Print
House File 2100 - IntroducedA Bill ForAn Act 1relating to driver’s licenses valid for the operation of
2motor scooters.
3BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
1 Section 1. Section 321.1, Code 2018, is amended by adding
2the following new subsection:
3 NEW SUBSECTION. 40A. “Motor Scooter” means every motor
4vehicle having a saddle or seat for the use of the rider,
5designed to travel on not more than three wheels in contact
6with the ground, equipped with an engine no greater than
7one hundred fifty cubic centimeters in size, and capable of
8operating at a speed in excess of thirty-nine miles per hour on
9level ground unassisted by human power.
10 Sec. 2. Section 321.145, subsection 2, paragraph a,
11subparagraph (2), Code 2018, is amended to read as follows:
12(2) An amount equal to two dollars per year of license
13validity for each issued or renewed driver’s license which is
14valid for the operation of a motorcycle, other than a class C
15driver’s license valid for the operation of a motor scooter,
16 shall be credited to the motorcycle rider education fund
17established under section 321.179.
18 Sec. 3. Section 321.189, subsection 1, paragraph a,
19subparagraph (3), Code 2018, is amended to read as follows:
20(3) Class C — Valid.
21(a) Except as provided in subparagraph division (b),
22validfor the operation of a vehicle, other than a motorcycle,
23or a combination of vehicles with a gross combination weight
24rating of twenty-six thousand one or more pounds provided
25the towing vehicle has a gross vehicle weight rating of less
26than twenty-six thousand one pounds and each towed vehicle
27has a gross vehicle weight rating of less than ten thousand
28one pounds, or a combination of vehicles with a gross vehicle
29weight rating or gross combination weight rating of less than
30twenty-six thousand one pounds and also valid for the operation
31of any vehicle, other than a motorcycle, for which the operator
32is exempt from commercial driver’s license requirements under
33section 321.176A.
34(b) Valid for the operation of a motor scooter if the holder
35of the driver’s license is twenty-two years of age or older.
-1-1 Sec. 4. Section 321.191, subsection 5, Code 2018, is amended
2to read as follows:
35. Licenses valid for motorcycles. An additional fee of
4two dollars per year of license validity is required to issue
5a license valid to operate a motorcycle, other than a class C
6driver’s license valid for the operation of a motor scooter.
7EXPLANATION
8The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
9the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
10Under current law, Code section 321.1 provides that a
11motorcycle is a motor vehicle having a saddle or seat for the
12use of the rider and designed to travel on not more than three
13wheels in contact with the ground. The term “motorcycle”
14includes motor scooters and excludes tractors, autocycles, and
15motorized bicycles. The term “motor scooter” is not defined
16in Code chapter 321. Code section 321.189 provides that a
17class C driver’s license is valid for, among other things, the
18operation of vehicles, other than motorcycles, that weigh less
19than 26,001 pounds and vehicles, other than motorcycles, for
20which the operator is exempt from commercial driver’s license
21requirements.
22This bill defines “motor scooter” to mean a motor vehicle
23having a saddle or seat for the use of the rider, designed
24to travel on not more than three wheels in contact with the
25ground, equipped with an engine no greater than 150 cubic
26centimeters in size, and capable of operating at a speed in
27excess of 39 miles per hour on level ground unassisted by
28human power. The bill does not remove “motor scooter” from
29the definition of “motorcycle”, but provides that a class C
30driver’s license is valid for the operation of a motor scooter
31if the holder of the driver’s license is 22 years of age or
32older. The bill also exempts class C driver’s licenses valid
33for the operation of a motor scooter from the fee added to
34driver’s licenses valid for the operation of a motorcycle
35fordeposit in the motorcycle rider education fund.
-2- 1The bill does not otherwise alter any requirements or
2limitations applicable to motorcycles, and therefore to motor
3scooters, under current law. These include but are not limited
4to the requirement that the registration plate issued for a
5motorcycle be attached to the rear of the motorcycle (Code
6section 321.37), the imposition of the $20 annual registration
7fee for motorcycles (Code section 321.117), the prohibition
8against operating or riding a motorcycle on the highways
9with another person on the motorcycle unless the motorcycle
10is designed to carry more than one person (Code section
11321.275), and the requirement that motorcycles be equipped with
12at least one and not more than two headlamps (Code section
13321.386). Under the bill, a person is still required to obtain
14a motorcycle instruction permit or class M driver’s license
15to operate a motorcycle if the operator is 21 years of age or
16younger, or to operate a motorcycle other than a motor scooter
17if the operator is 22 years of age or older (Code sections
18321.180, 321.180B, and 321.189).
