Iowa Code

Iowa Code § 321.231 (2026)

Authorized emergency vehicles and police bicycles

✓ current as of July 2026

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1. The driver of an authorized emergency vehicle, when responding to an emergency call or when in the pursuit of an actual or suspected perpetrator of a felony or misdemeanor, or in response to an incident dangerous to the public, or when responding to but not upon returning from a fire alarm, may exercise the privileges set forth in this section. 2. The driver of any authorized emergency vehicle, may:

Tue Dec 09 22:16:59 2025 Iowa Code 2026, Chapter 321 (137, 2) 167 MOTOR VEHICLES AND LAW OF THE ROAD, §321.231\n\n a. Park or stand an authorized emergency vehicle, irrespective of the provisions of this chapter. b. Disregard laws or regulations governing direction of movement for the minimum distance necessary before an alternative route that conforms to the traffic laws and regulations is available. c. Drive the vehicle on the shoulder or median of a highway. d. Disregard laws or regulations governing turning the vehicle in specified directions. e. Disregard laws or regulations governing overtaking or passing other motorists. 3. The driver of an official fire department vehicle, police vehicle, rescue vehicle, ambulance, emergency medical services vehicle, or emergency management vehicle, or a peace officer riding a police bicycle in the line of duty, may do any of the following: a. Proceed past a red or stop signal or stop sign, but only after slowing down to or maintaining a speed deemed necessary for safe operation by the driver based on information known to the driver at the time. b. Exceed the maximum speed limits so long as the driver does not recklessly endanger life or property. 4. A peace officer operating an authorized emergency vehicle may execute a pursuit intervention technique if such execution is reasonable under the circumstances based on the information perceived by the officer at the time, and the officer has completed a training course approved by the Iowa law enforcement academy that instructs participants in the proper execution of pursuit intervention techniques. For purposes of this subsection, “pursuit intervention technique” means a method by which a peace officer operating a motor vehicle in pursuit of a fleeing motor vehicle causes or attempts to cause the fleeing motor vehicle to stop, including by use of reasonable force. This subsection shall not be construed to limit a peace officer’s objectively reasonable use of force in connection with a pursuit. 5. a. The exemptions granted to the driver of an authorized emergency vehicle under subsection 2 and to the driver of an official fire department vehicle, police vehicle, rescue vehicle, ambulance, emergency medical services vehicle, or emergency management vehicle as provided in subsection 3 shall apply only when such vehicle is making use of an audible warning device meeting the requirements of section 321.433 or a visual signaling device authorized under this chapter. b. The exemption granted under subsection 3, paragraph “b”, shall be granted to a peace officer or reserve peace officer operating an authorized emergency vehicle without using an audible warning device or visual signaling device if such action occurs over the shortest distance necessary, does not recklessly endanger persons or property, and if the officer is pursuing a suspected violator of the speed restrictions imposed by or pursuant to this chapter for the purpose of determining the speed of travel of such suspected violator, or if the officer reasonably believes based on the facts and circumstances at the time that a suspected violator’s knowledge of the officer’s proximity may cause the suspected violator to destroy evidence of a suspected felony or aggravated misdemeanor, evade apprehension, or endanger the public or the officer. c. The exemption granted under subsection 3, paragraph “b”, shall be granted to the driver of an authorized emergency vehicle transporting a patient to a hospital without using a visual signaling device or audible warning device if a certified emergency medical care provider reasonably believes the patient’s condition warrants rapid transport. 6. The provisions of this section shall not relieve the driver of an authorized emergency vehicle or the rider of a police bicycle from the duty to drive or ride with due regard for the safety of all persons, nor shall such provisions protect the driver or rider from the consequences of the driver’s or rider’s reckless disregard for the safety of others. [C39, §5017.04, 5017.05, 5023.12; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, §321.231, 321.232, 321.296; C77, 79, 81, §321.231] 97 Acts, ch 71, §1; 98 Acts, ch 1080, §2; 98 Acts, ch 1100, §46; 2009 Acts, ch 133, §118; 2018 Acts, ch 1022, §2; 2022 Acts, ch 1087, §1 – 4, 11 Referred to in §321.231C, 613.17, 805.8A(11)(a) For applicable scheduled fines, see §805.8A, subsection 11\n\nTue Dec 09 22:16:59 2025 Iowa Code 2026, Chapter 321 (137, 2) §321.231A, MOTOR VEHICLES AND LAW OF THE ROAD 168

