Pull to refresh
Logo
Daily Brief
Following
Why Sign Up
Nathan Fulk

Nathan Fulk

Colonel, Iowa State Patrol

Appears in 1 story

Stories

The nationwide shift to hands-free driving

Rule Changes

Chief law enforcement advocate for hands-free legislation

Iowa and Louisiana flipped the switch simultaneously on January 1, 2026, ending warning periods and imposing fines on drivers caught holding phones behind the wheel. Iowa issues $100 base fines after distributing 10,000 warnings since July; Louisiana charges the same after a five-month grace period starting August 2025. South Carolina follows February 28, and Pennsylvania joins the enforcement wave June 5. The coordinated timing signals a nationwide reckoningโ€”33 states now ban handheld device use while driving.

Updated Jan 30