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House File 170 - IntroducedA Bill ForAn Act 1relating to the manner in which motor vehicles turn at
2intersections, and making penalties applicable.
3BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
1 Section 1. Section 321.311, subsection 1, Code 2023, is
2amended to read as follows:
31. The driver of a vehicle intending to turn at an
4intersection shall do so as follows all of the following, as
5applicable:
6a. Both the approach for a right turn and right turn shall
7be made as close as practical practicable to the right-hand
8curb or edge of the roadway.
9b. Approach for a left turn shall be made in that portion of
10the right half of the roadway nearest the center line thereof
11and, after entering the intersection, the left turn shall be
12made so as to depart from the intersection to the right of the
13center line and as close as practicable to the center line of
14the roadway being entered.
15c. Approach for a left turn from a two-way street into
16a one-way street shall be made in that portion of the right
17half of the roadway nearest the center line thereof and by
18passing to the right of such center line where it enters the
19intersection and, after entering the intersection, the left
20turn shall be made so as to depart from the intersection as
21close as practicable to the left-hand curb or edge of the
22street being entered. A
23d. Approach for aleft turn from a one-way street into a
24 two-way street shall be made by passing as close as practicable
25to the left-hand curb or edge of the street and, after entering
26the intersection, the left turn shall be made so as to depart
27from the intersection to the right of the center line and as
28close as practicable to the center line of the street being
29entered upon leaving the intersection.
30 Sec. 2. Section 321.311, Code 2023, is amended by adding the
31following new subsection:
32 NEW SUBSECTION. 1A. The driver of a vehicle making a turn
33at an intersection from a laned highway into another laned
34highway shall maintain and complete the turn by approaching,
35entering, and departing the intersection in the same
-1-1corresponding lane, as determined from the right-hand edge of
2the roadway for a vehicle turning right, and from the left-hand
3edge of the roadway for a vehicle turning left.
4EXPLANATION
5The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
6the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
7This bill relates to the manner in which motor vehicles
8turn at intersections. Under current law, a driver making
9a left turn must yield the right-of-way to all vehicles
10approaching from the opposite direction which are within the
11intersection or so close thereto as to constitute an immediate
12hazard, before making the left turn (Code section 321.320).
13In addition, the driver of a vehicle making a left turn is
14required to depart from the intersection to the right of
15the center line of the roadway being entered (Code section
16321.311). The bill requires the driver to also keep the
17vehicle as close as practicable to the center line.
18If the left turn is from a two-way street into a one-way
19street, the bill requires the driver, after entering the
20intersection, to depart from the intersection as close as
21practicable to the left-hand curb or edge of the street being
22entered. If the left turn is from a one-way street into a
23two-way street, the bill requires the driver to make the turn
24as close as practicable to the left-hand curb or edge of the
25street and, after entering the intersection, to depart from the
26intersection as close as practicable to the center line of the
27street being entered.
28The bill requires a driver making a turn at an intersection
29from a laned highway into another laned highway to maintain and
30complete the turn by approaching, entering, and departing the
31intersection in the same corresponding lane. A “laned highway”
32is a highway the roadway of which is divided into three or more
33clearly marked lanes for vehicular traffic.
34A violation of Code section 321.311 is punishable by a
35scheduled fine of $135.
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2intersections, and making penalties applicable.
3BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
1 Section 1. Section 321.311, subsection 1, Code 2023, is
2amended to read as follows:
31. The driver of a vehicle intending to turn at an
4intersection shall do so as follows all of the following, as
5applicable:
6a. Both the approach for a right turn and right turn shall
7be made as close as practical practicable to the right-hand
8curb or edge of the roadway.
9b. Approach for a left turn shall be made in that portion of
10the right half of the roadway nearest the center line thereof
11and, after entering the intersection, the left turn shall be
12made so as to depart from the intersection to the right of the
13center line and as close as practicable to the center line of
14the roadway being entered.
15c. Approach for a left turn from a two-way street into
16a one-way street shall be made in that portion of the right
17half of the roadway nearest the center line thereof and by
18passing to the right of such center line where it enters the
19intersection and, after entering the intersection, the left
20turn shall be made so as to depart from the intersection as
21close as practicable to the left-hand curb or edge of the
22street being entered. A
23d. Approach for aleft turn from a one-way street into a
24 two-way street shall be made by passing as close as practicable
25to the left-hand curb or edge of the street and, after entering
26the intersection, the left turn shall be made so as to depart
27from the intersection to the right of the center line and as
28close as practicable to the center line of the street being
29entered upon leaving the intersection.
30 Sec. 2. Section 321.311, Code 2023, is amended by adding the
31following new subsection:
32 NEW SUBSECTION. 1A. The driver of a vehicle making a turn
33at an intersection from a laned highway into another laned
34highway shall maintain and complete the turn by approaching,
35entering, and departing the intersection in the same
-1-1corresponding lane, as determined from the right-hand edge of
2the roadway for a vehicle turning right, and from the left-hand
3edge of the roadway for a vehicle turning left.
4EXPLANATION
5The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
6the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
7This bill relates to the manner in which motor vehicles
8turn at intersections. Under current law, a driver making
9a left turn must yield the right-of-way to all vehicles
10approaching from the opposite direction which are within the
11intersection or so close thereto as to constitute an immediate
12hazard, before making the left turn (Code section 321.320).
13In addition, the driver of a vehicle making a left turn is
14required to depart from the intersection to the right of
15the center line of the roadway being entered (Code section
16321.311). The bill requires the driver to also keep the
17vehicle as close as practicable to the center line.
18If the left turn is from a two-way street into a one-way
19street, the bill requires the driver, after entering the
20intersection, to depart from the intersection as close as
21practicable to the left-hand curb or edge of the street being
22entered. If the left turn is from a one-way street into a
23two-way street, the bill requires the driver to make the turn
24as close as practicable to the left-hand curb or edge of the
25street and, after entering the intersection, to depart from the
26intersection as close as practicable to the center line of the
27street being entered.
28The bill requires a driver making a turn at an intersection
29from a laned highway into another laned highway to maintain and
30complete the turn by approaching, entering, and departing the
31intersection in the same corresponding lane. A “laned highway”
32is a highway the roadway of which is divided into three or more
33clearly marked lanes for vehicular traffic.
34A violation of Code section 321.311 is punishable by a
35scheduled fine of $135.
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