The Hands-Free Driving Law is now in effect in Iowa, prohibiting drivers from using any electronic device with their hands while driving. Indianola Police Chief Brian Sher tells KNIA News this is a positive step for driving safety, and people using their devices cause too many accidents and injuries.

“What a dumb way to get injured or worst case scenario, get killed. It means you cannot hold your phone in any way. You cannot manually scroll, type, or interact with your phone in any way. You cannot enter an address into your gps while you are driving, pull over or do it before you start driving. No more Tik Tok from the car, because I see those all the time. You can’t view texts, videos, or social media at all. And you can’t text, call, or dial unless you are using a hands-free device on your phone.”

Chief Sher said from July 1st to December 31st they will be issuing warnings only, but starting January 1st, 2026, they will be issuing a $100 fine and the ticket is considered a moving violation.