
The FMCSA is threatening to withhold millions of dollars in funding from the Iowa Department of Transportation unless they step up their enforcement of texting and driving rules for commercial truck drivers.
As of right now, Iowa’s laws regarding commercial drivers texting and driving are not specific, and drivers pulled over for using their cell phone only receive a general citation for violating a federal rule. Because of this, the state of Iowa does not fall into compliance with the current FMCSA regulations, and the FMCSA has ordered the Iowa Department of Transportation to update their rules in order to issue specific citations that can be tracked on a driver’s record.
The FMCSA has warned IDOT that if they do not adjust their laws, the FMCSA would be forced to file a formal finding of noncompliance, which could put Iowa at risk of losing up to $35 million in federal highway funds.
“We recommend separately adopting these [cell phone] violations under a new, distinct code section that can be specifically cited, which will allow them to be properly and specifically identified and tracked on the driver’s record,” wrote IDOT in a proposal presented to the state legislature.
This means that, instead of Iowa’s current method where a truck driver pulled over for using a cell phone would only be given an unspecific general citation, the officer issuing the citation would follow a more specific code that would allow for the FMCSA to determine exactly what the truck driver was doing wrong, and whether it constitutes a loss of license.
“You can track that [the citations] and say yes that was for texting while driving a commercial vehicle or that was for using a hand-held mobile telephone while operating a commercial motor vehicles… and that would be properly assigned to determine whether their license should be disqualified,” explained DOT Director Mark Lowe.
Iowa state lawmakers have been asked to pass the new legislation some time in 2018.
“This won’t result in new restrictions on commercial operators but will only ensure proper record keeping under restrictions that already exist and are being enforced,” wrote IDOT.