24/7 sobriety bill passes Iowa Senate William Petroski , bpetrosk@dmreg.com Published 5:42 p.m. CT March 9, 2017 | Updated 10:38 a.m. CT March 10, 2017 CLOSE
Twice daily sobriety checks part of S.D. program considered in Iowa An Iowa coalition has proposed that the state look at new ways to reduce drinking and driving. Kathy Bolten/The Register 636215722286445026-Freeway-photo.jpgBuy Photo
(Photo: William Petroski/Des Moines Register) 316 CONNECTTWEETLINKEDIN 3 COMMENTEMAILMORE
Drivers arrested or convicted of being impaired while behind the wheel in Iowa could be required to participate in a twice-daily sobriety monitoring program after a bill passed in the Iowa Senate Thursday.
Senate File 444 was approved on a 48-0 vote, sending it to the House. The legislation envisions a program similar to one in South Dakota and four other states that would require impaired-driving offenders to travel twice a day to a monitoring center for a breath test. Other testing, such as remote monitoring and patches, also could be used.
Offenders who pass the test can go about their daily routines. Those who fail would be jailed for up to 24 hours.
The proposed legislation would also expand Iowa's homicide-by-vehicle statute to include the use of electronic devices while driving. Drivers who are using a device such as a cell phone and cause a fatality could face a felony charge that carries a sentence of up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.
Iowa officials are concerned about the rising number of traffic fatalities on the state's roads. In 2016, 403 people were killed in traffic crashes in Iowa, the most since 2008. Public safety officials believe distracted and impaired driving are two causes for the increase.
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