1. Classification and issuance. Upon payment of the required fee, the department shall issue to every qualified applicant a driver's license. Driver's licenses shall be classified as follows:
a. Class A---Valid for the operation of vehicles with a gross combination weight rating of twenty-six thousand one or more pounds if the towed vehicle or vehicles have a gross vehicle weight rating or gross combination weight rating of ten thousand one or more pounds, and also valid for the operation of vehicles with lower gross combination weight ratings and other vehicles except motorcycles.
b. Class B---Valid for the operation of a vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating of twenty-six thousand one or more pounds or a combination of vehicles with a gross combination weight rating of twenty-six thousand one or more pounds if the towing vehicle has a gross vehicle weight rating of twenty-six thousand one or more pounds and the towed vehicle or vehicles have a gross vehicle weight rating or gross combination weight rating of less than ten thousand one pounds, and also valid for the operation of vehicles with lower gross vehicle weight ratings or gross combination weight ratings except motorcycles.
c. Class C---Valid for the operation of a vehicle, other than a motorcycle, or a combination of vehicles with a gross combination weight rating of twenty-six thousand one or more pounds provided the towing vehicle has a gross vehicle weight rating of less than twenty-six thousand one pounds and each towed vehicle has a gross vehicle weight rating of less than ten thousand one pounds, or a combination of vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating or gross combination weight rating of less than twenty-six thousand one pounds and also valid for the operation of any vehicle, other than a motorcycle, for which the operator is exempt from commercial driver's license requirements under section 321.176A.
d. Class D---Valid for the operation of a motor vehicle as a chauffeur.
e. Class M---Valid for the operation of a motorcycle.
A driver's license may be issued for more than one class. Class A and B driver's licenses shall only be issued as commercial driver's licenses. Class C and M driver's licenses may be issued as commercial driver's licenses. A driver's license is not valid for the operation of a vehicle requiring an endorsement unless the driver's license is endorsed for the vehicle. A class D driver's license is also valid as a noncommercial class C driver's license. The holder of a commercial driver's license is not required to obtain a class D driver's license to operate a motor vehicle as a chauffeur. When necessary, the department shall by rule create additional classes or modify existing classes of driver's licenses, however, the rule shall be temporary and if within sixty days after the next regular session of the general assembly convenes the general assembly has not made corresponding changes in this chapter, the temporary classification or modification shall be nullified.
2. Content of license.
a. Appearing on the driver's license shall be a distinguishing number assigned to the licensee; the licensee's full name, date of birth, sex, and residence address; a colored photograph; a physical description of the licensee; the name of the state; the dates of issuance and expiration; and the usual signature of the licensee. The license shall identify the class of vehicle the licensee may operate and the applicable endorsements and restrictions which the department shall require by rule.
b. A commercial driver's license shall include the licensee's address as required under federal regulations and the licensee's social security number, and the words "commercial driver's license" or "CDL" shall appear prominently on the face of the license. If the applicant is a nonresident, the license must conspicuously display the word "nonresident".
c. The department shall advise an applicant that the applicant for a motor vehicle license other than a commercial driver's license may request a number other than a social security number as the motor vehicle license number.
d. The license may contain other information as required under the department's rules.
3. Replacement. If prior to the renewal date, a person desires to obtain a motor vehicle license in the form authorized by this section, a license may be issued as a voluntary replacement upon payment of the required fee as set by the department by rule. A person shall return a motor vehicle license and be issued a new license when the first license contains inaccurate information upon payment of the required fee as set by the department by rule.
4. Symbols. Upon the request of a licensee, the department shall indicate on the license the presence of a medical condition or that the licensee is a donor under the uniform anatomical gift law. The license may contain such other information as the department may require by rule.
5. Tamperproofing. The department shall issue a motor vehicle license by a method or process which prevents as nearly as possible the alteration, reproduction, or superimposition of a photograph on the license without ready detection.
