Distracted Driving Citations Fluctuate in Iowa

State Patrol reports ups and downs in hands-free law enforcement in early 2026

Apr. 20, 2026 at 3:30pm

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An extremely blurred and abstracted photograph showing a driver's hands on a steering wheel, conveying the hazy, unfocused nature of distracted driving.As Iowa grapples with the challenges of enforcing its new hands-free driving law, the fluctuating citation numbers reveal the ongoing struggle to change driver behavior and improve road safety.Shelby Today

Iowa's new hands-free driving law, which went into full effect at the start of 2026, has seen a fluctuating number of citations issued by state troopers in the first few months of the year. After over 1,200 citations were given out in January, the numbers dipped in February before climbing back up again in March.

Why it matters

The new law aims to improve road safety by prohibiting the use of handheld electronic devices while driving. However, the changing citation numbers suggest drivers are still adapting to the new rules, highlighting the challenges of enforcing distracted driving laws and changing long-held habits.

The details

According to Iowa State Patrol Trooper Shelby McCreedy, 1,218 citations were issued in January for violations of the hands-free law. In February, that number fell to 1,141, leading officials to hope the trend was improving. But in March, the number of citations climbed back up to 1,194. McCreedy noted that warnings were also still being given out, with 808 in January, 1,009 in February, and 1,185 in March. She said the warnings and citations tend to be more prevalent in towns.

  • In January 2026, 1,218 citations were issued for hands-free law violations.
  • In February 2026, the number of citations fell to 1,141.
  • In March 2026, the number of citations increased to 1,194.

The players

Shelby McCreedy

An Iowa State Patrol trooper who has been monitoring the enforcement of the state's new hands-free driving law.

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What they’re saying

“We really kind of felt like the trend was people are adapting. But unfortunately in March, that number climbs back up to nearly 1,200. 1,194 citations were issued in the month of March. So obviously there's gonna be growing pains, there's gonna be a learning curve.”

— Shelby McCreedy, Iowa State Patrol Trooper

The takeaway

The fluctuating citation numbers in the first few months of Iowa's hands-free driving law show that changing driver behavior is an ongoing challenge. While some drivers may be adapting, the persistence of high citation rates indicates the need for continued education and enforcement to improve road safety.