Bill > SF2288

Introduced Session

This bill concerns speed-related driving violations. Under current law, the department of transportation (DOT) must revoke the driver’s license of a person who is convicted of certain crimes involving a motor vehicle. Upon revoking a driver’s license, the DOT is prohibited from granting an application for a new license until the expiration of one year after the revocation, unless another period is specified by law. A person whose driver’s license was revoked must apply for a new license and pay the required fees under Code section 321.191, including a $20 reinstatement fee. The bill requires the DOT to revoke the driver’s license of a person who is convicted of exceeding a speed limit with a detected speed of 100 miles per hour (MPH) or more. The driver’s license must be revoked for 90 days and the person is ineligible for a temporary restricted license under Code section 321.215. The bill authorizes a peace officer, on behalf of the DOT, to serve immediate notice of intention to revoke and of revocation on a person cited for exceeding a speed limit with a detected speed of 100 MPH or more. If the peace officer serves immediate notice, the peace officer is required to take the Iowa driver’s license of the person and issue a temporary license effective for 10 days. The peace officer must immediately send the person’s license to the DOT along with the officer’s certificate indicating the person’s detected excessive speed. This process exists under current law for persons who refuse to submit to chemical testing after a suspected operating-while-intoxicated (OWI) violation (Code section 321J.9). A person whose driver’s license is revoked under the bill may appeal the revocation in the manner provided to a person suspected of violating Code section 321J.2 (OWI) as provided in Code section 321J.13 (hearing on revocation —— appeal). The DOT is required to adopt administrative rules to administer the mandatory license revocation provisions of the bill. The bill makes conforming internal Code reference changes, eliminates a conflict regarding the issuance of a temporary restricted license for second and subsequent reckless driving violations, and strikes certain references to “conviction” and “forfeiture of bail not vacated” in Code section 321.209 to reduce duplication. When used in Code chapter 321 (motor vehicles and law of the road), “conviction” is defined to mean a final conviction, including but not limited to a plea of guilty or nolo contendere accepted by the court, a final administrative ruling or determination, or an unvacated forfeiture of bail or collateral deposited to secure a person’s appearance in court. 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. The bill provides that exceeding the speed limit by 25 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. Under current law, Code section 321.288 requires a person operating a motor vehicle to control the vehicle at all times and reduce the speed of the vehicle to a reasonable and proper rate when approaching a pedestrian walking or an animal being led, ridden, or driven on a highway; when approaching and traversing a crossing, intersection, sharp turn, curve, or steep descent on a highway; when approaching and passing an emergency warning device, emergency vehicle displaying revolving or flashing lights, or slow-moving vehicle displaying reflective devices; and when approaching and passing through a work zone. The scheduled fine for a violation of Code section 321.288 is $135. Code section 321.482A sets forth additional penalties applicable when a person is convicted of operating a motor vehicle in violation of certain Code sections in Code chapter 321 (motor vehicles and law of the road) if such violation causes serious injury to or the death of another person. The bill adds Code section 321.288 to the list of violations subject to additional penalties under Code section 321.482A. When a person is convicted of a violation causing serious injury, the additional penalties include a fine of $500 or suspension of the violator’s driver’s license or operating privileges for not more than 90 days, or both. When a person is convicted of a violation causing death, the additional penalties include a fine of $1,000 or suspension of the violator’s driver’s license or operating privileges for not more than 180 days, or both. Under current law, a person who operates a motor vehicle in excess of a speed limit under Code section 321.236(5, 11) (public parks and alleys), Code section 321.285 (speed restrictions generally), Code section 321.383(5) (implements of husbandry), Code section 321O.5(1) (personal delivery devices), or Code section 461A.36 (state parks and preserves), commits a simple misdemeanor punishable by a scheduled fine that varies depending on the excessive speed. The fine ranges from $30 for a speed in excess of the limit by not more than 5 MPH to $135 plus $5 for each MPH of excessive speed over 20 MPH over the limit. The bill increases the scheduled fine for excessive speed over 20 MPH over the limit to $285 plus $5 for each MPH of excessive speed over 20 MPH over the limit. The bill applies on and after March 1, 2027, or the publication date of the issue of the Iowa administrative bulletin that includes a statement by the director of transportation that the applicable phase of the DOT’s new records system is implemented, whichever is earlier. The DOT is also required to forward a copy of the statement to the Iowa Code editor.

AI Summary

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Committee report, approving bill. S.J. 263. (on 02/11/2026)

Official Document