-3-ns/rh
2motor scooters.
3BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
1 Section 1. Section 321.1, Code 2018, is amended by adding
2the following new subsection:
3 NEW SUBSECTION. 40A. “Motor Scooter” means every motor
4vehicle having a saddle or seat for the use of the rider,
5designed to travel on not more than three wheels in contact
6with the ground, equipped with an engine no greater than
7one hundred fifty cubic centimeters in size, and capable of
8operating at a speed in excess of thirty-nine miles per hour on
9level ground unassisted by human power.
10 Sec. 2. Section 321.145, subsection 2, paragraph a,
11subparagraph (2), Code 2018, is amended to read as follows:
12(2) An amount equal to two dollars per year of license
13validity for each issued or renewed driver’s license which is
14valid for the operation of a motorcycle, other than a class C
15driver’s license valid for the operation of a motor scooter,
16 shall be credited to the motorcycle rider education fund
17established under section 321.179.
18 Sec. 3. Section 321.189, subsection 1, paragraph a,
19subparagraph (3), Code 2018, is amended to read as follows:
20(3) Class C — Valid.
21(a) Except as provided in subparagraph division (b),
22validfor the operation of a vehicle, other than a motorcycle,
23or a combination of vehicles with a gross combination weight
24rating of twenty-six thousand one or more pounds provided
25the towing vehicle has a gross vehicle weight rating of less
26than twenty-six thousand one pounds and each towed vehicle
27has a gross vehicle weight rating of less than ten thousand
28one pounds, or a combination of vehicles with a gross vehicle
29weight rating or gross combination weight rating of less than
30twenty-six thousand one pounds and also valid for the operation
31of any vehicle, other than a motorcycle, for which the operator
32is exempt from commercial driver’s license requirements under
33section 321.176A.
34(b) Valid for the operation of a motor scooter if the holder
35of the driver’s license is twenty-two years of age or older.
-1-1 Sec. 4. Section 321.191, subsection 5, Code 2018, is amended
2to read as follows:
35. Licenses valid for motorcycles. An additional fee of
4two dollars per year of license validity is required to issue
5a license valid to operate a motorcycle, other than a class C
6driver’s license valid for the operation of a motor scooter.
7EXPLANATION
8The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
9the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
10Under current law, Code section 321.1 provides that a
11motorcycle is a motor vehicle having a saddle or seat for the
12use of the rider and designed to travel on not more than three
13wheels in contact with the ground. The term “motorcycle”
14includes motor scooters and excludes tractors, autocycles, and
15motorized bicycles. The term “motor scooter” is not defined
16in Code chapter 321. Code section 321.189 provides that a
17class C driver’s license is valid for, among other things, the
18operation of vehicles, other than motorcycles, that weigh less
19than 26,001 pounds and vehicles, other than motorcycles, for
20which the operator is exempt from commercial driver’s license
21requirements.
22This bill defines “motor scooter” to mean a motor vehicle
23having a saddle or seat for the use of the rider, designed
24to travel on not more than three wheels in contact with the
25ground, equipped with an engine no greater than 150 cubic
26centimeters in size, and capable of operating at a speed in
27excess of 39 miles per hour on level ground unassisted by
28human power. The bill does not remove “motor scooter” from
29the definition of “motorcycle”, but provides that a class C
30driver’s license is valid for the operation of a motor scooter
31if the holder of the driver’s license is 22 years of age or
32older. The bill also exempts class C driver’s licenses valid
33for the operation of a motor scooter from the fee added to
34driver’s licenses valid for the operation of a motorcycle
35fordeposit in the motorcycle rider education fund.
-2- 1The bill does not otherwise alter any requirements or
2limitations applicable to motorcycles, and therefore to motor
3scooters, under current law. These include but are not limited
4to the requirement that the registration plate issued for a
5motorcycle be attached to the rear of the motorcycle (Code
6section 321.37), the imposition of the $20 annual registration
7fee for motorcycles (Code section 321.117), the prohibition
8against operating or riding a motorcycle on the highways
9with another person on the motorcycle unless the motorcycle
10is designed to carry more than one person (Code section
11321.275), and the requirement that motorcycles be equipped with
12at least one and not more than two headlamps (Code section
13321.386). Under the bill, a person is still required to obtain
14a motorcycle instruction permit or class M driver’s license
15to operate a motorcycle if the operator is 21 years of age or
16younger, or to operate a motorcycle other than a motor scooter
17if the operator is 22 years of age or older (Code sections
18321.180, 321.180B, and 321.189).
-3-ns/rh