Iowa Driving Record
Anyone who operates a motor vehicle or motorcycle or moped on public streets and roads in Iowa is required to have a license. You are considered an Iowa resident for purposes of driver licensing if you have:
- registered to vote in this state;
- enrolled your children in public school;
- accepted a permanent job in the state; or
- lived in Iowa continuously for 30 days.
- You do not need an Iowa drivers license if you:
- are driving a military motor vehicle while on duty with the U.S. Armed Forces;
- are driving farm equipment between the home farm and any nearby (not more than two miles) farmlandor farm operation; or
- are a student or visitor and have a current license from your home state or country.
Unlawful Use of Your License
Misusing your license is a misdemeanor punishable by fines, jail sentences and license suspensions. For your sake, dont. Here are some unlawful uses of your drivers license/permit that could get you into trouble:
- showing or having a canceled or fraudulent license or permit;
- lending your license or permit to anyone else;
- using anyone elses license or permit;
- keeping any license or permit if it is suspended, revoked or canceled, if the DOT has requested it be turned in;
- using a false or fictitious name;
- permitting any unlawful use of your license or permit; or
- altering your license or permit in any way.
Iowa License Suspension
Your license can be suspended for several reasons. These reasons include:
- habitual recklessness or negligence - having a combination of three or more moving violations and accidents, or contributing to three or more accidents in a 12-month period;
- habitual violator - three or more convictions for moving traffic violations within any 12-month period, or contributing to three or more accidents in a 12-month period;
- failure to pass an examination, or a mental or physical condition making you unable to drive safely; violation of license restriction;
- being a juvenile who a court has ruled delinquent for violating drug or alcohol laws;
- failure to pay a fine, penalty, surcharge or court costs resulting from a traffic ticket;
- conviction for excessive speeding, traffic violation(s) contributing to a fatality, or an arresting officer or court stating an unusually serious violation occurred;
- failure to attend an approved school if you are under age 18; or
- falsifying information on an application.
Iowa License Mandatory Revocations
Your license will be taken away for any of the following:
- manslaughter resulting from driving a motor vehicle;
- using a motor vehicle when committing a felony;
- failure to stop and give aid at the scene of a personal injury or fatal accident in which you were involved;
- lying about the registration or operation of a motor vehicle;
- eluding or trying to elude a marked law enforcement vehicle driven by a uniformed peace officer after being signaled with lights or a siren to stop, and while doing that, going over the speed limit by 25 mph or more;
- driving a motor vehicle under the influence of an alcoholic beverage or other drug or a combination of such substances (see pages 16 and 17 for penalties);
- refusing to take a chemical test when requested by a peace officer;
- having an alcohol concentration of .08 or more (.02 or more if under age 21) in a chemical test;
- a second conviction for reckless driving;
- drag racing;
- conviction of an Iowa resident in a court in Iowa, or in another state or federal court, of certain drugrelated offenses; or
- conviction, or juvenile court action, for drug/drugrelated violations.
Iowa Driver License Points
| Points | Type of Violation |
|---|
| 2 | Making a false statement to the Department of Public Safety |
| 2 | Driving while your license has been suspended, denied, or revoked |
| 3 | Driving after your license has been revoked for an alcohol- or drug-related offense |
| 4 | Driving while barred |
| 4 | Driving while under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs |
| 5 | Committing an offense punishable as a felony under motor vehicle laws or involvement in any felony in which a motor vehicle was used |
| 5 | Leaving the scene or failing to offer help at an accident site |
| 5 | Eluding or attempting to elude a law enforcement officer |
| 5 | Causing serious injury with the operation of your vehicle |
| 6 | Manslaughter resulting from the operation of your vehicle |
Additional Iowa Resources
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