The Jasper County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) issued a warning to commercial vehicle drivers about watching videos behind the wheel after a recent distracted driving enforcement operation on I-80.
Between 12:30 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. on September 30, 2026, JCSO and the Iowa State Patrol (ISP) partnered for a distracted driving traffic enforcement effort on I-80 in Jasper County.
During the operation, officers were focused on identifying distracted drivers and commercial vehicle violations.
“Alarmingly, the majority of distracted driving violations involved commercial motor vehicle operators watching videos on electronic devices mounted on their dashboards,” JCSO said.
See below for results from the JCSO and ISP operation.
- 9 citations were issued specifically for distracted driving violations, with a majority involving commercial drivers actively watching video streams on dash-mounted devices while operating
- 3 commercial motor vehicle inspections were conducted, resulting in 1 commercial vehicle being placed out-of-service for safety violations
- 60 warnings were issued for various equipment violations and improper driving maneuvers
JCSO asked truck drivers to avoid distraction from videos while operating on Iowa roadways.
“Operating an 80,000-pound fully loaded vehicle requires a driver’s undivided focus. Seeing commercial operators watching videos behind the wheel of these massive vehicles is deeply concerning. These vehicles demand a driver’s full attention to prevent catastrophic crashes and ensure the safety of everyone sharing the road,” said Jasper County Sheriff Brad M. Shutts.
