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Bill > HF231
IA HF231
IA HF231A bill for an act relating to reckless driving and excessive speed, and making penalties applicable.(See HF 528.)
summary
Introduced
02/06/2025
02/06/2025
In Committee
02/06/2025
02/06/2025
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
91st General Assembly
Bill Summary
Under current law, driving in excess of the speed limit is a simple misdemeanor punishable by a scheduled fine based on the excessive speed, ranging from $30 to $135 plus $5 for each mile per hour (MPH) of excessive speed over 20 MPH over the limit, with increased fines for violations in road work zones. Also under current law, a person who drives a 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, in violation of Code section 321.277. A person convicted for “reckless driving” commits a simple misdemeanor. A simple misdemeanor is punishable by confinement for no more than 30 days and a fine of at least $105 but not more than $855. This bill provides that exceeding the speed limit by 21 MPH or more is reckless driving. By operation of law, a person who drives recklessly in violation of Code section 321.277, as amended by the bill, commits a class “C” felony if the violation unintentionally causes the death of another, and commits a class “D” felony if the violation unintentionally causes a serious injury (see Code section 707.6A —— homicide or serious injury by vehicle). Under current law, Code section 707.6A also applies if a person, other than a member of a public safety agency, exceeds the posted speed limit by 25 MPH or more and unintentionally causes death or serious injury, if the speeding violation is the proximate cause of the death or injury. A class “C” felony is punishable by confinement for no more than 10 years and a fine of at least $1,370 but not more than $13,660. A class “D” felony is punishable by confinement for no more than five years and a fine of at least $1,025 but not more than $10,245.
AI Summary
This bill modifies Iowa's existing reckless driving statute by explicitly adding that driving more than 21 miles per hour over the speed limit is now considered a form of reckless driving. The amendment to Section 321.277, subsection 1 of the Iowa Code expands the definition of reckless driving to include excessive speeding as a specific example of driving with "willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property." By including the language "including but not limited to by exceeding a speed limit by twenty-one miles per hour or more," the bill provides a clear threshold for what constitutes reckless driving from a speed perspective, while also maintaining the broader existing definition that allows for other dangerous driving behaviors to be classified as reckless. This change aims to create a more precise legal standard for prosecuting dangerous driving behaviors and potentially deter extreme speeding.
Committee Categories
Justice
Sponsors (1)
Last Action
Committee report approving bill, renumbered as HF 528. (on 02/20/2025)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislation/BillBook?ga=91&ba=HF231 |
| BillText | https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/publications/LGI/91/attachments/HF231.html |
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