Editor’s Note: In the interest of providing more engaging discussion, occasional double-editorials will present both sides of an issue. One will reflect the views of the board’s majority, and a dissenting viewpoint reflecting the views of the board’s other members. The following is the majority view:

Iowa legislators passed a bill recently which, if signed into law by Gov. Chet Culver as expected, would ban cell phone use while driving.

Well, sort of.

Teens without a full driver’s license would be forbidden from texting, reading e-mails, dialing, answering calls or using any other hand-held electronic device, according to the Des Moines Register.

In addition, drivers of all ages would be banned from texting, but for those with an adult license, it would be a secondary offense. Police could not pull drivers over unless they were suspected of breaking another law.

While the restrictions on minors, who are learning to drive, deserve discussion, we can’t help but feel like the restrictions on adults are another silly waste of government time and money.

It seems our state representatives have contracted “there oughta be a law” syndrome.

As described in the last episode of “House,” the only symptom of this deadly disease: seeing something that bothers you, and demanding that the government do something about it.

In this case, the culprit is texting while driving. While none of us would argue that cell phone use can distract drivers, how far is the state of Iowa willing to go in micromanaging citizens’ lives?

Up next on the legislature’s docket: The Brandon Boogle Ban the Burrito Bill, which would forbid fast-food restaurant drive-through windows by establishing the OWC criminal charge — operating while chowing.

Next on the chopping block is the age-old radio. Without a hands-free channel-changing device, drivers would be required to pull over to the side of the road and bring the vehicle to a complete stop before reaching for the dial.

Silly? We think so.

Perhaps an even bigger problem, though, is that once the legislature passes these laws, it then becomes the job of the police to enforce them. Instead of focusing on catching real criminals, our boys in blue will be patrolling the streets, on the lookout for commuters trying to text that they’ll be 10 minutes late for dinner.

The result? Wasted time, wasted effort and a reduced respect for the law.

Do Iowa laws need to be strengthened in order to prevent drivers from spending more time staring at their LCDs than out the windshield? Perhaps.

But a new statute shouldn’t be necessary, since the following seems like it would suffice.

Iowa Code 321.277: “Any person who drives any vehicle in such manner as to indicate either a willful or a wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property is guilty of reckless driving.”

Are you swerving across multiple lanes of Interstate 35? Running stop signs that you didn’t even know were there? Crashing into inanimate objects? Then it seems like you should qualify for a fine under the above statute — whether the cause of your distraction is a cheeseburger, GPS device, iPod or cell phone.