Vehicle registration plates shall conform to the following specifications:
1. Registration plates shall be of metal and of a size not to exceed six inches by twelve inches, except that the size of plates issued for use on motorized bicycles, motorcycles, motorcycle trailers, trailers with an empty weight of two thousand pounds or less, and special mobile equipment shall be established by the department.
2. Every registration plate or pair of plates shall display a registration plate number which shall consist of alphabetical or numerical characters or a combination thereof and the name of this state, which may be abbreviated. Every registration plate issued by the county treasurer shall display the name of the county, including any plate issued pursuant to section 321.34, except Pearl Harbor and purple heart registration plates issued prior to January 1, 1997, and collegiate, fire fighter, and congressional medal of honor registration plates. Special truck registration plates shall display the word "special".
3. The registration plate number shall be displayed in characters which shall not exceed a height of four inches nor a stroke width exceeding five-eighths of an inch. Special plates issued to dealers shall display the alphabetical character "D", which shall be of the same size as the characters in the registration plate. The registration plate number issued for motorized bicycles, motorcycles, trailers with an empty weight of two thousand pounds or less, and motorcycle trailers shall be a size prescribed by the department.
4. The registration plate number, except on motorized bicycle, motorcycle, motorcycle trailer, trailers with an empty weight of two thousand pounds or less, and special mobile equipment registration plates, shall be of sufficient size to be readable from a distance of one hundred feet during daylight.
5. There shall be a marked contrast between the color of the registration plates and the data which is required to be displayed on the registration plates. When a new series of registration plates is issued to replace a current series, the new registration plates shall be of a distinctively different color from the series which is replaced, except for collegiate registration plates issued under section 321.34, subsection 7.
6. Registration plates issued a disabled veteran under the provisions of section 321.105, shall display the alphabetical characters "DV" which shall precede the registration plate number. The plates may also display a handicapped parking sticker if issued to the disabled veteran by the department under section 321L.2.
7. The year and month of expiration of registration, which may be abbreviated, shall be displayed on vehicle registration plates issued by the county treasurer. A distinctive emblem or validation sticker may be prescribed by the department to designate the year and month of expiration. The year and month of expiration shall not be required to be displayed on plates issued under section 321.19.
8. The owner of a trailer with an empty weight of two thousand pounds or less shall receive registration plates for the trailer smaller than plates regularly issued for automobiles pursuant to rules adopted by the department in accordance with this section.
9. Special registration plates issued pursuant to section 321.34 beginning January 1, 1997, other than congressional medal of honor, collegiate, fire fighter, and natural resources registration plates, shall be consistent with the design and color of regular registration plates but shall provide a space on a portion of the plate for the purpose of allowing the placement of a distinguishing processed emblem. Special registration plates shall also comply with the requirements for regular registration plates as provided in this section to the extent the requirements are consistent with the section authorizing a particular special vehicle registration plate.
10. If the department reissues a new registration plate design for a special registration plate under section 321.34, all persons who have purchased or obtained the special registration plates shall not be required to pay the issuance fee.
[S13, § 1571-m12, -m13; C24, 27, 31, 35, § 4978; C39, § 5001.19, 5001.20, 5012.04; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, § 321.35, 321.36, 321.166; C79, 81, § 321.166]
82 Acts, ch 1032, § 3, 4; 82 Acts, ch 1062, § 28, 29, 36, 38; 83 Acts, ch 24, § 7, 12; 86 Acts, ch 1225, § 2; 88 Acts, ch 1215, § 11; 89 Acts, ch 247, § 5; 92 Acts, ch 1026, § 1; 94 Acts, ch 1028, §1--;4; 95 Acts, ch 118, § 20, 40; 96 Acts, ch 1088, § 5, 6; 96 Acts, ch 1152, § 7, 8; 96 Acts, ch 1171, § 3; 96 Acts, ch 1219, § 25
Referred to in § 321L.1
Iowa General Assembly
Search: Iowa Code 1997
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Last update: Mon Jan 27 16:05:08 CST 1997
URL: /DOCS/IACODE/1997/321/166.html
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