DRIVER LICENSES
CHAPTER 600
GENERAL INFORMATION
[Prior to 6/3/87, Transportation Department[820]—(07,C)Ch 13]
761—600.1(321) Definitions. The definitions in Iowa Code section 321.1 and the following definitions apply to the rules in 761—Chapters 600 to 699.
“Director of the office of driver services” includes the office director’s designee.
“License” means “driver’s license” as defined in Iowa Code subsection 321.1(20A) unless the context otherwise requires.
“Medical report” means a report from a physician attesting to a person’s physical or mental capability to operate a motor vehicle safely. The report should be submitted on Form 430031, “Medical Report.” In lieu of Form 430031, a report signed by a physician on the physician’s letterhead may be accepted if it contains all the information specified on Form 430031.
“Physician” means a person licensed to practice medicine and surgery or osteopathic medicine and surgery.
This rule is intended to implement Iowa Code section 321.1.
761—600.2(17A) Information and location. Applications, forms and information concerning driver’s licensing are available at any driver’s license examination station. Assistance is also available by mail from the Office of Driver Services, Iowa Department of Transportation, P.O. Box 9204, Des Moines, Iowa 50306-9204; in person at 6310 SE Convenience Blvd., Ankeny, Iowa; by telephone at (800)532-1121; or by facsimile at (515)237-3071.
This rule is intended to implement Iowa Code section 17A.3.
761—600.3(321) Persons exempt.
	600.3(1) Persons listed in Iowa Code section 321.176 are exempt from driver’s licensing requirements.
	600.3(2) “Nearby” in Iowa Code subsection 321.176(2) shall mean a distance of not more than two miles.
This rule is intended to implement Iowa Code section 321.176.
761—600.4(321) Persons not to be licensed.
	600.4(1) The department shall not knowingly issue a license to any person who is ineligible for licensing.
	600.4(2) The department shall not knowingly license any person who is unable to operate a motor vehicle safely because of physical or mental disability until that person has submitted a medical report stating that the person is physically and mentally capable of operating a vehicle safely.
	600.4(3) The department shall not knowingly license any person who has been specifically adjudged incompetent, pursuant to Iowa Code chapter 229, on or after January 1, 1976, including anyone admitted to a mental health facility prior to that date and not released until after, until it receives specific adjudication that the person is competent. A medical report stating that the person is physically qualified to operate a motor vehicle safely shall also be required.
	600.4(4) The department shall not knowingly license any person who suffers from syncope of any cause, any type of periodic or episodic loss of consciousness, or any paroxysmal disturbances of consciousness, including but not limited to epilepsy, until that person has remained free of episodes of loss of consciousness or loss of voluntary control for six months, and then only upon receipt of a medical report favorable toward licensing.
	a. 	If a medical report indicates a pattern of only syncope, the department may license without a six-month episode-free period after favorable recommendation by the medical advisory board.
	b. 	If a medical report indicates a pattern of such episodes only when the person is asleep or is sequestered for sleep, the department may license without a six-month episode-free period.
	c. 	If episodes occur when medications are withdrawn by a physician, but the person is episode-free when placed back on medications, the department may license without a six-month episode-free period with a favorable recommendation from a neurologist.
	600.4(5) The department shall not license any person who must wear bioptic telescopic lenses to meet the visual acuity standard required for a license.
	600.4(6) When a medical report is required, a license shall be issued only if the report indicates that the person is qualified to operate a motor vehicle safely. The department may submit the report to the medical advisory board for an additional opinion.
	600.4(7) When the department receives evidence that an Iowa licensed driver has been adjudged incompetent or is not physically or mentally qualified to operate a motor vehicle safely, the department shall suspend the license for incapability, as explained in rule 761—615.14(321), or shall deny further licensing, as explained in rule 761—615.4(321).
	600.4(8) The department shall not knowingly issue a license to a person who is the named individual on a certificate of noncompliance that has been received from the child support recovery unit, until the department receives a withdrawal of the certificate of noncompliance or unless an application has been filed pursuant to Iowa Code section 252J.9.
	600.4(9) The department shall not knowingly issue a license to a person who is the named individual on a certificate of noncompliance that has been received from the college student aid commission, until the department receives a withdrawal of the certificate of noncompliance or unless an application has been filed pursuant to Iowa Code section 261.127.
This rule is intended to implement Iowa Code sections 252J.8, 252J.9, 261.126, 261.127, 321.13, 321.177, 321.210, and 321.212.
761—600.5 to 600.11 Reserved.
