HF 202 (LSB 1114YH (2) 91)

HOUSE FILE 202

BY  FETT

(COMPANION TO SF 37 BY SALMON)

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to the driving privileges of unsupervised persons issued a special minor’s restricted driver’s license, and making penalties applicable.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 321.194, subsection 4, paragraph b, unnumbered paragraph 1, Code 2025, is amended to read as follows:
   A licensee may operate a motor vehicle unsupervised over the most direct and accessible route between the licensee’s residence, school of enrollment, location where the licensee receives competent private instruction or independent private instruction, place of employment, location for farm work or farm-related work if the licensee resides on a farm or is employed for compensation on a farm in this state, established place of religious worship, and the closest service station, for any of the following purposes, as applicable, provided the driving distance between the point of origin and the destination is no more than twenty-five miles, and the licensee is in immediate possession of the license card:
    Sec. 2.  Section 321.194, subsection 4, paragraph b, Code 2025, is amended by adding the following new subparagraph:
   NEW SUBPARAGRAPH.  (06)  To attend religious worship services or participate in volunteer service programs at the licensee’s established place of religious worship.
    Sec. 3.  Section 321.194, subsection 5, paragraph a, Code 2025, is amended to read as follows:
   a.  Operate the motor vehicle except during the hour before and after the beginning and end of the licensee’s duly scheduled courses of instruction, extracurricular activities, work shift, farm work, or farm-related work, religious worship service, or volunteer service program, as applicable.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   Under current law, a person between the ages of 14 and 18 is authorized to operate a motor vehicle without supervision between certain approved locations, for certain activities, and during certain times if the person (licensee) holds a special minor’s restricted license.
   This bill adds established places of religious worship to the list of approved driving locations. The bill authorizes a licensee to operate a motor vehicle for the purposes of attending religious worship services or participating in volunteer service programs at the licensee’s established place of religious worship during the hour before and after the service or program. In accordance with current law, the driving distance between the point of origin and the destination cannot be more than 25 miles.
   A licensee who violates the restrictions of a special minor’s restricted license commits a simple misdemeanor, classified as a moving violation, punishable by a $70 scheduled fine. Additionally, the department of transportation must suspend the license for three months and is prohibited from issuing an intermediate license to the person for an additional three months following the person’s sixteenth birthday.