1. Whenever a motor vehicle is being operated on a roadway or shoulder during the times specified in section 321.384, the driver shall use a distribution of light, or composite beam, directed high enough and of sufficient intensity to reveal persons and vehicles at a safe distance in advance of the vehicle, subject to the following requirements and limitations:
a. