Iowa Traffic Violation Records

Iowa traffic violation records are documents maintained by government agencies detailing some or all information about a driver's history of traffic-related offenses in the state. Traffic violation records are maintained by the Iowa Department of Transportation via its Motor Vehicle Division (MVD). Some traffic records are also maintained in the courts. Traffic records maintained in Iowa include details of moving and non-moving violations, with speeding violations forming a significant portion of these records.

Iowa ranks high for speeding violations, with the state in the top three for drivers with a prior speeding violation on their driving record. About 14.87% of motorists in the state have a prior speeding violation on record. An offender's driver's license may be revoked if they accumulate six or more moving violations within two years. Note that speeding is categorized as a moving violation in Iowa.

Are Traffic Violations Records Public in Iowa?

Basic traffic violation records are considered public records in Iowa. However, not all traffic violation record information maintained by the state may be publicly disclosed. According to the DPPA (Driver's Privacy Protection Act), the state restricts access to personal information such as medical details, Social Security numbers, and addresses without the consent of the record owners. Records of traffic crimes maintained by the Iowa district court are also available to the public. Requests for traffic records maintained by the district courts may be made online or offline via official methods.

How To Look Up Traffic Tickets in Iowa?

You may look up traffic tickets in Iowa by following these steps:

• Visit the Iowa Courts Online Search page
• Choose your search option. The system allows users to search by name or case/citation number
• Select the case type. From the case dropdown menu, select "Traffic Ticket"
• Select the county. In the county dropdown, choose the county where the ticket was issued
• Click on the search button

The system will return a list of results from which you may locate your case and click on the case ID to view detailed information.

Also, since basic traffic ticket information is public in Iowa, you may look up ticket records using reliable third-party websites such as publicrecords.us.

Where Do I Pay Traffic Violations?

You may pay traffic fines online in Iowa via the Iowa Courts website. To start, visit the Iowa courts website and click " Pay Fines Online." After, select "Traffic Ticket" in the "Case Type" dropdown. In the county dropdown, select the jurisdiction where the ticket was issued. You may find your ticket by name or case number. Upon locating your case, you may proceed to pay the appropriate fine online.

Alternatively, you may pay your fine by calling the Iowa statewide payment center phone at (515) 348-4788, in person at the office of the clerk of the court, or by mailing a check or money order along with a copy of the citation to the office of the clerk of the court with jurisdiction over the matter.

How Much Does It Cost To Request Your Driving Records Online?

You may order an Iowa driving record online or by mail. Online access is available via the myMVD website. To obtain your driving record online, you need your Social Security number and your Iowa driver's license number. The fee for submitting an online request is $5.50 in addition to a $3 charge (includes a $1.50 online service fee and $1.50 credit card processing fee). A non-certified copy of the record may be viewed and printed for free on the myMVD website.

A mail request costs $5.50. This fee (a check made payable to "Treasurer, State of Iowa), a copy of your driver's license or ID, and a completed Privacy Act Agreement For Request of Motor Vehicle Records form to:

Iowa driving records usually cover 5 years, with longer retention for serious violations like OWI. They contain information such as traffic violation history, license actions, administrative entries, and accident history.

What Are Moving and Non-Moving Violations in Iowa?

A moving violation occurs when a driver breaks a traffic law while the vehicle is in motion. Moving violations are generally considered more serious than non-moving violations because they directly impact road safety. Moving violations in Iowa include:

• Speeding
• Failure to yield
• Reckless or careless driving
• Running a red light or stop sign
• Improper lane changes
• Operating While Intoxicated

A non-moving violation is related to parking, registration, equipment, or documentation issues and occurs when the vehicle is not in motion or the offense does not relate to how the vehicle is driven. Examples include:

• Parking in a no-parking zone or handicapped space
• Expired vehicle registration or license plates
• Equipment violations
• Failure to carry proof of insurance
• Window tint violations
• License plate display issues

In Iowa, fines for moving violations are generally more severe than those for non-moving violations. While both moving and non-moving violations are punished with fines, non-moving violations attract lower fines. Multiple moving violations can result in license suspension under Iowa's habitual offender rule, and insurers may raise premiums due to increased risk. Serious moving violations like OWI may also require court appearances and consequently higher fines and potential jail time. On the other hand, non-moving violations do not count against the driving record of offenders for license suspension.

How Long Does OWI Stay on Your Record in Iowa?

An Operating While Intoxicated (OWI) conviction remains on your Iowa driving record for 12 years. OWI is a serious offense in Iowa and is punished severely. The state records approximately 360 OWI arrests and 5 OWI road fatalities per 100,000 annually.

Iowa stipulates the following penalties for OWI:

• First OWI Offense
• License Revocation: 180 days (1 year if a chemical test is refused)
• Fine: Minimum $1,250 (may be reduced to $1,000 if no property damage or injuries occurred)
• Jail Time: 48 hours to 1 year; minimum 48 hours mandatory
• Substance Abuse Evaluation and completion of any recommended treatment
• Participation in a drunk driving program, such as a 12-hour course
• An Ignition Interlock Device (IID) is required if seeking a temporary restricted license
• Second OWI Offense (Aggravated Misdemeanor)
• License Revocation: 1 to 2 years
• Fine: Minimum $1,875
• Jail Time: 7 days to 2 years, with a mandatory minimum of 7 days
• Substance Abuse Treatment is required
• IID installation is required for driving privileges
• Third or Subsequent OWI Offense
• License Revocation: 6 years
• Fine: Minimum $3,125 and a maximum of $9,375
• Prison Time: 30 days to 5 years, with a mandatory minimum of 30 days
• Permanent criminal record
• IID is required for any restricted driving privileges

What Are the Penalties for Breaking the Speed Limit in Iowa?