761—600.12(321) Private and commercial driver education schools. Rescinded IAB 3/31/04, effective 5/5/04.
761—600.13(321) Behind-the-wheel instructor’s certification. Rescinded IAB 3/31/04, effective 5/5/04.
761—600.14(321) Payment of fees. Rescinded IAB 3/31/04, effective 5/5/04.
761—600.15 Reserved.
761—600.16(321) Seat belt exemptions.
	600.16(1) A person who is unable to wear a safety belt or safety harness for physical or medical reasons may obtain a form to be signed by the person’s health care provider licensed under Iowa Code chapter 148, 150, 150A or 151. Form No.	432017, “Iowa Medical Safety Belt Exemption,” is available from the office of driver services at the address in rule 600.2(17A).
	600.16(2) Iowa Code section 321.445, subsections 1 and 2, shall not apply to the front seats and front seat passengers of motor vehicles owned, leased, rented or primarily used by a person with a physical disability who uses a collapsible wheelchair.
This rule is intended to implement Iowa Code section 321.445.
[761—Chapter 600 appeared as Ch 13, Department of Public Safety, 1973 IDR;
amended July 1973, January 1974 and July 1974 Supplements]
[Filed 7/1/75]
[Filed 12/28/76, Notice 11/3/76—published 1/12/77, effective 2/16/77]
[Filed emergency 7/28/78—published 8/23/78, effective 8/1/78]
[Filed 2/8/79, Notice 12/27/78—published 3/7/79, effective 4/11/79]
[Filed 2/12/80, Notice 12/26/79—published 3/5/80, effective 4/9/80]
[Filed 2/27/80, Notice 1/9/80—published 3/19/80, effective 4/23/80]
[Filed 8/25/80, Notice 7/9/80—published 9/17/80, effective 10/22/80]
[Filed 4/17/81, Notice 3/4/81—published 5/13/81, effective 6/17/81]
[Filed 5/19/81, Notice 4/1/81—published 6/10/81, effective 7/15/81]
[Filed emergency 9/17/81—published 10/14/81, effective 9/17/81]
[Filed 10/2/81, Notice 8/19/81—published 10/28/81, effective 12/2/81]
[Filed emergency 5/27/82—published 6/23/82, effective 7/1/82]
[Filed 12/1/82, Notice 6/23/82—published 12/22/82, effective 1/26/83]
[Filed 12/1/82, Notice 10/13/82—published 12/22/82, effective 1/26/83]◊
[Filed emergency 6/20/84—published 7/18/84, effective 7/1/84]
[Filed 4/17/85, Notice 2/27/85—published 5/8/85, effective 6/12/85]
[Filed 11/27/85, Notice 10/9/85—published 12/18/85, effective 1/22/86]
[Filed emergency 6/20/86—published 7/16/86, effective 7/1/86]
[Filed 5/11/87, Notice 3/11/87—published 6/3/87, effective 7/8/87]◊
[Filed 9/25/87, Notice 7/29/87—published 10/21/87, effective 11/25/87]
[Filed 1/20/88, Notice 12/2/87—published 2/10/88, effective 3/16/88]◊
[Filed 9/21/89, Notice 7/26/89—published 10/18/89, effective 11/22/89]
[Filed emergency 11/30/89—published 12/27/89, effective 12/1/89]
[Filed emergency 6/7/90—published 6/27/90, effective 7/1/90]
[Filed emergency 8/8/90—published 9/5/90, effective 8/10/90]
[Filed 12/18/91, Notice 11/13/91—published 1/8/92, effective 2/12/92]
[Filed 11/4/93, Notice 9/29/93—published 11/24/93, effective 12/29/93]
[Filed 11/1/95, Notice 9/27/95—published 11/22/95, effective 12/27/95]
[Filed 10/30/96, Notice 9/25/96—published 11/20/96, effective 12/25/96]
[Filed 1/21/98, Notice 12/17/97—published 2/11/98, effective 3/18/98]
[Filed 10/28/98, Notice 9/23/98—published 11/18/98, effective 12/23/98]1
[Filed 6/19/02, Notice 4/17/02—published 7/10/02, effective 8/14/02]
[Filed 3/10/04, Notice 2/4/04—published 3/31/04, effective 5/5/04]
[Filed 12/12/07, Notice 11/7/07—published 1/2/08, effective 2/6/08]
◊	Two or more ARCs
1	Effective date of 761—600.13(321) delayed 70 days by the Administrative Rules Review Committee at its meeting held December 9, 1998. At its meeting held January 5, 1999, the Committee delayed the effective date until adjournment of the 1999 Session of the General Assembly.