Bills › 91st General Assembly
Relating to the penalty for speeding in excess of twenty miles per hour over the limit
Sponsored by the House Public Safety Committee, Rep. Joshua Meggers (R)
Topics:Transportation
Same legislation: HF 45
Where it is now
- Done: IntroducedJanuary 14, 2025
- Done: SubcommitteeJanuary 15, 2025
- Done: House committeeJanuary 29, 2025
- Done: Passes the HouseMarch 4, 202590–5
- Done: Senate committeeApril 1, 2025
- Stopped: Passes the SenateDied when the General Assembly ended
- Next: To the Governor
- Next: Signed into law
Died when the session ended The 2026 session adjourned on May 3, 2026, the General Assembly’s last regular session. Bills that didn’t pass both chambers died. What’s a funnel?
What’s in it
AI summary People who drive too fast in places like parks, alleys, or state preserves would face higher fines. If a driver goes more than 15 miles per hour over the speed limit, the base fine would increase from $135 to $285. Drivers would still pay an extra $5 for every mile per hour they are over the limit.1
Read the official explanation
Under current law, a person who operates a motor vehicle in excess of a speed limit under Code section 321.236(5, 11) (public parks and alleys), Code section 321.285 (speed restrictions generally), Code section 321.383(5) (implements of husbandry), Code section 321O.5(1) (personal delivery devices), or Code section 461A.36 (state parks and preserves), commits a simple misdemeanor punishable by a scheduled fine that varies depending on the excessive speed. The fine ranges from $30 for a speed in excess of the limit by not more than miles per hour (MPH) to $135 plus $5 for each MPH of excessive speed over MPH over the limit. This bill increases the scheduled fine for excessive speed over MPH over the limit to $285 plus $5 for each MPH of excessive speed over MPH over the limit.
Senate subcommittee
Named March 11, 2025. On March 18, 2025 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
Cost: up to $871,000 Compare with other bills
AI summary This bill increases the fine amount for driving more than 20 miles per hour over the speed limit. It is estimated to increase total revenues by $557,000 in fiscal year 2026 and by $1.1 million in fiscal year 2027. These increases would be distributed to the state's General Fund, other state funds, and counties.3
Read the fiscal note
Description
House File 178 increases the scheduled fine for excessive speed over 20 miles per hour (MPH) over the limit from $135 plus $5 for each MPH over 20 MPH over the limit to $285 plus $5 for each MPH over 20 MPH over the limit.
Background
Under current law, a person who operates a motor vehicle in excess of a speed limit under Iowa Code section 321.285 commits a simple misdemeanor punishable by a scheduled fine that varies depending on the excessive speed. The fine ranges from $30 for a speed in excess of the limit by not more than 5 MPH to $135 plus $5 for each MPH of excessive speed over 20 MPH over the limit.
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 $55 fee for court costs are also imposed. The Crime Services Surcharge is remitted to the State Court Administrator and is distributed as follows: 46.0% to the Juvenile Detention Home Fund; 32.0% to the Victim Compensation Fund; 20.0% to the Criminalistics Laboratory Fund; and 2.0% to the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) Fund. The fee assessed for court costs is deposited into the State General Fund.
Assumptions
- In FY 2024, there were 10,527 citations for excessive speeding of over 20 MPH over the limit.
- For purposes of this estimate, 10,527 citations are assumed for the estimated FY 2025 level and used to calculate the estimates for FY 2026 and FY 2027.
- A lag time of six months is assumed from the effective date of the Bill to the date of the first violations collected.
- The collection rate for scheduled violations is estimated at 61.4%.
Surcharge (15.0%) 20.25 Court Cost 55.00 Total 210.25$ Single Citation — Current LawPenalty 285.00$ Surcharge (15.0%) 42.75 Court Cost 55.00 Total 382.75$ Single Citation — HF 178
Fiscal Impact
House File 178 is estimated to increase total revenues by $557,000 in FY 2026. Of that increase, $435,000 will be deposited into the State General Fund and $122,000 will be allocated to other funds and to the counties. In FY 2027, total revenues are estimated to increase by $1.1 million compared to current law FY 2025 estimates. Of the total increase, $871,000 will be deposited into the State General Fund and $244,000 will be allocated to other funds and to the counties. Revenue increases are illustrated in Figure 1.
Figure 1 — Current Law vs HF 178
Sources
- Department of Management (DOM), Criminal and Juvenile Justice Planning (CJJP)
- LSA calculations
- Speeding, Fine Amount · February 11, 2025 · $871,000
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91st General Assembly
Similar bills
- HF 2496 Relating to the penalty for speeding in excess of twenty miles per hour over the limit91st General Assembly · Approved by committeeNearly identical
Matched by wording or an identical title.