HF 770 (LSB 1771HV (1) 91)

HOUSE FILE 770

BY  COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY

(SUCCESSOR TO HF 89)

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to reasonable and prudent following distances while a person is operating a motor vehicle, and making penalties applicable.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 321.307, Code 2025, is amended to read as follows:
   321.307  Following too closely.
   1.  The driver of A person operating a motor vehicle shall not follow another vehicle in the same lane and direction of travel more closely than is reasonable and prudent, having due regard for the speed of such vehicles and the traffic upon and the condition of the highway.  For purposes of this subsection, the distance at which a person is following is reasonable and prudent under clear conditions then existing, as follows:
   a.  At least fifty feet on a highway with a speed limit of thirty-five miles per hour or less.
   b.  At least one hundred feet on a highway with a speed limit greater than thirty-five miles per hour but not more than fifty-five miles per hour.
   c.  At least one hundred fifty feet on a highway with a speed limit greater than fifty-five miles per hour but not more than sixty-five miles per hour.
   d.  At least two hundred feet on a highway with a speed limit greater than sixty-five miles per hour.
   2.  A person who violates this section commits a simple misdemeanor punishable as a scheduled violation under section 805.8A, subsection 7, paragraph “c”.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   Current law prohibits a driver of a motor vehicle from following another vehicle more closely than is reasonable and prudent, considering the speed of such vehicles, other traffic on the highway, and the condition of the highway. A violation for following too closely is punishable by a scheduled fine of $135.
   This bill provides minimum distances considered reasonable and prudent while a person is following another vehicle in the same lane and direction of travel under clear conditions. The minimum reasonable distance increases in increments of 50 feet, from at least 50 feet to at least 200 feet, as the speed limit on the highway increases from not more than 35 miles per hour (MPH) to greater than 65 MPH. The scheduled fine for a violation is not amended.
   Pursuant to Code section 321.482A, if a person is convicted for a violation of the bill and the violation causes a serious injury, a court could impose an additional fine of $500 or suspend the person’s driver’s license for not more than 90 days, or both. If a person is convicted for a violation of the bill and the violation causes a death, a court could impose an additional fine of $1,000 or suspend the person’s driver’s license for not more than 180 days, or both.