Iowa couple urges state legislature to pass 'hands-free' cell phone law - KCCI Des Moines

1 year ago 37

SENATE VERSION OF THE GOVERNOR’S PLAN TOMORROW. A WASHINGTON COUPLE IS URGING THE STATE LEGISLATURE TO PASS A HANDS FREE CELL PHONE LAW AFTER THEIR DAUGHTER WAS KILLED BY A DISTRACTED DRIVER IN 2020. ELLEN BANKS, TEN, WAS RIDING HER BICYCLE OUTSIDE OF CHARLES CITY WHEN SHE WAS HIT. THE SUSPECT IN THE CASE WAS CHARGED WITH RECKLESS HOMICIDE BY VEHICLE, BUT THE CHARGES WERE DROPPED IN PART BECAUSE OF IOWA’S CURRENT TEXTING WHILE DRIVING LAW. COURT RECORDS SHOW THE DRIVER ADMITTED HE LOOKED AT HIS PHONE, BUT THE CURRENT LAW REQUIRES THE PHYSICAL ACT OF OPENING A NOTIFICATION INSTEAD OF JUST PASSIVELY VIEWING ONE. NOW, BANKSTON FAMILY IS PUSHING LAWMAKERS TO STRENGTHEN THIS LAW. ANYTHING THAT WE CAN DO WON’T BRING OUR DAUGHTER BACK. BUT WE DON’T WANT OTHER FAMILIES TO GO THROUGH WHAT WE’RE GOING THROUGH. YES, ANYONE GRIEVING PARENT WOULD KNOW WITH TIME YOU COULDN’T KNOW. YOU GET OUT OF BED IN THE MORNING AND YOU FIND JOY IN LIFE. BUT THERE’S A HOLE. THERE’S ALWAYS A HOLE. AND IT’S TRAGIC. THE BILL WOULD MAKE ALL CELL PHONE USE THAT IS NOT HANDS FREE BE ILLEGAL WHILE DRIVING. IT WAS INTRODUCED TODA

Iowa mates urges authorities legislature to walk 'hands-free' compartment telephone law

An Iowa mates is urging the authorities legislature to walk a "hands-free" compartment telephone instrumentality aft their girl was killed by a distracted operator successful 2020.Ellen Bengtson was riding her bicycle extracurricular of Charles City, erstwhile she was deed and killed.The fishy successful the lawsuit was charged with reckless homicide by vehicle.The charges were dropped successful portion due to the fact that of Iowa's existent texting portion driving law.Court records amusement the operator admitted helium looked astatine his phone, but the existent instrumentality requires the carnal enactment of opening a notification alternatively of conscionable passively viewing one.Now, Bengtson's household is pushing lawmakers to fortify the law."Anything that we tin bash won’t bring our girl back. But we don’t privation different families to spell done what we’re going through," Ellen’s parent Joann Bengston said. "As immoderate grieving genitor would know, with clip you get retired of furniture successful the morning, and you find joyousness successful life. But there’s a hole. There’s ever a hole. And it’s tragic."The bill, SF 60, would marque each compartment telephone usage that is not hands-free amerciable portion driving. It was introduced past Thursday and referred to a Senate subcommittee.

DES MOINES, Iowa —

An Iowa mates is urging the authorities legislature to walk a "hands-free" compartment telephone instrumentality aft their girl was killed by a distracted operator successful 2020.

Ellen Bengtson was riding her bicycle extracurricular of Charles City, erstwhile she was deed and killed.

The fishy successful the lawsuit was charged with reckless homicide by vehicle.

The charges were dropped successful portion due to the fact that of Iowa's existent texting portion driving law.

Court records amusement the operator admitted helium looked astatine his phone, but the existent instrumentality requires the carnal enactment of opening a notification alternatively of conscionable passively viewing one.

Now, Bengtson's household is pushing lawmakers to fortify the law.

"Anything that we tin bash won’t bring our girl back. But we don’t privation different families to spell done what we’re going through," Ellen’s parent Joann Bengston said. "As immoderate grieving genitor would know, with clip you get retired of furniture successful the morning, and you find joyousness successful life. But there’s a hole. There’s ever a hole. And it’s tragic."

The bill, SF 60, would marque each compartment telephone usage that is not hands-free amerciable portion driving. It was introduced past Thursday and referred to a Senate subcommittee.

Read Entire Article