SSB 1020 – Online driver’s licenses renewal
SSB 1148 – Regulation and fees for vehicles of excessive size and weight
SSB 1156 – Extending the period of validity of driver’s licenses and ID cards
SSB 1178 – Application for title for a manufactured or mobile home
SSB 1179 – Extending the deadline for obtaining a vehicle registration fee credit
SSB 1204 – Vehicle registration fee equity
SSB 1224 – Department of Transportation omnibus bill
SF 172 – Length of on-duty and rest periods for drivers of rail crew transport vehicles
SF 237 – Establishes a single specialty plate to be customized with a decal
COMMITTEE ACTION:
SSB 1020 allows for online driver’s licenses renewal by allowing the Department of Transportation to waive the vision test or the filing of a vision report, pursuant to rules of the department. Drivers may renew their license online every other time it comes up for renewal. The bill authorizes the adoption of emergency rules to implement this provision and is effective upon enactment. [3/4: 13-0]
SSB 1148, as amended in committee, reorganizes Iowa Code chapter 321E (vehicles of excessive size and weight) and updates various provisions in the chapter. Highlights of the legislation include:
• Updating all language for clarification and removing outdated language.
• Making changes to support electronic permitting.
• Combining all permit fees into the same section, Code section 321E.14.
• Moving Code provisions related to garbage trucks from Code chapter 321 to chapter 321E.
• Raising the continuous movement maximum height requirement to coordinate with Midwest states.
• Amending Code section 321E.16 to include violations by escort operators. This violation is established as a simple misdemeanor punishable by a scheduled fine of $200. [3/4: 13-0]
SSB 1156, as amended in committee, 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. The current provision that provides for issuance of a non-expiring ID card to those 70 or over is stricken to comply with federal REAL ID requirements. 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 Department of Transportation may adopt emergency rules to implement provisions of the bill, which takes effect upon enactment. [3/4: 13-0]
SSB 1178 – Under current law, a manufactured or mobile home retailer who acquires a used home must obtain a certificate of title within 30 days of acquisition. The application for title must be made to the treasurer of the retailer’s county of residence. This bill requires that the application for title must be made to the treasurer of the county where the mobile home or manufactured home is located. [3/6: 13-0]
SSB 1179 – When a person transfers ownership of a vehicle, they are entitled to a credit of the unexpired portion of the annual registration fee. As amended in committee, this bill extends to six months the deadline for obtaining a vehicle registration fee credit when a vehicle is sold, transferred or junked. In addition, when a motor vehicle is purchased by the lessee upon termination of a lease, the lessee has six months to transfer the registration fee credit and the registration plates. [3/4: 13-0]
SSB 1204 creates greater vehicle registration fee equity. It has two components:
1. It addresses attempts to evade the fee for new registration. Beginning July 1, 2013, if the Department of Transportation, in consultation with the Department of Revenue, determines that a nonresident owner of a vehicle is a shell business, it will be presumed that the Iowa resident in control of the vehicle is the actual owner and that the vehicle is subject to registration in this state. The Department of Transportation will notify the Iowa resident in control of the vehicle of the requirement to obtain a certificate of title and registration for the vehicle and pay the applicable fee for registration within 30 days. A person who willfully attempts to evade payment of the fee for new registration is guilty of a fraudulent practice. In addition to any criminal penalty, the person will be assessed a penalty of 75 percent of the amount of the fee unpaid and required to be paid.
2. Electric motor vehicles will be subject to registration fees based on the weight and value of the vehicle. The change applies for registration years beginning on or after January 1, 2014. Registration renewals for electric motor vehicles purchased prior to that date and registered to the same owner will continue to pay current fees. [3/6: 12-1 (Feenstra “no”)]
SSB 1224 is the Department of Transportation (DOT) omnibus bill. Highlights include:
• Allowing individuals to add emergency/medical information to their electronic record for their driver’s license or ID and self-manage the information through the “myMVD” portal on the DOT’s website.
• Adding the option of maintaining proof of financial liability coverage electronically in order to provide it to the requesting officer.
• Complying with the federal regulations that require text messaging or using hand-held mobile telephone while operating a commercial motor vehicle to be an offence for purposes of commercial driver’s license disqualification. The receipt of federal highway funds is conditioned upon compliance.
• Complying with the federal transportation legislation approved in 2012 that requires an ignition interlock device for one year for a repeat OWI offenders. This allows them to get a temporary restricted license after a mandatory revocation period. The receipt of federal highway funds is conditioned upon compliance.
An amendment was added to allow fleets to renew the annual register on all their vehicles at the same time. [3/6: 13-0]
SF 172 as amended in committee, sets length of on-duty and rest periods for drivers of rail crew transport vehicles that are similar to those for commercial vehicle operators. The bill provides a detailed definition of “on duty” and “uninterrupted rest.” A driver who violates the hours-of-service restrictions commits a simple misdemeanor punishable by a scheduled fine of $50. A violation of the provisions of the bill by a railroad worker transportation company or a railroad corporation is a schedule “one” penalty, subject to a fine of $100 under current law applicable to railroads. [3/4: 13-0]
SF 237 eliminates the current process for a person to request a new special plate and eliminates state agency sponsorship of new special plates. The Department of Transportation will begin issuing special plates with a spot for an organization decal to be designed, produced and issued by the organization. The plates will be available without an additional special plate fee at the time of initial registration of a vehicle. The new plates will also be available as personalized plates upon payment of personalized plate fees. A qualifying organization must be a nonprofit with at least 200 members, whose primary activity serves the community, contributes to the welfare of others and is not discriminatory. A group of such organizations with a common purpose may also be approved to issue a decal. An organization must apply for approval by submitting information concerning its nonprofit status, the proposed decal design, certification of legal rights to use the design, and an explanation of the purpose of the decal, eligibility requirements and fees the organization will charge for the decal. The department may establish criteria for decal designs, including that a decal cannot promote a specific religion, faith or anti-religious sentiment, have any sexual connotation, or be vulgar, prejudiced, hostile, insulting, or racially or ethnically degrading. If the application is approved, the organization is responsible to produce and issue the decal. Fees charged by the organization for the decals will be retained by the organization. The bill takes effect January 1, 2014. [3/6: 13-0]