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 22 cases (11 in the last 5 years), 1974–2025 · leading case: Hoffert v. Luze, 578 N.W.2d 681 (Iowa 1998).

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Hoffert v. Luze, 578 N.W.2d 681 (Iowa 1998). · cites it 34× “See Iowa Code § 321.231 (5) (“[Njor shall such provisions protect the driver from the consequences of the driver’s reckless disregard for the safety of others.”

Morris v. Leaf, 534 N.W.2d 388 (Iowa 1995). · cites it 17× “Section 321.231 makes reference to both “due regard,” or negligence, and “reckless disregard”; therefore, the plaintiffs argue that the police should be held liable for negligence or, at least, recklessness.”

Rush v. Sioux City, 240 N.W.2d 431 (Iowa 1976). · cites it 5× “Section 321.231 provides: “Emergency vehicles.”

City of Cedar Rapids v. Moses, 223 N.W.2d 263 (Iowa 1974). · cites it 10× “In another instruction the jury was told the driver of an authorized emergency vehicle responding to an emergency call shall not assume any special privilege under the law except the privilege granted in approaching a red or stop sign or signal to pass such sign or signal…”

City of Des Moines v. Huff, 232 N.W.2d 574 (Iowa 1975). · cites it 6× “" Section 321.231 declares: "The driver of any authorized emergency vehicle when responding to an emergency call upon approaching a red or stop signal or any stop sign shall slow down as necessary for safety but may proceed cautiously past such red or stop sign or signal.”

Bell v. Cmty. Ambulance Serv. Agency for N. Des Moines Cnty., 579 N.W.2d 330 (Iowa 1998). · cites it 16× “The district court granted the motion, noting that the duty owed to Bell by Hinson and Community Ambulance did not originate from the normal rules of the road but from Iowa Code section 321.231 (1993), due to the fact the vehicle being operated was an ambulance.”

The Est. of Willys H. Fritz v. Bryson Henningar, 19 F.4th 1067 (8th Cir. 2021). · cites it 3× “Fritz’s estate sued Henningar and the city of West Union in state court on several theories, including recklessness, see Iowa Code § 321.231 , and a violation of Fritz’s civil rights, see 42 U.”

Wetz v. Thorpe, 215 N.W.2d 350 (Iowa 1974). · cites it 2× “” Section 321.231, The Code, 1966, authorizes emergency vehicles to proceed through an intersection on a red light.”

Sandra K. Mormann, Individually & as Adm'r of The Est. of Augustin G. Mormann, & Daniel J. Mormann, Individually v. City of Manchester, Iowa & James Louis Wessels (Iowa 2025). · cites it 38× “1087, § 3 (codified at Iowa Code § 321.231 (6) (2023)). We use the version of the statute in effect when this lawsuit was filed in 2021.”

Dean Christiansen v. Christopher Eral, Rex Mueller, & City of Sioux City (Iowa Ct. App. 2024). · cites it 32× “2d 527, 538 (Iowa 2018) (referring to “an officer’s execution of a ‘pursuit intervention technique,’ or PIT, maneuver”); see also Iowa Code § 321.231 (4) (2022) (identifying a “pursuit intervention technique” as “a method by which a peace officer operating a motor vehicle in…”

Amber Martinez, Individually & on Behalf of Her Minor Child I.M., & Isabel Ashley v. State of Iowa (Iowa 2023). · cites it 24× “1087, § 3 (to be codified at Iowa Code § 321.231 (3)(b) (2023)) (emphasis added).”

