SSB 1156

Topics:Public safety & emergencies Transportation

Same legislation: SF 419

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Official bill page Lobbyist declarations One-pager to print

Where it is now

Done: IntroducedFebruary 3, 2021
Done: SubcommitteeFebruary 3, 2021
Done: Senate committeeFebruary 18, 2021
Skipped: Passes the SenateContinued as SF 419
Next: House committee
Next: Passes the House
Next: To the Governor
Next: Signed into law

Became SF 419 → Its progress continues under the new number. Go to SF 419 What’s a funnel?

What’s in it

AI summary Police officers cannot pull over or detain a driver just because their vehicle is missing a front license plate. This rule applies to antique vehicles and cars that would need physical changes, like drilling holes, to mount a front plate. Officers can only cite a driver for a missing front plate if they have already stopped them for a different reason.¹

Read the official explanation

37(1) if the suspected violation involves a motor vehicle required to display two registration plates, one in the front and the other in the rear, and the suspected violation is based on the motor vehicle displaying only one registration plate in the rear. Such a suspected violation is enforceable by a peace officer only when the driver of the motor vehicle has been stopped or detained for a suspected violation of another provision of law. Since 1997, Iowa has allowed certain motor vehicles which are model year 1948 or older, and certain reconstructed or specially constructed vehicles built to resemble vehicles which are model year 1948 or older, to display one registration plate on the rear of the vehicle if the other registration plate issued to the vehicle is carried in the vehicle at all times when the vehicle is operated on a public highway. Trucks registered for more than five tons, autocycles, motorcycles, and truck tractors are excluded from the provision. The bill instead applies the provision to motor vehicles registered as antique vehicles and motor vehicles that would require modifications including but not limited to adding or mounting hardware, drilling, or adding adhesives in order to secure a front registration plate.115, a motor vehicle may register as an antique vehicle if the vehicle is years old or older. The bill does not amend the list of vehicles excluded from the provision under current law.

Full bill text²

Senate subcommittee

Named February 3, 2021. On February 8, 2021 it recommended passage.

Three legislators hear a bill first and recommend what the committee should do; it’s the best time to weigh in. How to take part

Fiscal note

AI summary This bill prohibits officers from stopping drivers who only display a rear license plate and exempts antique or modified vehicles from needing a front plate. Because fewer people would be cited for this violation, the state expects a loss of revenue in fiscal year 2021. Depending on how many convictions decrease, the total loss to the state, counties, and various funds could range from $26,120 to $77,370.³

Read the fiscal note

Description

Senate File 419 prohibits a peace officer from stopping or detaining a person if the person’s motor vehicle is required to display a license plate on both its front and rear, but the motor vehicle displays a license plate only on its rear. The Bill also amends 321.37(2) to say that a vehicle registered as an antique under Iowa Code section 321.115, or a motor vehicle that would require modifications to mount a front license plate are exempt from displaying a front license plate.

Background

The display of front license plates is currently not required on certain vehicles such as autocycles and motorcycles, and motor vehicles with a model year of 1948 or older. In addition, truck tractors are required to display a front license plate under Iowa Code section 321.37(1). In FY 2018 there were 2,005 scheduled violations for failing to display license plates under Iowa Code section 321.37. In FY 2019, there were 1,937 violations, and in FY 2020, there were 1,586 violations.

Under Iowa Code section 602.8106(4)(b), scheduled fine revenue for a State law violation is distributed as follows: 91.0% to the State and 9.0% to the general fund of the county in which the violation occurred. For the State share of citations, 1.3% is distributed to the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Fund and 98.7% is distributed to the State General Fund. In addition to the scheduled fine, a Crime Services Surcharge, equal to 15.0% of the fine, and a $55 fee for court costs are also imposed. The Crime Services Surcharge is remitted to the State Court Administrator and is distributed as follows: 46.0% to the Juvenile Detention Home Fund; 32.0% to the Victim Compensation Fund; 20.0% to the Criminalistics Laboratory Fund; and 2.0% to the Drug Abuse Resistance Education Fund. The fee assessed for court costs is deposited into the State General Fund.

Assumptions

Fewer vehicles will be stopped for incorrectly displaying their license plates, resulting in fewer violations of section 321.37.
There will be 1,800 convictions of current law in FY 2021, based on an average of the last three years.
The collection rate is 58.0%.
The scheduled fine for a violation of improper display of registration plates is $30.

Correctional Impact

Since the penalty for violation of Senate File 419 does not include imprisonment, a correctional impact is unknown. Refer to the Legislative Services Agency (LSA) memo addressed to the General Assembly, Cost Estimates Used for Correctional Impact Statements, dated January 22, 2021, for information related to the correctional system.

Minority Impact

Convictions under current Iowa Code section 321.37 are displayed in Table 1. While convictions are likely to decrease due to this Bill, the impact is unknown. Refer to the LSA memo addressed to the General Assembly, Minority Impact Statement, dated January 27, 2021, for information related to minorities in the criminal justice system.

Table 1

Fiscal Impact

While the number of convictions of 321.37 under this Bill is unknown, Table 2 provides a range of possible decreases in convictions of 500, 1,000, and 1,500, and the resulting loss of revenue.Caucasian African American Other FY 2019 1631 176 130 FY 2020 1335 144 106 Iowa Code Section 321.276 Convictions by EthnicityCurrent Law Est. FY 2021 500 Convictions 1,000 Convictions 1,500 Convictions

General Fund

Penalty Revenue 28,000$ -8,000$ -16,000$ -23,000$ Court Fee 57,000 -16,000 -32,000 -48,000 Subtotal 85,000$ -24,000$ -48,000$ -71,000$

Surcharge Revenue

Juvenile Detention 2,200$ -600$ -1,200$ -1,800$ Victim Comp. 1,500 -400 -800 -1,200 Crime Lab 900 -200 -500 -700 DARE 90 -20 -50 -70 Subtotal 4,690$ -1,220$ -2,550$ -3,770$

Other

County General Funds 2,800$ -800$ -1,500$ -2,300$ EMS Fund 400 -100 -200 -300 Grand Total 92,890$ -26,120$ -52,250$ -77,370$ *Figures may not add up due to rounding Table 2 — Estimated Range of Annual Fiscal Impact Under SF 419