As of Jan. 1, 2026, under Iowa’s distracted driving law, fines start at $100 for drivers caught using a handheld cellphone. (Photo via Getty Images)
Drivers using their phones outside of hands-free or voice-activated modes now face a $100 fine as Iowa’s 2025 distracted driving law goes into full effect.
The measure, signed into law by Gov. Kim Reynolds in April 2025, expanded Iowa’s previous ban on texting while driving to ban all handheld use of personal electronic devices while driving. Iowa is the 31st state to enact a “hands free” law…