The Iowa Senate passed several bills Wednesday, ranging from a speed camera bill to banning the use of fetal tissue.
First, the Iowa Senate approved a bill that would regulate automated speed and red light cameras in the state.
Senate File 220 was altered so that it's not an outright ban on the cameras as first proposed. Instead, it places restrictions on the cameras. Cities who want them would have to justify their placement. Revenue generated from the fines would have to be used for road construction.
A bill banning texting and driving also passed in the Senate with an overwhelming majority vote of 43-6.
Sen. Joe Bolkom, D-Johnson, said when it comes to punishing distracted driving, the bill does not go far enough.
"I just don't think Iowans are going to understand what we're doing here," Bolkom said.
Sen. David Johnson, I-Osceola, said this bill is a step in the right direction, but he thinks it needs to send a much harsher message.
"If you're not going to take a big step here, I would just predict we're not going back to it for a long, long time and there are going to be a number of people killed because of it," Johnson said.
The fine for texting and driving remain $30. If the violation causes death, the driver can be fined an additional $1,000 and lose their license for six months.
The Iowa Senate passed a bill ban the use of fetal tissue after no debate. The bill passed 43 to 6.
WEBVTT THIS POLICE SERGEANT WAS SO STUNNED TO SEE THE SUSPECT.STACEY: WE BEGIN AT THE STATEHOUSE WHERE THE IOWA SENATEPASSED SEVERAL BILLS TONIGHT.STEVE: A BILL THAT WOULD BAN ALL AUTOMATED SPEED AND RED LIGHT CAMERAS IN THE STATE.STACEY: SENATOR BRAD ZAHN INTRODUCED THAT BILL.HE SAID THE CAMERAS ARE MORE ABOUT THE MONEY GENERATED THAN ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY.ZAHN SAYS UP TO 46% OF VIOLATIONFEES IN IOWA GO TO THE TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT COMPANIES THAT ARE FOREIGN-BASED.>> REALLY WHAT HAPPENS HERE IS THE RICH CAN AFFORD THESE TICKETS AND THE REASON WHY, YOU GET AS MANY AS YOU WANT.IT DOESN'T GO AGAINST YOUR DRIVERS RECORD.DOESN'T GO AGAINST YOUR INSURANCE, BUT IT REALLY HITS THE LOWER INCOME PEOPLE DISPROPORTIONATELY.STACEY: AND THAT BILL IS UNDER CONSIDERATION IN THE HOUSE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE.ANOTHER BILL JUST PASSED WOULD ALSO IMPACT DRIVERS.STEFFANI NOLTE JOIN YOUS LIVE TOEXPLAIN THE NEW PENALTY FOR TEXTING BEHIND THE WHEEL.STEFFANI: STACEY, THE SENATE JUST PASSED A BILL THAT WOULD MAKE TEXTING AND DRIVING A PRIMARY OFFENSE.POLICE OFFICERS CAN PULL YOU OVER SOLELY FOR TEXTING AND DRIVING.>> THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE PASSAGEOF SENATE FILE 234 AS AMENDED WILL VOTE AYE.STEFFANI: 43-6.>> ONE THAT PEOPLE BACK HOME WILL SAY, OK, I LIKE WHAT YOU DID AND MAYBE WE CAN IMPROVE IT ON THE WAY OUT THE DOOR, BUT FORNOW, I THINK IT'S A GOOD MESSAGE.STEFFANI: MAKING A PHONE CALL OR USING THE PHONE AS A G.P.S. IS ALLOWED UNDER THE BILL?SENATORS SAY THE BILL DOESN'T GOFAR ENOUGH.THEY WANT HANDSFREE LEGISLATION.>> IT'S OK TO DO THIS.SUDDENLY IF I DO THIS, I'M BREAKING THE LAW.I JUST DON'T THINK IOWANS WILL UNDERSTAND WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE.STEFFANI: SENATOR DAVID JOHNSONTHINKS IT NEEDS TO BE HARSHER.>> THEY HAVE TO HAVE THEIR CONVERSATIONS RIGHT NOW ON THE WAY TO SCHOOL.SO I DON'T KNOW.IF YOU'RE NOT GOING TO TAKE A BIG STEP HERE, I WOULD JUST PREDICT WE'RE NOT GOING BACK TO IT.WE'RE NOT GOING TO FOR A LONG, LONG TIME, A NUMBER PEOPLE KILLED BECAUSE OF I T.STEFFANI: THE INSTITUTE OF HIGHWAY SAFETY, 15% FEWER PEOPLEUSE THEIR PHONE WHEN DRIVING IN STATES WITH ENFORCEABLE BANS.SENATORS HOPE THAT STATISTIC TRANSLATES TO IOWA.FINES FOR TEXTING AND DRIVING REMAIN $30, BUT IF THE VIOLATIONCAUSES A DEATH, THE FINE COULD GO UP TO $1,000 AND LOSE YOUR LICENSE FOR SIX MONTHS.NOW, THIS BILL STILL HAS TO GO TO THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.LIVE IN DES MOINES TONIGHT.STEFFANI NOLTE, KCCI 8 NEWS.
Source: Speed camera, texting while driving bills pass in Iowa Senate
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