Senate Study Bill 3084 SENATE/HOUSE FILE BY (PROPOSED DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION BILL) Passed Senate, Date Passed House, Date Vote: Ayes Nays Vote: Ayes Nays Approved A BILL FOR 1 An Act relating to requirements for operation of a motor vehicle 2 in merging traffic and providing a penalty. 3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 4 TLSB 5481DP 82 5 dea/rj/14 PAG LIN 1 1 Section 1. NEW SECTION. 321.319A DRIVERS REQUIRED TO 1 2 MERGE. 1 3 Notwithstanding section 321.319, where traffic lanes are 1 4 provided for merging traffic, each driver of a vehicle on the 1 5 converging roadways or lanes shall adjust the speed and 1 6 lateral position of the vehicle as necessary to avoid a 1 7 collision with any other vehicle and to facilitate safe entry 1 8 of merging vehicles into the common lane. However, the driver 1 9 of a vehicle traveling on any traffic lane, ramp, or 1 10 converging roadway marked with a yield sign, stop sign, or 1 11 other traffic control sign or signal shall obey such sign or 1 12 signal. 1 13 A person convicted of a violation of this section is guilty 1 14 of a simple misdemeanor punishable as a scheduled violation 1 15 under section 805.8A, subsection 7, paragraph "b". 1 16 Sec. 2. Section 805.8A, subsection 7, paragraph b, Code 1 17 2007, is amended to read as follows: 1 18 b. For violations under sections 321.298, 321.307, 1 19 321.308, 321.313, 321.319, 321.319A, 321.320, 321.321, 1 20 321.327, 321.329, and 321.333, the scheduled fine is 1 21 thirty=five dollars. 1 22 EXPLANATION 1 23 This bill describes the actions motorists must take when 1 24 driving in merging traffic. Drivers on traffic lanes, ramps, 1 25 or converging roadways are required to obey yield or stop 1 26 signs where provided. In the absence of such signage, each 1 27 driver of a vehicle on converging roadways or lanes shall 1 28 adjust the speed and lateral position of the vehicle as 1 29 necessary to avoid collisions and to facilitate safe merging 1 30 of vehicles. A violation is punishable by a scheduled fine of 1 31 $35. 1 32 LSB 5481DP 82 1 33 dea/rj/14