SF 227 (LSB 1726SV (2) 88)

SENATE FILE 227

BY  COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

(SUCCESSOR TO SF 42)

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to the display of registration plates on motor vehicles.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 321.37, subsections 1 and 2, Code 2019, are amended to read as follows:
   1.  Registration plates issued for a motor vehicle other than an autocycle, motorcycle, motorized bicycle, or truck tractor shall be attached to the motor vehicle, one in the front and the other in the rear. The registration plate issued for an autocycle, motorcycle, or other vehicle required to be registered hereunder shall be attached to the rear of the vehicle. The registration plate issued for a truck tractor shall be attached to the front of the truck tractor. The special plate issued to a dealer shall be attached on the rear of the vehicle when operated on the highways of this state. A peace officer shall not stop or detain a person solely for a suspected violation of this subsection if the suspected violation involves a motor vehicle required to display two registration plates under this subsection, one in the front and the other in the rear, and the suspected violation is based on the motor vehicle displaying only one registration plate in the rear. Such a suspected violation is enforceable by a peace officer only when the driver of the motor vehicle has been stopped or detained for a suspected violation of another provision of this chapter, a local ordinance equivalent to a provision of this chapter, or any other law.
   2.  Registration plates issued for Notwithstanding subsection 1, a motor vehicle which is model year 1948 or older, and reconstructed or specially constructed vehicles built to resemble a model year 1948 vehicle or older registered as an antique vehicle under section 321.115, or a motor vehicle that would require modifications including but not limited to adding or mounting hardware, drilling, or adding adhesives in order to secure a front registration plate, other than a truck registered for more than five tons, autocycle, motorcycle, or truck tractor, may display one registration plate on the rear of the vehicle if the other registration plate issued to the vehicle is carried in the vehicle at all times when the vehicle is operated on a public highway.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill prohibits a peace officer from stopping or detaining a person solely for a suspected violation of Code section 321.37(1) if the suspected violation involves a motor vehicle required to display two registration plates, one in the front and the other in the rear, and the suspected violation is based on the motor vehicle displaying only one registration plate in the rear. Such a suspected violation is enforceable by a peace officer only when the driver of the motor vehicle has been stopped or detained for a suspected violation of another provision or law.
   Since 1997, Iowa has allowed certain motor vehicles which are model year 1948 or older, and certain reconstructed or specially constructed vehicles built to resemble vehicles which are model year 1948 or older, to display one registration plate on the rear of the vehicle if the other registration plate issued to the vehicle is carried in the vehicle at all times when the vehicle is operated on a public highway. Trucks registered for more than five tons, autocycles, motorcycles, and truck tractors are excluded from the provision. The bill instead applies the provision to motor vehicles registered as antique vehicles and motor vehicles that would require modifications including but not limited to adding or mounting hardware, drilling, or adding adhesives in order to secure a front registration plate. Under Code section 321.115, a motor vehicle may register as an antique vehicle if the vehicle is 25 years old or older. The bill does not amend the list of vehicles excluded from the provision under current law.