2/15/02 - The Iowa House Transportation committee has passed a bill that would raise the speed limit on interstate highways to 70 mph for cars, but keep it at 65 mph for trucks with a gross weight exceeding 10,000 lbs. Sponsored by the House Transportation Committee; HF268 passed the House committees on Feb. 13.
This measure would affect only interstate highways, while earlier proposals included divided state highways. The Iowa Legislature has debated raising the speed limit for years. This bill may be more likely to pass because it is scaled back compared to earlier proposals. HF268 is waiting for assignment on the Senate calendar.
Reps. David Johnson (R-Ocheyedan), Ralph Klemme (R-LeMars) and Rick Larkin (D-Madison) are the main backers of this bill. The general information number is (515) 281-5129.

2/7/02 - The Iowa House of Representatives will consider a bill that would raise the speed limit on interstate highways to 70 mph for cars, but keep it at 65 mph for trucks with a gross weight exceeding 10,000 lbs. Sponsored by the House Transportation Committee, HF268 was amended and passed Feb. 5, sending it to the full House for a vote.
The state legislature has debated raising the speed limit for years. This bill may be more likely to pass because it is scaled back compared to earlier proposals. In addition to the fact that it doesn't raise speed limits for trucks, the measure would affect only interstate highways, while earlier proposals included divided state highways. The general information number is (515) 281-5129.

7/19/01 - Iowa's session is closed for 2001, but HF64, a bill to double penalties for all moving violations if the offender was operating a cell phone at the time of the offense, is still sitting in the transportation committee. Rep. Williard Jenkins has promised to carry over HF64 to the 2002 session.

3/19/01 - On Mar. 16, both SF26 and SF27 were officially declared dead for this year's session. If the bills had become law speed limits for all vehicles would've been boosted to 70 mph on rural interstates, and 65 mph on other four-lane divided highways.
HF64, a bill to double penalties for all moving violations if the offender was operating a cell phone at the time of the offense, is still sitting in the Transportation Committee. The exception to a penalty is if the driver was calling 911 or another emergency number. The general information number for the Iowa Legislature is (515) 281-5129.

2/26/01 - Iowa lawmakers put the brakes on a proposal last week that would have raised the state's interstate highway speed limit to 70 mph for cars while keeping trucks at 65. According to published reports, supporters of HF268 said they couldn't get the votes necessary to pass the bill.
House Majority Leader Christopher Rants of Sioux City, a proponent of higher speed limits, said he has taken the bill off the debate agenda. Rants acknowledged that support for the bill had eroded and he didn't have the 51 votes needed for passage in the House.
Rep. David Johnson of Ocheyedan, the bill's floor manager, said while the future of a speed-limit increase looks bleak this year, nothing is officially dead until the legislature adjourns in the spring. Johnson said he's been working on the issue for three years, and it's not going to go away.

2/12/01 - Both SF26 and SF27 propose boosting speed limits to 70 mph on rural interstates, and 65 mph on other four-lane divided highways. These speed limits would apply to all vehicles.
If it passes the legislature, HF64 will double penalties for all moving violations if the offender was operating a cell phone at the time the offense was committed. There is an exception if the driver was calling 911 or another emergency number.
HF101 mandates that all motor vehicles move to the left (on multi-lane highways) if there is an emergency vehicle on the shoulder. If it is not possible to move over, then a driver must slow to at least 10 mph below the posted speed limit. The bill suggests a fine of $25 for violations if this bill becomes law.
Sources in the legislature tell Land Line that there will be a bill introduced soon to significantly increase all traffic violation fines. The Department of Public Safety is said to have requested the legislature to act on this issue.
The general information number for the Iowa Legislature is (515) 281-5129.