Iowa Code

Iowa Code § 321.397 (2026)

Lamps on bicycles

✓ current as of July 2026
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Every bicycle shall be equipped with a lamp on the front exhibiting a white light, at the times specified in section 321.384, visible from a distance of at least three hundred feet to the front and with a lamp on the rear exhibiting a red light visible from a distance of three hundred feet to the rear; except that a red reflector may be used in lieu of a rear light. A peace officer riding a police bicycle is not required to use either front or rear lamps if duty so requires. [C31, 35, §5045-d1; C39, §5034.06; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §321.397] 97 Acts, ch 71, §3; 97 Acts, ch 108, §21 Referred to in §321.1, 456A.12, 805.8A(9)(j) For applicable scheduled fine, see §805.8A, subsection 9

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Notes of Decisions
Cited in 3 cases, 1950–1996 · leading case: United States v. Theophilis Bell, 86 F.3d 820 (8th Cir. 1996).
United States v. Theophilis Bell, 86 F.3d 820 (8th Cir. 1996). “Iowa Code §§ 321.397 , .384 (1995). The officers also knew Bell was a gang member who had been arrested before for possession of cocaine base, and suspected gangs were using bicycles to transport drugs in the area.”
Riedesel v. Koch, 45 N.W.2d 225 (Iowa 1950). · cites it 2× “deceased was negligent, in that his bicycle was being operated upon the highway without a light as provided by section 321.397, Code of 1946. Such failure upon the part of the operator would be negligence.”
United States v. Theophilis Bell (8th Cir. 1996). “Iowa Code §§ 321.397 , .384 (1995). The officers also knew Bell was a gang member who had been arrested before for possession of cocaine base, and suspected gangs were using bicycles to transport drugs in the area.”
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