James R. Penny v. City of Winterset & Christian Dekker (Iowa Ct. App. 2023). · cites it 23× “See Iowa Code § 321.231 (2020). Because reasonable minds could differ on how this issue should be resolved, we reverse the court’s ruling and remand for further proceedings.”

Show all 22 citing cases →

— Iowa Code § 321.231(1) — 3 cases

James R. Penny v. City of Winterset & Christian Dekker (Iowa Ct. App. 2023). “See Iowa Code § 321.231 (2020). Because reasonable minds could differ on how this issue should be resolved, we reverse the court’s ruling and remand for further proceedings.”

Amber Martinez, Individually & on Behalf of Her Minor Child I.M., & Isabel Ashley v. State of Iowa (Iowa 2023). “1087, § 3 (to be codified at Iowa Code § 321.231 (3)(b) (2023)) (emphasis added).”

Sandra K. Mormann, Individually & as Adm'r of The Est. of Augustin G. Mormann, & Daniel J. Mormann, Individually v. City of Manchester, Iowa & James Louis Wessels (Iowa 2025). “1087, § 3 (codified at Iowa Code § 321.231 (6) (2023)). We use the version of the statute in effect when this lawsuit was filed in 2021.”

— Iowa Code § 321.231(2)(a) — 1 case

State of Iowa v. Jaheim Romaine Cyrus (Iowa Ct. App. 2023).

— Iowa Code § 321.231(2)(b) — 2 cases

William McClellan & Racquel McClellan, Individually & as Next Friend for Minor Child, R.B. v. Pablo Orlando Ramirez, & the City of Dubuque, Iowa (Iowa Ct. App. 2019).

— Iowa Code § 321.231(3) — 1 case

Fritz v. Hennigar (N.D. Iowa 2020).

— Iowa Code § 321.231(3)(a) — 4 cases

James R. Penny v. City of Winterset & Christian Dekker (Iowa 2023).

— Iowa Code § 321.231(3)(b) — 6 cases

Morris v. Leaf, 534 N.W.2d 388 (Iowa 1995). “Section 321.231 makes reference to both “due regard,” or negligence, and “reckless disregard”; therefore, the plaintiffs argue that the police should be held liable for negligence or, at least, recklessness.”

Hoffert v. Luze, 578 N.W.2d 681 (Iowa 1998). “See Iowa Code § 321.231 (5) (“[Njor shall such provisions protect the driver from the consequences of the driver’s reckless disregard for the safety of others.”

James R. Penny v. City of Winterset & Christian Dekker (Iowa 2023).

— Iowa Code § 321.231(4) — 4 cases

William McClellan & Racquel McClellan, Individually & as Next Friend for Minor Child, R.B. v. Pablo Orlando Ramirez, & the City of Dubuque, Iowa (Iowa Ct. App. 2019).

Dean Christiansen v. Christopher Eral, Rex Mueller, & City of Sioux City (Iowa Ct. App. 2024). “2d 527, 538 (Iowa 2018) (referring to “an officer’s execution of a ‘pursuit intervention technique,’ or PIT, maneuver”); see also Iowa Code § 321.231 (4) (2022) (identifying a “pursuit intervention technique” as “a method by which a peace officer operating a motor vehicle in…”

Fritz v. Hennigar (N.D. Iowa 2020).

— Iowa Code § 321.231(5) — 11 cases

William McClellan & Racquel McClellan, Individually & as Next Friend for Minor Child, R.B. v. Pablo Orlando Ramirez, & the City of Dubuque, Iowa (Iowa Ct. App. 2019).

Annotations are extracted automatically from the opinions in the Syfert caselaw corpus and ranked by authority, recency, and treatment. Dots show Syfertize treatment of the citing case itself.