It’s been called a texting ban, but the new law impacting Iowa drivers and their phones goes beyond just texting. As of July 1, drivers are prohibited from viewing “images visible on the screen of a hand-held electronic communication device” including texts, instant messages, emails, games or websites. Viewing GPS information, as well as emergency traffic and weather alerts is still permitted.
Iowa City Police Department
Posted inCommunity/News
Iowa City fireworks complaints: a lot of noise, but little else
On Wednesday, Iowa City announced the city police department received 406 complaints about fireworks between June 1 and July 5, a massive increase from the 32 complaint calls the ICPD logged during the same period last year. But how many citations were actually issued?
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Iowa City wins $25,000 Amazon award for its Data-Driven Justice Initiative
Iowa City will receive $25,000 worth of cloud services for its Data-Driven Justice Initiative that works to keep individuals dealing with mental illness and substance abuse issues out of jail. The award is part of Amazon Web Services’ City on a Cloud Innovation Challenge.
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Iowa City police working to improve relationships with the community
The Iowa City Police Department is working to foster trust and improve relationships with the community by addressing racial profiling and bridging the gap between police officers and minorities, Iowa City Police Chief Jody Matherly said in an address to the Iowa City Council during its April 18 work session.
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Flag burning in downtown Iowa City led to confrontation, citations
Note: This article was published in 2017. Two citations were issued following a flag burning protest on the Iowa City Ped Mall on Thursday afternoon in which a FedEx delivery man intervened with a fire extinguisher to put out the flames and take away some of the flags. Protesters Kelli Ebensberger and Paul Osgerby received […]
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New Iowa City police chief hosting Coffee with a Cop on Friday
Coffee with a Cop Bruegger’s Bagels (245 Iowa Ave.) — Friday, Jan. 27 at 9 a.m. Iowa City Police Chief Jody Matherly, who was sworn into his new position on Monday, will be at the downtown Bruegger’s Bagels (245 Iowa Ave.) tomorrow morning to meet with community members for a Coffee with a Cop event. […]
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Iowa City man attempts to burn a flag in protest of Trump inauguration
Iowa City resident Andrew Alemao attempted to burn a flag Friday on the Iowa City Ped Mall as an act of protest against the Trump inauguration. Alemao was interrupted by a bystander who disapproved of the act and wrestled with him, trying to take the flag away. Police arrived quickly and diffused the situation. As […]
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Iowa City Police: ‘Tis the season for scams
The Iowa City Police Department has received daily calls about scams, especially those targeting the elderly, according to an Iowa City Police Department press release. The release included a list of advice, including never giving out personal information over the phone, never paying a fee to collect supposed winnings (as in a lottery or sweepstakes […]
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Altoona Police Chief Jody Matherly recommended for Iowa City chief
Jody Matherly, who has served as police chief in Altoona and Grinnell, Iowa, has been recommended as the new Iowa City police chief, according to a memo to the Iowa City Council. The council will make an official decision during its next meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 6, and Matherly would take over the role Jan. […]
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Politically-charged vandalism hits Iowa City neighborhood
Earlier this week, locations next to Horace Mann Elementary School, including the 116-year-old hall that houses the Preucil School of Music, structures at North Market Park and an apartment building to the west of the park, were vandalized with spray-painted racial slurs and political messages. Citizens reported the vandalism to the police on Monday and […]
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Iowa City police chief finalists and public meet and greet announced
Iowa City Police Chief Meet and Greet Senior Center (28 S. Linn St.) — Thursday, Nov. 10 at 6 p.m. Three police chief finalists will be in Iowa City next week for the final phase of the selection process, which includes a public meet and greet event on Thursday, Nov. 10 from 6 to 8 […]
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Iowa City Ped Mall shooting leaves one injured
One man was arrested following a shooting that injured one person in the downtown Iowa City Ped Mall around bar close Sunday morning. Around 1:58 a.m., an Iowa City Police officer saw people running near the intersection of Burlington and Clinton Streets. Police said there appeared to have been an altercation and learned that at […]
