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

Iowa Code § 321.387 (2026)

Rear lamps

✓ current as of July 2026
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Every motor vehicle and every vehicle which is being drawn at the end of a train of vehicles shall be equipped with a lighted rear lamp or lamps, exhibiting a red light plainly visible from a distance of five hundred feet to the rear. All lamps and lighting equipment originally manufactured on a motor vehicle shall be kept in working condition or shall be replaced with equivalent equipment. [S13, §1571-m17; C24, 27, 31, 35, §5045, 5046; C39, §5033.07; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §321.387] 92 Acts, ch 1175, §35 Referred to in §321.1, 321.234A, 321.385A, 321.404A, 456A.12, 805.8A(3)(k) For applicable scheduled fine, see §805.8A, subsection 3

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Notes of Decisions
Cited in 29 cases (3 in the last 5 years), 1950–2026 · leading case: State v. Mitchell, 498 N.W.2d 691 (Iowa 1993).
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State v. Mitchell, 498 N.W.2d 691 (Iowa 1993). · cites it 10× “See Iowa Code § 321.387 . 1 Judge James C. *693 Bauch denied Mitchell’s motion.”
United States v. Barnum, 564 F.3d 964 (8th Cir. 2009). · cites it 4× “Officer Hatler followed the vehicle on Brown Street and then on 14th Street for about twenty seconds before he noticed that the vehicle's middle taillight failed to illuminate when the driver, Barnum, applied the vehicle's brakes, thereby violating Iowa Code § 321.387 . See id.…”
United States v. Dale Joseph Martin, 411 F.3d 998 (8th Cir. 2005). “The requirement common to States in the region is that all brake lights on a vehicle like Martin’s must be in good working order, see Iowa Code § 321.387 (1997); Minn.Stat. § 169.”
United States v. Manuel Espinoza, 885 F.3d 516 (8th Cir. 2018). “After an evidentiary hearing at which Officer Boldra testified, but Espinoza did not, the district court denied the motion, finding (i) there was probable cause to make a traffic stop when Boldra followed Espinoza's car because it lacked a front license plate and then observed…”
State v. Antonio D. Brown, 2014 WI 69 (Wis. 2014). · cites it 2× “Iowa Code Ann. § 321.387 (West 2014). A motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, pole trailer, or vehicle which is being drawn in a train of vehicles shall be equipped with at least 1 rear lamp mounted on the rear, which, when lighted as required by this act, shall emit a red light…”
Vanderheiden v. Clearfield Truck Rentals, Inc., 210 N.W.2d 527 (Iowa 1973). · cites it 4× “There was no evidence of violation of section 321.387, The Code, which provides: *531 "Every motor vehicle * * * shall be equipped with a lighted * * * red light plainly visible from a distance of five hundred feet to the rear.”
Berhow v. Kroack, 195 N.W.2d 379 (Iowa 1972). · cites it 2× “This bailor, by amendment to answer, affirmatively alleged Berhow was contributorially negligent because he operated the leased tractor on a public highway without a lighted rear lamp exhibiting a red light plainly visible from a distance of 500 feet to the rear in violation of…”
Comer v. Burns, 122 N.W.2d 305 (Iowa 1963). · cites it 2× “Also 3) in plaintiff’s failure to have his vehicle equipped with a lighted rear lamp exhibiting a *255 red light plainly visible from a distance of 500 feet to the rear, in violation of Code section 321.387. A matter of pleading is important upon this appeal and may be referred…”
Olesen v. Henningsen, 77 N.W.2d 40 (Iowa 1956). · cites it 2× “” Section 321.387 is as follows: “Every motor vehicle and every vehicle which is being drawn at the end of a train of vehicles shall be equipped with a lighted rear lamp, exhibiting a red light plainly visible from a distance of five hundred feet to the rear.”
Reed v. Willison, 65 N.W.2d 440 (Iowa 1954). “Instruction 7 told the jury that if it found decedent’s automobile did not display a red light on its rear as required by statute, at and just before the time of the accident, he would be negligent. Error is assigned in failing to instruct upon the question of legal excuse for a…”
Marr v. Olson, 40 N.W.2d 475 (Iowa 1950). · cites it 2× “• It is admitted that Olson had no rear red lamps or'reflectors which are required by section 321.387 and following sections, Code of 1946.”
Mundy v. Olds, 109 N.W.2d 241 (Iowa 1961). · cites it 2× “The record shows a conflict of testimony upon this question. It is appellant’s contention that appellee failed to have lighted rear lamps plainly visible from a distance of 500 feet to the rear of said car.”
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