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

Iowa Code § 321.257 (2026)

Official traffic-control signal

✓ current as of July 2026
Find cases: SyfertCases citing this section IA-LEGlegis.iowa.gov JustiaTitle on Justia CornellLII Search CasesGoogle Scholar

1. For the purposes of this section“stop at the official traffic-control signal” means stopping at the first opportunity at either the clearly marked stop line or before entering the crosswalk or before entering the intersection.

2. Official traffic-control signals consisting of colored lights or colored lighted arrows shall regulate vehicle and pedestrian traffic in the following manner:

a. A “steady circular red” light means vehicular traffic shall stop. Vehicular traffic shall remain standing until a signal to proceed is shown, or vehicular traffic, unless prohibited by a sign, may cautiously enter the intersection to make a right turn from the right lane of traffic or another lane designated for right turns, or a left turn from a one-way street to a one-way street from the left lane of traffic or another lane designated for left turns. Turns made under this paragraph shall be made in a manner that does not interfere with other vehicular or pedestrian traffic lawfully using the intersection. Pedestrian traffic facing a steady circular red light shall not enter the roadway unless the pedestrian can safely cross the roadway without interfering with any vehicular traffic.

b. A “steady circular yellow” or “steady yellow arrow” light means vehicular traffic is warned that the related green movement is being terminated and vehicular traffic shall no longer proceed into the intersection and shall stop. If the stop cannot be made in safety, a vehicle may be driven cautiously through the intersection. Pedestrian traffic is warned that there is insufficient time to cross the intersection and any pedestrian starting to cross the roadway shall yield the right-of-way to all vehicles.

c. A “steady circular green” light means vehicular traffic may proceed straight, turn right or turn left through the intersection unless otherwise specifically prohibited. Vehicular traffic shall yield the right-of-way to other vehicular and pedestrian traffic lawfully within the intersection.

d. A “steady green arrow” light shown alone or with another official traffic-control signal means vehicular traffic may cautiously enter the intersection and proceed in the direction indicated by the arrow. Vehicular traffic shall yield the right-of-way to other vehicles and pedestrians lawfully within the intersection.

e. A “flashing circular red” light means vehicular traffic shall stop and after stopping may proceed cautiously through the intersection yielding to all vehicles not required to stop or yield which are within the intersection or approaching so closely as to constitute a hazard, but then may proceed.

f. A “flashing yellow” light means vehicular traffic shall proceed through the intersection or past such signal with caution.

g. A “flashing yellow arrow” light shown alone or with another official traffic-control signal means vehicular traffic may cautiously enter the intersection and proceed only in the direction indicated by the arrow. Vehicular traffic shall yield the right-of-way to other vehicles and pedestrians lawfully within the intersection and any vehicle on the opposing approach which is approaching so closely as to constitute an immediate hazard during the time the driver is moving within the intersection.

h. A “don’t walk” or “steady upraised hand” light is a pedestrian signal which means that pedestrian traffic facing the illuminated pedestrian signal shall not start to cross the roadway in the direction of the pedestrian signal, and pedestrian traffic in the crossing shall proceed to a safety zone.

i. A “flashing upraised hand” or “upraised hand with countdown” light is a pedestrian signal which means that pedestrian traffic facing the illuminated pedestrian signal shall not start to cross the roadway in the direction of the pedestrian signal, and pedestrian traffic in the crossing shall proceed to a safety zone. The “upraised hand with countdown” light is a\n\nTue Dec 09 22:16:59 2025 Iowa Code 2026, Chapter 321 (137, 2) 181 MOTOR VEHICLES AND LAW OF THE ROAD, §321.259\n\npedestrian signal that also provides the time remaining for the pedestrian to complete the crossing.

j. A “walk” or “walking person” light is a pedestrian signal which means that pedestrian traffic facing the illuminated pedestrian signal may proceed to cross the roadway in the direction of the pedestrian signal and shall be given the right-of-way by drivers of all vehicles. [C39, §5019.06, 5019.07; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, §321.257, 321.258; C79, 81, §321.257] 2014 Acts, ch 1123, §15, 16; 2017 Acts, ch 15, §1 Referred to in §321.482A, 805.8A(7)(a), 805.8A(9)(c) For applicable scheduled fines, see §805.8A, subsections 7 and 9 Additional penalties for violations causing serious injury or death, see §321.482A \n

