Iowa Code » Chapter 321 — MOTOR VEHICLES AND LAW OF THE ROAD
Iowa Code

Iowa Code § 321.256 (2026)

Obedience to official traffic-control devices

✓ current as of July 2026
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No driver of a vehicle shall disobey the instructions of any official traffic-control device placed in accordance with the provisions of this chapter, unless at the time otherwise directed\n\nTue Dec 09 22:16:59 2025 Iowa Code 2026, Chapter 321 (137, 2) §321.256, MOTOR VEHICLES AND LAW OF THE ROAD 180\n\nby a peace officer subject to the exceptions granted the driver of an authorized emergency vehicle. [C39, §5019.05; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §321.256] Referred to in §321.482A, 321E.17, 805.8A(8)(b) For applicable scheduled fine, see §805.8A, subsection 8 Additional penalties for violations causing serious injury or death, see §321.482A

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Notes of Decisions
Cited in 13 cases (2 in the last 5 years), 1968–2024 · leading case: Rush v. Sioux City, 240 N.W.2d 431 (Iowa 1976).
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Rush v. Sioux City, 240 N.W.2d 431 (Iowa 1976). · cites it 4× “” This statute which accords an authorized emergency vehicle when responding to an emergency call the right to proceed cautiously past such red or stop sign or signal provides an exception to the provisions of section 321.256 set out earlier. The preferential status granted an…”
State v. Conner, 292 N.W.2d 682 (Iowa 1980). · cites it 2× “" §§ 321.256, 321.285, 321.482, 903.1(3), The Code.”
State v. Legg, 633 N.W.2d 763 (Iowa 2001). “§ 321.256. Legg’s pre-trial motion to suppress was denied.”
State v. Mahoney, 515 N.W.2d 47 (Iowa Ct. App. 1994). · cites it 4× “314-15 (1993), weaving up the exit ramp, running a stop sign, see Iowa Code § 321.256 (1993), weaving across the traffic lanes on the bridge, and failing to respond to obvious attempts to stop the car.”
Wetz v. Thorpe, 215 N.W.2d 350 (Iowa 1974). · cites it 2× “(e) In failing to stop in obedience to a red signal light, in violation of §§ 321.256 and 321.257, The Code, 1966. By way of affirmative defense, defendants asserted plaintiff’s decedent was guilty of negligence contributing to and proximately causing his injuries and resulting…”
Kuhn v. Tank, 156 N.W.2d 127 (Iowa 1968). · cites it 8× “Defendant’s entire argument here is based on the contention plaintiff violated section 321.256, supra, in not turning right (north) onto Division Street rather than northwest onto Hickory Grove Road.”
State v. Summage, 537 N.W.2d 692 (Iowa 1995). · cites it 4× “279, and disobedience of an official traffic control device in violation of section 321.256. Summage pleaded not guilty to all four counts.”
State v. Walker, 473 N.W.2d 221 (Iowa Ct. App. 1991). · cites it 2× “The only common element in the example is driving; the other critical elements, exceeding the speed limit and disobeying a traffic-control device, are dissimilar. As in our example, it is apparent that the only common element in violations of sections 321.”
State of Iowa v. Hector Martinez Lobo (Iowa Ct. App. 2019). · cites it 4× “Martinez Lobo contends the State failed to preserve error on all but one of these appellate claims because the trial prosecutor argued only 2 The State contends driving over the gore zone violated Iowa Code section 321.256 (2017), which states, in pertinent part, “No driver of a…”
State of Iowa v. Damen Jermaine Walton (Iowa Ct. App. 2024). · cites it 4× “See Iowa Code §§ 321.256 , .257(2)(a). And because the stop was supported by probable cause, we affirm the district court’s denial of Walton’s motion to suppress.”
State of Iowa v. John Joseph Hauersperger (Iowa Ct. App. 2017). · cites it 2× “On March 27, 2015, Hauersperger was charged by trial information with driving while barred in violation of Iowa Code section 321.256 (2015). In August, Hauersperger, while represented by counsel, signed and filed a written guilty plea to the charge.”
State of Iowa v. Matthew Don Farber (Iowa Ct. App. 2020). · cites it 2× “288(1), a simple misdemeanor; and failure to obey a traffic control device, in violation of section 321.256, a simple misdemeanor. 1 Pierce was also taken from the scene and treated for serious injuries.”
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