Transportation (Traffic Safety) in Iowa

in committee · Iowa · House Feb 24, 2025

HF 40: A bill for an act relating to mandatory revocation of driver’s licenses, including immediate revocation for certain excessive speed violations.

HF 40 mandates a 30-day driver's license revocation for Iowa drivers convicted of exceeding 100 miles per hour. It specifically requires immediate license seizure by peace officers when a driver is cited for 100+ mph speeding, with a temporary 10-day license issued pending formal revocation. The bill prohibits temporary restricted licenses during this 30-day revocation period and applies to first-time offenses of this speed violation. This change expands mandatory revocation to include high-speed offenses beyond existing provisions for reckless driving or drag racing.

Topics ✓ Transportation

Sub-Topics Driver Licensing Traffic Safety

in committee · Iowa · House Mar 5, 2025

HF 3: A bill for an act relating to the collection of fines issued for excessive speed violations detected by an automated or remote system for traffic law enforcement, and including applicability provisions.

HF 3 prohibits local authorities in Iowa from contracting with third parties to collect fines for speeding violations detected by automated traffic enforcement systems (like speed cameras). It also prevents these unpaid fines from being treated as "qualifying debt" for setoff against tax refunds or other public payments under state law. The bill directly affects local governments using automated speed enforcement and vehicle owners who receive citations from these systems. Key provisions apply to all contracts entered after the bill's effective date and to all unpaid fines from such violations, regardless of when the ticket was issued. This changes how these specific civil penalties are handled, keeping collection within local authorities and preventing automatic deductions from state payments.

Topics ✗ Transportation

Sub-Topics Traffic Safety

died · Iowa · House Mar 9, 2026

HF 162: A bill for an act requiring employees of the department of transportation to provide a specimen for alcohol and drug analysis following a motor vehicle accident or collision resulting in injury or death, and making penalties applicable.

HF 162 requires employees of the Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) to provide a urine specimen for alcohol and drug testing within two hours after operating a state-owned vehicle in an accident causing injury or death. The bill applies specifically to DOT workers involved in such collisions while driving state vehicles, mandating testing under the same procedures used for standard DUI cases (Chapter 321J). Employees may pay for an independent test but cannot block the use of the initial test results, and failure to comply is a simple misdemeanor punishable by up to 30 days in jail or a $855 fine. The bill does not apply if standard DUI testing already occurred under existing law.

Topics ✓ Transportation

Sub-Topics Traffic Safety

in committee · Iowa · House Apr 3, 2025

HF 569: A bill for an act relating to mandatory revocation of driver’s licenses, including immediate revocation for certain excessive speed violations.

HF 569 requires immediate revocation of Iowa driver's licenses for drivers caught speeding at 100 miles per hour or more. Peace officers can take the license on the spot, issue a 10-day temporary license, and send it to the Department of Transportation. The license is revoked for 30 days with no option for a temporary restricted license during that period. This applies specifically to drivers exceeding 100 mph, not other speeding violations.

Topics ✓ Transportation

Sub-Topics Driver Licensing Traffic Safety

in committee · Iowa · House Apr 3, 2025

HF 528: A bill for an act relating to reckless driving and excessive speed, and making penalties applicable.

HF 528 reclassifies speeding 25 miles per hour or more over the limit as reckless driving under Iowa law. This change means drivers who exceed speed limits by 25+ mph will now face reckless driving charges instead of standard speeding penalties. If such speeding unintentionally causes death, it becomes a class C felony (up to 10 years in prison); if it causes serious injury, it becomes a class D felony (up to 5 years). The bill directly affects drivers who speed significantly, with penalties escalating based on the outcome of the violation.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice ✓ Transportation

Sub-Topics Traffic Safety

in committee · Iowa · House Apr 3, 2025

HF 542: A bill for an act relating to operators of motor vehicles approaching certain slow-moving authorized emergency vehicles, and making penalties applicable.

HF 542 requires drivers to approach slow-moving authorized emergency vehicles (operating at 15 mph or less) with caution, mirroring existing rules for stationary emergency vehicles. Drivers must change lanes if safe, or reduce speed below the limit and be prepared to stop if lane changes aren't possible. The bill defines "slow-moving" as 15 mph or less for emergency vehicles performing official duties. Violations remain a simple misdemeanor with a $135 fine, plus potential higher fines and license suspensions if accidents cause injury or death. This applies only to emergency vehicles, not other slow-moving vehicles like construction or utility vehicles.

Topics ✓ Transportation

Sub-Topics Traffic Safety Tags Public Safety

introduced · Iowa · Legislature

1395XD: Automatic Traffic Enforcement, Rulemaking (1395XD) - Transportation, Department of

This bill (1395XD) changes how Iowa's Department of Transportation (DOT) manages permits for local governments using automated traffic enforcement systems (like speed cameras). It requires the DOT to deny permits if a system isn't necessary, appropriate, or the least restrictive way to address traffic safety issues at a location, and mandates the DOT provide written reasons for denials. The bill also gives the DOT authority to suspend or revoke permits if local authorities violate traffic safety rules or if a system is no longer needed, with permits needing renewal for new locations. Finally, it grants the DOT rulemaking power to implement these requirements under state law.

Topics ✗ Transportation

Sub-Topics Driver Licensing Traffic Safety

in committee · Iowa · Senate Feb 10, 2025

SF 212: A bill for an act relating to the speed limit on unpaved roads under county jurisdiction, and making penalties applicable.

This bill reduces the maximum speed limit on unpaved secondary roads under county jurisdiction to 45 miles per hour at all times, replacing the current rule of 55 mph during daylight and 50 mph at night. It directly affects drivers on county-maintained unpaved roads and requires counties to update speed limit signs. Counties may temporarily use approved stickers on existing signs instead of replacing all signs immediately, until regular replacement schedules apply. Existing speeding penalties (ranging from $30 to $135+) remain unchanged for violations under this new limit.

Topics ✓ Transportation

Sub-Topics Driver Licensing Roads & Highways Traffic Safety

passed · Iowa · House Mar 19, 2025

HF 173: A bill for an act relating to additional penalties for violations for failing to reduce speed when required or otherwise control a motor vehicle that result in serious injury or death.

HF 173 adds enhanced penalties for drivers convicted of specific traffic violations that cause serious injury or death. It directly affects drivers who violate Iowa's speed control laws (like failing to slow for pedestrians, work zones, or emergency vehicles) and cause harm. If a violation causes serious injury, offenders face an additional $500 fine or up to 90 days license suspension; for death, the penalty is $1,000 or up to 180 days suspension. The bill expands existing penalties under Code section 321.482A to include violations of section 321.288, which governs speed control in critical situations.

Topics ✓ Transportation

Sub-Topics Driver Licensing Traffic Safety

signed · Iowa · Senate Jun 2, 2026

SF 378: A bill for an act relating to speed limits, including the speed limit range for which certain excessive speed violations cannot be considered for certain purposes and the default speed limit for all vehicular traffic, and making penalties applicable.

SF 378 increases Iowa's default speed limit for all vehicular traffic from 55 mph to 60 mph on roads without specific posted limits. This affects all drivers traveling on most state highways and roads where no special speed zones (like school districts at 25 mph or interstates at 70 mph) apply. The bill also allows transportation agencies to temporarily use approved stickers on existing signs when updating speed limits, rather than replacing signs immediately. It does not change existing speed limits for specific areas (like school zones) or penalties for speeding violations.

Topics ✗ Transportation

Sub-Topics Traffic Safety

All transportation bills