Iowa

GHSA maintains data on state laws surrounding a number of highway safety issues. Below is information regarding laws in the state of Iowa. For more information, consult the State Highway Safety Office.

  • Alcohol Impaired Driving

    Penalties

    Increased Penalty for High BAC Administrative License Suspension on First Offense Limited Driving Privileges During Suspension
    .15 180 days After 30 days

    Ignition Interlocks

    Highly incentivized for all convictions.

    Other

    Open Container Laws Repeat Offender Laws
    Yes Yes

     

  • Child Passenger Safety

    Child Restraint Required

    Under 1 yrs and under 20 lbs in rear-facing child seat

    1-5 yrs in child restraint or booster seat

    Adult Safety Belt Permissible

    6-17 yrs

  • Distracted Driving

    Hand-Held Ban?

    No

    All Cell Phone Ban?

    School Bus Drivers

    No

    Novice Drivers

    Drivers with restricted or intermediate license. Primary law.

    Text Messaging Ban?

    All drivers. Primary law.

  • Drug Impaired Driving

    DUID Zero Tolerance or Per se Laws for Some Drugs

    • Zero tolerance for some drugs

    Marijuana-Specific Laws

    • Possession and Use: Illegal
    • Impaired Driving: Zero tolerance for THC
  • Mature Drivers

    Length of Regular Renewal Cycle

    8 years

    Provisions for Mature Drivers

    78 and over: renewal every 2 years

     

  • Motorcyclists

    Universal helmet law repealed 1976.

  • Seat Belts

    Type of Law

    Primary

    Who Is Covered?

    All riders

    In What Seat?

    Front

  • Speed and Red Light Cameras

    Speed Cameras

    No state law, but permitted by city ordinance

    Red Light Cameras

    No state law, but permitted by city ordinance

  • Speeding and Aggressive Driving

    Rural Interstates

    Cars (MPH) Trucks (MPH)
    70 70

    Urban Interstates

    Cars (MPH) Trucks (MPH)
    70 70

    Other Limited Access Roads

    Cars (MPH) Trucks (MPH)
    50 50
  • Teen and Novice Drivers

    Full Privilege Minimum Age

    17 years

    Learner Stage

    Minimum Age (Years/Months)

    Minimum Duration (Months)

    Required Supervised Driving Hours (Night Hours)
    14 12

    20 (2) during Learner Stage

    10 (2) during Intermediate Stage

    Intermediate Stage

    Minimum Age (Years/Months)

    		 Nighttime Driving Restriction

    Passenger Restriction (except family, unless noted)
    16 12:30 a.m. - 5 a.m. First 6 months: no more than 1 under 18, parents may waive