Iowa Code 321.323A – Approaching certain stationary vehicles
Current as of: 2023 | Check for updates
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1. The operator of a motor vehicle approaching a stationary authorized emergency vehicle that is displaying flashing lights, as permitted under section 321.423, shall approach the authorized emergency vehicle with due caution and shall proceed in one of the following manners, absent any other direction by a peace officer:
a. Make a lane change into a lane not adjacent to the authorized emergency vehicle if possible in the existing safety and traffic conditions.
b. If a lane change under paragraph “a” would be impossible, prohibited by law, or unsafe, reduce the speed of the motor vehicle to a reasonable and proper speed for the existing road and traffic conditions, which speed shall be less than the posted speed limit, and be prepared to stop.
Attorney's Note
Under the Iowa Code, punishments for crimes depend on the classification. In the case of this section:| Class | Prison | Fine |
|---|---|---|
| Simple misdemeanor | up to 30 days | between $105 and $855 |
Terms Used In Iowa Code 321.323A
- Conviction: A judgement of guilt against a criminal defendant.
- Days: means calendar days. See Iowa Code 322G.2
- Department: means the state department of transportation. See Iowa Code 321H.2
- Driver: means a person who operates a motor vehicle for the transportation of railroad workers in the motor vehicle on behalf of a railroad worker transportation company, whether the person is employed by the company for wages or drives for the company as an independent contractor. See Iowa Code 327F.39
- following: when used by way of reference to a chapter or other part of a statute mean the next preceding or next following chapter or other part. See Iowa Code 4.1
- highway: means the entire width between property lines of every way or place of whatever nature when any part thereof is open to the use of the public, as a matter of right, for purposes of vehicular travel, except in public areas in which the boundary shall be thirty-three feet each side of the center line of the roadway. See Iowa Code 321I.1
- Motor vehicle: means a self-propelled vehicle purchased or leased in this state, except as provided in section 322G. See Iowa Code 322G.2
- Operator: means a person who operates or is in actual physical control of an all-terrain vehicle. See Iowa Code 321I.1
- Person: includes any individual, firm, corporation, partnership, joint adventure, or association, and the plural as well as the singular number. See Iowa Code 321H.2
- Preliminary hearing: A hearing where the judge decides whether there is enough evidence to make the defendant have a trial.
- property: includes personal and real property. See Iowa Code 4.1
- road: include public bridges, and may be held equivalent to the words "county way" "county road" "common road" and "state road". See Iowa Code 4.1
- Vehicle: means any vehicle as defined in chapter 321. See Iowa Code 321H.2
- year: means twelve consecutive months. See Iowa Code 4.1
2. The operator of a motor vehicle approaching a stationary towing or recovery vehicle, a stationary utility maintenance vehicle, a stationary municipal maintenance vehicle, a stationary highway maintenance vehicle, a stationary construction vehicle, or a stationary solid waste or recycling collection service vehicle, that is displaying flashing lights, as permitted under section 321.423, shall approach the vehicle with due caution and shall proceed in one of the following manners, absent any other direction by a peace officer:
a. Make a lane change into a lane not adjacent to the stationary motor vehicle if possible in the existing safety and traffic conditions.
b. If a lane change under paragraph “a” would be impossible, prohibited by law, or unsafe, reduce the speed of the motor vehicle to a reasonable and proper speed for the existing road and traffic conditions, which speed shall be less than the posted speed limit, and be prepared to stop.
3. The operator of a motor vehicle approaching a stationary motor vehicle that is continually displaying its emergency signal lamps flashing simultaneously shall approach the vehicle with due caution and shall proceed in one of the following manners, absent any other direction by a peace officer:
a. Make a lane change into a lane not adjacent to the stationary motor vehicle if possible in the existing safety and traffic conditions.
b. If a lane change under paragraph “a” would be impossible, prohibited by law, or unsafe, reduce the speed of the motor vehicle to a reasonable and proper speed for the existing road and traffic conditions, which speed shall be less than the posted speed limit, and be prepared to stop.
4. a. A person convicted of a violation of this section commits a simple misdemeanor punishable as a scheduled violation under section 805.8A, subsection 11.
b. A person convicted of a violation of this section which resulted in an accident causing bodily injury to or the death of another person may be subject to the following penalties in addition to the penalty provided for a scheduled violation in section 805.8A, subsection 11, or any other penalty provided by law:
(1) For a violation causing bodily injury to another person, a fine of five hundred dollars.
(2) For a violation causing death, a fine of one thousand dollars.
c. Upon receiving a record of a person’s conviction for a violation under paragraph “a” which resulted in an accident causing damage to the property of another person or bodily injury to or death of another person, the department shall suspend the person’s driver‘s license or operating privileges, upon thirty days‘ notice and without preliminary hearing, as follows:
(1) For a violation causing damage to the property of another person, but not resulting in bodily injury to or death of another person, the department shall suspend the violator’s driver’s license or operating privileges for ninety days.
(2) For a violation causing bodily injury to another person, the department shall suspend the violator’s driver’s license or operating privileges for one hundred eighty days.
(3) For a violation causing death, the department shall suspend the violator’s driver’s license or operating privileges for one year.