Stories Related to Iowa Lawmakers, Advocates See Little Support For Gadget That Shows If You’ve Been Texting While Driving

Supporters of an Iowa law adopted earlier this year to curb distracted driving say privacy concerns likely will prevent law enforcement from using technology to determine if drivers were texting while operating their vehicles. Although the Iowa Legislature approved a ban on texting while driving, law enforcement officers who stop motorists who appear to be texting say drivers claim they were dialing a phone number or using their navigation apps — uses that are legal. A textalyzer — described as a breathalyzer for cellphones — could be used at a crash scene to determine if a phone was used around the time of the crash. “Looks like an interesting tool,” Linn County Sheriff’s Office Major John Godar said of the textalyzer that was developed by Cellebrite, an Israeli company.