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 13 cases (1 in the last 5 years), 1951–2024 · leading case: State of Iowa v. Scottize Danyelle Brown, 930 N.W.2d 840 (Iowa 2019).
Sort: Relevance Newest Treatment
State of Iowa v. Scottize Danyelle Brown, 930 N.W.2d 840 (Iowa 2019). · cites it 15× “Specifically, that Brown acted in violation of Iowa Code section 321.257, thereby providing probable cause for the stop.”
Arenson v. Butterworth, 54 N.W.2d 557 (Iowa 1952). · cites it 6× “After quoting section 321.257 (1) we say, “he had the right of way and it was the duty of defendant in driving his car to have yielded such right.”
State v. Paul, 48 N.W.2d 309 (Iowa 1951). · cites it 10× “Said section is designated “traffic-control signal legend” and states: “Whenever traffic is controlled by traffic-control signals exhibiting the words ‘Go’, ‘Caution’ or ‘Stop’ or exhibiting different colored lights successively one at a time the following colors shall be used…”
Hartford Fire Ins. Co. v. Lefler, 135 N.W.2d 88 (Iowa 1965). · cites it 4× “There, as here, the trial court granted a new trial after a verdict for defendant, and we held there was no abuse of its discretion in so doing, in view of certain errors in the instructions, including the failure to instruct that defendant was negligent as a matter of law in…”
Overturf v. Bertrand, 128 N.W.2d 182 (Iowa 1964). · cites it 4× “Code section 321.257, so far as material here, provides: .”
Coulthard v. Keenan, 129 N.W.2d 597 (Iowa 1964). · cites it 2× “It is clear defendant failed to yield the right-of-way to plaintiff, a pedestrian in the crosswalk, in violation of section 321.257(1), Code, 1962, an offense to which he pleaded guilty.”
State v. Coppes, 78 N.W.2d 10 (Iowa 1956). · cites it 2× “Paul, supra, 242 Iowa 853 , defendant, operating an automobile, was convicted of the crime of failing to yield the right of way to a pedestrian at a street intersection, in violation of section 321.257 of the 1946 Code of Iowa, which provided for the control of traffic at such…”
State v. Jennings, 153 N.W.2d 485 (Iowa 1967). · cites it 8× “Merle Hay Road and University Avenue in the city of Des Moines, in violation of section 321.257, Code, 1966. She appeals her conviction, alleging three errors for our consideration: (1) that she was denied a jury trial; (2) that the trial court erred in finding her guilty under…”
Monroe v. Brown, 307 F. Supp. 2d 1268 (M.D. Ala. 2004). “, Iowa Code § 321.257 . New Jersey's statute is unique among this minority because it provides detailed guidance on when a driver must stop upon seeing a yellow signal: "Amber, or yellow, when shown alone following green means traffic to stop before entering the intersection or…”
State of Iowa v. Scottize Danyelle Brown (Iowa 2019). · cites it 7× “Specifically, that Brown acted in violation of Iowa Code section 321.257, thereby providing probable cause for the stop.”
State of Iowa v. Damen Jermaine Walton (Iowa Ct. App. 2024). · cites it 6× “” Pointing to Iowa Code section 321.257(2)(b) (2021), which allows for a vehicle to proceed through the intersection during a yellow light “[i]f the stop cannot be made in safety,” Walton asserted that he did not break a traffic law so Officer Roe was without probable cause for…”
State v. Mullenix, 299 N.W.2d 482 (Iowa 1980). · cites it 2× “2d 309, 312 (1951), to which reference is made in the foregoing quotation, involved a conviction, affirmed on appeal, for violating section 321.257, The Code, (failure to yield right of way to a pedestrian.”
Show all 13 citing cases →
— Iowa Code § 321.257(1) — 3 cases
Arenson v. Butterworth, 54 N.W.2d 557 (Iowa 1952). “After quoting section 321.257 (1) we say, “he had the right of way and it was the duty of defendant in driving his car to have yielded such right.”
Coulthard v. Keenan, 129 N.W.2d 597 (Iowa 1964). “It is clear defendant failed to yield the right-of-way to plaintiff, a pedestrian in the crosswalk, in violation of section 321.257(1), Code, 1962, an offense to which he pleaded guilty.”
State v. Paul, 48 N.W.2d 309 (Iowa 1951). “Said section is designated “traffic-control signal legend” and states: “Whenever traffic is controlled by traffic-control signals exhibiting the words ‘Go’, ‘Caution’ or ‘Stop’ or exhibiting different colored lights successively one at a time the following colors shall be used…”
— Iowa Code § 321.257(2) — 1 case
State of Iowa v. Scottize Danyelle Brown, 930 N.W.2d 840 (Iowa 2019). “Specifically, that Brown acted in violation of Iowa Code section 321.257, thereby providing probable cause for the stop.”
— Iowa Code § 321.257(2)(a) — 2 cases
State of Iowa v. Scottize Danyelle Brown, 930 N.W.2d 840 (Iowa 2019). “Specifically, that Brown acted in violation of Iowa Code section 321.257, thereby providing probable cause for the stop.”
State of Iowa v. Scottize Danyelle Brown (Iowa 2019). “Specifically, that Brown acted in violation of Iowa Code section 321.257, thereby providing probable cause for the stop.”
— Iowa Code § 321.257(2)(b) — 4 cases
State of Iowa v. Scottize Danyelle Brown, 930 N.W.2d 840 (Iowa 2019). “Specifically, that Brown acted in violation of Iowa Code section 321.257, thereby providing probable cause for the stop.”
State of Iowa v. Damen Jermaine Walton (Iowa Ct. App. 2024). “” Pointing to Iowa Code section 321.257(2)(b) (2021), which allows for a vehicle to proceed through the intersection during a yellow light “[i]f the stop cannot be made in safety,” Walton asserted that he did not break a traffic law so Officer Roe was without probable cause for…”
State of Iowa v. Scottize Danyelle Brown (Iowa 2019). “Specifically, that Brown acted in violation of Iowa Code section 321.257, thereby providing probable cause for the stop.”
Pratt v. Piper, 500 N.W.2d 716 (Iowa Ct. App. 1993).
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.