6. Licenses issued to minors. A motor vehicle license issued to a person under twenty-one years of age shall be identical in form to any other motor vehicle license except that the words "under twenty-one" shall appear prominently on the face of the license. Upon attaining the age of twenty-one, and upon payment of a one dollar fee, the person shall be entitled to a new motor vehicle license or nonoperator's identification card for the unexpired months of the motor vehicle license or card.
7. Class M license education requirements. A person applying for a driver's license valid for the operation of a motorcycle shall be required to successfully complete a motorcycle education course either approved and established by the department of education or from a private or commercial driver education school licensed by the department before the class M license will be issued. A public school district shall charge a student a fee which shall not exceed the actual cost of instruction minus moneys received by the school district under subsection 9.
The requirement that an applicant complete a motorcycle education course prior to issuance of a driver's license under this subsection does not apply to the following:
a. An operator who has been issued a class M license prior to July 1, 1994.
b. An operator who is renewing the operator's class M license issued prior to July 1, 1994.
c. An operator who has been issued a driver's license which is valid for the operation of a motorcycle in another state.
8. Motorized bicycle.
a. The department may issue a driver's license valid only for operation of a motorized bicycle to a person fourteen years of age or older who has passed a vision test or who files a vision report as provided in section 321.186A which shows that the applicant's visual acuity level meets or exceeds those required by the department and who passes a written examination on the rules of the road. A person under the age of sixteen applying for a driver's license valid only for operation of a motorized bicycle shall also be required to successfully complete a motorized bicycle education course approved and established by the department of education or successfully complete an approved motorized bicycle education course at a private or commercial driver education school licensed by the department. A public school district shall charge a student a fee which shall not exceed the actual cost of instruction. A driver's license valid only for operation of a motorized bicycle entitles the licensee to operate a motorized bicycle upon the highway while having the license in the licensee's immediate possession. The license is valid for a period not to exceed two years from the licensee's birthday anniversary in the year of issuance, subject to termination or cancellation as provided in this section.
b. A driver's license valid only for operation of a motorized bicycle shall be canceled upon a conviction for a moving traffic violation and reapplication may be made thirty days after the date of cancellation. The cancellation of the license upon conviction for a moving traffic violation shall not result in requiring the applicant to maintain proof of financial responsibility under section 321A.17, unless the conviction would otherwise result in a suspension or revocation of a person's driver's license.
c. As used in this section, "moving traffic violation" does not include a parking violation as defined in section 321.210 or a violation of a section of the Code or municipal ordinance pertaining to standards to be maintained for motor vehicle equipment except sections 321.430 and 321.431, or except a municipal ordinance pertaining to motor vehicle brake requirements as applicable to motorized bicycles.
d. The holder of any class of driver's license may operate a motorized bicycle.
9. Motorcycle rider education fund. The motorcycle rider education fund is established in the office of the treasurer of state. The moneys credited to the fund are appropriated to the department of education to be used to establish new motorcycle rider education courses and reimburse sponsors of motorcycle rider education courses for the costs of providing motorcycle rider education courses approved and established by the department of education. The department of education shall adopt rules under chapter 17A providing for the distribution of moneys to sponsors of motorcycle rider education courses based upon the costs of providing the education courses.
[C31, 35, § 4960-d19, -d20, -d22, -d28; C39, § 5013.14; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, § 321.189; C77, 79, 81, § 321.189; 81 Acts, ch 107, § 1, 2]
84 Acts, ch 1022, § 4; 84 Acts, ch 1292, § 3; 87 Acts, ch 167, § 1; 87 Acts, ch 206, § 2, 3; 90 Acts, ch 1230, § 35; 92 Acts, ch 1175, § 22, 23; 93 Acts, ch 164, § 1; 94 Acts, ch 1102, § 2
Referred to in § 312.2, 321.177, 321.190, 321.191, 321.213
Fee, see § 321.191
Iowa General Assembly
Search: Iowa Code 1995
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