Although the state allows local jurisdictions to impose different speed limits in their areas, Section 321.285 of the Iowa Code outlines standard speed limits in the state as:

• 20 mph in business areas
• 25 mph in school and residential areas
• 45 mph in suburban areas
• 55 mph on rural highway roads
• 65 mph on selected multilane highways
• 70 mph on rural interstate highways

The state mandates the following fines for speed limit violations based on how much over the limit they travel:

• 1-5 mph over: $20 ($195 in designated road work zones)
• 6-10 mph over: $40 $20 ($195 in designated road work zones)
• 11-15 mph over: $80 $20 ($390 in designated road work zones)
• 16-20 mph over: $90 $20 ($390 in designated road work zones)
• Over 20 mph: $100 plus $5 for each additional mph over 20 ($645 in work zones for 21-25 mph over the limit and $1,285 for 25 mph over the limit)

Note that Iowa cities employ speed cameras to enforce speed limits. Fines for violations captured by these cameras are typically between $75 and $500. However, in designated work zones, these fines may double, potentially reaching up to $1,000.

Beyond fines, speeding violations in Iowa may lead to license points, increased insurance premiums, mandatory court appearances, and potential jail time for repeat offenders.

How Long Does a Speeding Ticket Stay on Your Record in Iowa?

​In Iowa, a speeding ticket typically remains on your driving record for five years.

How To Appeal A Traffic Ticket?

You may use the following defenses in court when defending yourself against an Iowa traffic ticket:

• Lack of Proper Signage: If the speed limit or traffic control sign was missing, obstructed, or not clearly visible, you may argue that you were not reasonably informed of the rule you allegedly violated.
• Faulty or Inaccurate Speed Detection: You may challenge the accuracy of the device used to measure your speed, such as a radar or laser gun. If the officer failed to properly calibrate or operate the equipment, the reading may be unreliable.
• Mistaken Identity or Vehicle Confusion: In situations involving heavy traffic or multiple vehicles, the officer may have stopped the wrong car. You may argue that your vehicle was not the one involved in the violation.
• Justifiable Emergency: You may claim that you committed the violation due to an emergency, such as rushing a person to the hospital or avoiding an accident.
• Incomplete or Incorrect Citation: If the officer made a mistake on the ticket, such as listing the wrong statute, wrong vehicle description, or incorrect location, this may be grounds to dismiss the case due to clerical errors or insufficient notice.

Although hiring an attorney to represent you in a traffic ticket case is optional in Iowa, you should consider doing so in certain situations. These circumstances include when you are facing serious charges such as OWI, driving with a suspended or revoked license, traffic violations resulting in death or injury, and reckless driving. Also, if you are unsure of the legal process in Iowa courts or already have multiple violations on your record, you may consider hiring an experienced traffic attorney.

How To Resolve an Out-of-State Traffic Ticket?

An out-of-state traffic ticket may lead to license suspension in your home state if it is not resolved on time. The Driver's License Compact (DLC) and Non-Resident Violator Compact (NRVC) are two agreements between participating states to share traffic violation information, allowing violators to be reported to their home states.

You may resolve an out-of-state traffic ticket in the following ways:

• Pay the Fine: The most common resolution is to pay the citation, which is typically an admission of guilt or "no contest".
• Request a Court Hearing (Plead Not Guilty): If you believe the citation was issued in error, you may contest it by pleading not guilty. Contact the clerk of the court in the county where the ticket was issued to request a hearing.
• Hire a Traffic Lawyer: You may hire a local attorney to handle the ticket. The attorney may negotiate with the prosecutor, secure a plea to a lesser offense, or even appear on your behalf. This helps avoid travel and may reduce the impact on your driving record.
• Request a Deferred Judgment (If Eligible): In some jurisdictions, first-time offenders may be eligible for a deferred judgment or dismissal agreement if they meet certain conditions, such as attending a traffic school.
• Submit Proof of Correction: If the ticket was for a correctable offense, such as a broken tail light or expired registration, you may be able to fix the issue and submit proof of compliance. In some cases, this may lead to dismissal or reduction of the ticket.

How Do Iowa Traffic Laws Differ From Other States?

While the basic road regulations are similar in all jurisdictions in the United States, a few of the rules may be modified or different. Some unique traffic laws in Iowa include the following:

• No Traditional Point System: Unlike many states that assign numerical demerit points for each traffic offense, Iowa does not use a traditional point-based system to track driver violations. Instead, the Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) monitors driver behavior using a habitual offender system. A driver may have their license suspended if they commit multiple moving violations within a certain period, such as three or more serious offenses within six years.
• Automated Traffic Enforcement (ATE) Use: Iowa permits the use of traffic enforcement cameras to catch speeding and red-light violations in certain cities like Cedar Rapids and Des Moines. While some states ban or heavily restrict the use of these cameras, Iowa allows municipalities to operate them and issue civil fines.
• OWI (Operating While Intoxicated) Laws: Iowa refers to drunk driving as OWI (Operating While Intoxicated), which encompasses both alcohol and drug impairment. While this is similar to DUI laws in other states, Iowa enforces strict administrative penalties for refusing a chemical test, including an automatic license revocation for one year, even for first-time offenders.