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Senate File 227 - IntroducedA Bill ForAn Act 1relating to the display of registration plates on motor
2vehicles.
3BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
1 Section 1. Section 321.37, subsections 1 and 2, Code 2019,
2are amended to read as follows:
31. Registration plates issued for a motor vehicle other
4than an autocycle, motorcycle, motorized bicycle, or truck
5tractor shall be attached to the motor vehicle, one in the
6front and the other in the rear. The registration plate issued
7for an autocycle, motorcycle, or other vehicle required to
8be registered hereunder shall be attached to the rear of the
9vehicle. The registration plate issued for a truck tractor
10shall be attached to the front of the truck tractor. The
11special plate issued to a dealer shall be attached on the rear
12of the vehicle when operated on the highways of this state.
13A peace officer shall not stop or detain a person solely for
14a suspected violation of this subsection if the suspected
15violation involves a motor vehicle required to display two
16registration plates under this subsection, one in the front and
17the other in the rear, and the suspected violation is based
18on the motor vehicle displaying only one registration plate
19in the rear. Such a suspected violation is enforceable by a
20peace officer only when the driver of the motor vehicle has
21been stopped or detained for a suspected violation of another
22provision of this chapter, a local ordinance equivalent to a
23provision of this chapter, or any other law.
242. Registration plates issued for Notwithstanding
25subsection 1, a motor vehicle which is model year 1948 or
26older, and reconstructed or specially constructed vehicles
27built to resemble a model year 1948 vehicle or older registered
28as an antique vehicle under section 321.115, or a motor vehicle
29that would require modifications including but not limited to
30adding or mounting hardware, drilling, or adding adhesives in
31order to secure a front registration plate, other than a truck
32registered for more than five tons, autocycle, motorcycle, or
33truck tractor, may display one registration plate on the rear
34of the vehicle if the other registration plate issued to the
35vehicle is carried in the vehicle at all times when the vehicle
-1-1is operated on a public highway.
2EXPLANATION
3The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
4the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
5This bill prohibits a peace officer from stopping or
6detaining a person solely for a suspected violation of Code
7section 321.37(1) if the suspected violation involves a motor
8vehicle required to display two registration plates, one in the
9front and the other in the rear, and the suspected violation
10is based on the motor vehicle displaying only one registration
11plate in the rear. Such a suspected violation is enforceable
12by a peace officer only when the driver of the motor vehicle
13has been stopped or detained for a suspected violation of
14another provision or law.
15Since 1997, Iowa has allowed certain motor vehicles which
16are model year 1948 or older, and certain reconstructed or
17specially constructed vehicles built to resemble vehicles which
18are model year 1948 or older, to display one registration plate
19on the rear of the vehicle if the other registration plate
20issued to the vehicle is carried in the vehicle at all times
21when the vehicle is operated on a public highway. Trucks
22registered for more than five tons, autocycles, motorcycles,
23and truck tractors are excluded from the provision. The bill
24instead applies the provision to motor vehicles registered
25as antique vehicles and motor vehicles that would require
26modifications including but not limited to adding or mounting
27hardware, drilling, or adding adhesives in order to secure a
28front registration plate. Under Code section 321.115, a motor
29vehicle may register as an antique vehicle if the vehicle is
3025 years old or older. The bill does not amend the list of
31vehicles excluded from the provision under current law.
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2vehicles.
3BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
1 Section 1. Section 321.37, subsections 1 and 2, Code 2019,
2are amended to read as follows:
31. Registration plates issued for a motor vehicle other
4than an autocycle, motorcycle, motorized bicycle, or truck
5tractor shall be attached to the motor vehicle, one in the
6front and the other in the rear. The registration plate issued
7for an autocycle, motorcycle, or other vehicle required to
8be registered hereunder shall be attached to the rear of the
9vehicle. The registration plate issued for a truck tractor
10shall be attached to the front of the truck tractor. The
11special plate issued to a dealer shall be attached on the rear
12of the vehicle when operated on the highways of this state.
13A peace officer shall not stop or detain a person solely for
14a suspected violation of this subsection if the suspected
15violation involves a motor vehicle required to display two
16registration plates under this subsection, one in the front and
17the other in the rear, and the suspected violation is based
18on the motor vehicle displaying only one registration plate
19in the rear. Such a suspected violation is enforceable by a
20peace officer only when the driver of the motor vehicle has
21been stopped or detained for a suspected violation of another
22provision of this chapter, a local ordinance equivalent to a
23provision of this chapter, or any other law.
242. Registration plates issued for Notwithstanding
25subsection 1, a motor vehicle which is model year 1948 or
26older, and reconstructed or specially constructed vehicles
27built to resemble a model year 1948 vehicle or older registered
28as an antique vehicle under section 321.115, or a motor vehicle
29that would require modifications including but not limited to
30adding or mounting hardware, drilling, or adding adhesives in
31order to secure a front registration plate, other than a truck
32registered for more than five tons, autocycle, motorcycle, or
33truck tractor, may display one registration plate on the rear
34of the vehicle if the other registration plate issued to the
35vehicle is carried in the vehicle at all times when the vehicle
-1-1is operated on a public highway.
2EXPLANATION
3The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
4the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
5This bill prohibits a peace officer from stopping or
6detaining a person solely for a suspected violation of Code
7section 321.37(1) if the suspected violation involves a motor
8vehicle required to display two registration plates, one in the
9front and the other in the rear, and the suspected violation
10is based on the motor vehicle displaying only one registration
11plate in the rear. Such a suspected violation is enforceable
12by a peace officer only when the driver of the motor vehicle
13has been stopped or detained for a suspected violation of
14another provision or law.
15Since 1997, Iowa has allowed certain motor vehicles which
16are model year 1948 or older, and certain reconstructed or
17specially constructed vehicles built to resemble vehicles which
18are model year 1948 or older, to display one registration plate
19on the rear of the vehicle if the other registration plate
20issued to the vehicle is carried in the vehicle at all times
21when the vehicle is operated on a public highway. Trucks
22registered for more than five tons, autocycles, motorcycles,
23and truck tractors are excluded from the provision. The bill
24instead applies the provision to motor vehicles registered
25as antique vehicles and motor vehicles that would require
26modifications including but not limited to adding or mounting
27hardware, drilling, or adding adhesives in order to secure a
28front registration plate. Under Code section 321.115, a motor
29vehicle may register as an antique vehicle if the vehicle is
3025 years old or older. The bill does not amend the list of
31vehicles excluded from the provision under current law.
-2-ns/rh