DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - Lawmakers in the Iowa Senate have taken a new route to address distracted driving across the state.
The Senate voted 27-22 Tuesday in favor of an appropriation bill for Iowa’s Department of Transportation. It would include $200,000 to go toward an educational campaign about the risks associated with distracted driving.
The bill now goes to the House, where legislation approved by the Senate to specifically crack down on texting while driving has stalled.
Republican Sen. Mark Chelgren, of Ottumwa, proposed an amendment to the provision, saying the money shouldn’t come from funds allotted to the department. He suggests the money should instead come from funds used for map creation in the state.
Sen. Matt McCoy, a Des Moines Democrat, says the department can afford to fund the campaign.
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