SF 224 – Duplicate driver’s licenses and ID cards & extending the period of validity
HF 619 – ATVs on secondary roads
FLOOR ACTION:
SF 224 changes the fee for replacement of a driver’s license or ID card. Currently, under Code section 321.195, the fee for replacement of a driver’s license or ID card that was lost or destroyed is $3, and the fee for voluntary replacement (e.g., to reflect a name change) is $1. The bill establishes a single replacement fee of $10, which is the actual cost. In addition, the bill allows honorably discharged veterans to have their veteran status noted on their driver’s licenses or ID when obtaining a duplicate, rather than waiting until their license comes up for renewal.
The bill was amended by the House to incorporate much of SF 348, which won unanimous approval in the Senate on March 13. As amended, SF 224 extends the period of validity of driver’s licenses and ID cards from five years to eight years, with a corresponding fee increase from $5 to $8. To comply with REAL ID requirements, non-expiring ID cards will no longer be issued to those 70 or over. If a driver is between 18 and 72, their license is good for up to eight years, not to exceed the driver’s 74th birthday. For those below age 18 and age 72 or older, a license is good for two years. The fee for a driver’s license will be based on the number of years it is valid. In addition, anyone who surrenders their license due to an inability to drive will receive an ID card at no charge. The Senate concurred on the House amendment. [4/16: 38-12 (Anderson, Bertrand, Chapman, Chelgren, Dix, Feenstra, Guth, Sinclair, Smith, Sorenson, Whitver, Zaun “no”)]
COMMITTEE ACTION:
HF 619 provides for the registration of all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) for operation on secondary roads. An ATV with four or more wheels may be registered with the Department of Transportation (DOT) through the county treasurer. The annual registration fee is $50. Recreational ATVs are subject to sales tax, and exempt from the fee for new registration. The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will continue to issue certificates of title for ATVs. To register an ATV with the DOT, an applicant must present a registration receipt from the DNR containing a description of the ATV and identifying the owner. An ATV registered with the DOT may be operated on secondary roads, but not on primary highways, except to cross over a primary highway, and not on highways within a city except where ATVs are permitted by ordinance. A city may authorize the operation of ATVs registered with the DOT on highways under the city’s jurisdiction other than municipal extensions of primary highways. A person who operates an ATV on a highway must be at least 16, have a valid driver’s license, obey Iowa motor vehicle laws and carry proof of insurance. The ATV must meet requirements for headlamps, rear lamps and turn signals. Current speed limits apply to ATVs operated on a highway, except that they may not exceed 45 miles per hour. A violation is a simple misdemeanor punishable by a scheduled fine of $50. [4/17: 13-0]