Persistence really does pay off.

If you have any doubt about that, talk to state Rep. Ann Meyer, R-Fort Dodge.

For more than four years she worked to protect all of us from distracted drivers who aren’t paying attention to the road because they are talking on their phone, texting or fiddling with some other electronic gizmo.

Her proposal was actually quite straightforward – outlaw the use of electronic devices by drivers unless they are in hands-free mode.

That seems so basic that it ought to have been the law since cell phones first came on the market.

A May 8. 2015, crash at Iowa Highway 175 and Samson Avenue in Webster County graphically demonstrated what can happen when someone is distracted by their phone while driving. Dave Castenson and his mother, Velma Castenson, were killed in that crash. The other driver was texting.

Inspired by that incident and similar horror stories, Meyer introduced her bill about four years ago. It didn’t get anywhere, so she tried again. And again. And again.

The seemingly common sense bill kept getting set aside, but Meyer persisted. She probaby annoyed some lawmakers. But she also started changing some minds.

Gov. Kim Reynolds endorsed the bill during her Condition of the State Address. Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird publicly announced her support.

State Sen. Jesse Green, R-Boone, was formerly opposed to the measure. But this year he publicly stated that he “did a 180” on it and voted for it. That change contributed to a 47-1 landslide vote in the Senate to approve it.

State Sen. Tim Kraayenbrink, R-Fort Dodge, also supported the bill.

When the bill finally came up in the House of Representatives, it passed 84-11. State Rep. Mike Sexton, R-Rockwell City, was among those voting in favor of the bill.

The long saga of the proposal ended last week when Reynolds sat down with a box of pens to sign it into law.

It goes into effect July 1.

Initially, law enforcement officers will be issuing warnings to violators. But starting on Jan. 1, tickets will be issued. Violations of the hands-free driving law will be punishable by a fine of $100, up from $45 under the current law. Someone who is on their phone and in an accident that causes serious injury will be subject to a $500 fine as well as possible suspension of their drivers license. In an accident that causes death, the driver will receive a $1,000 fine.