 100 miles-an-hour.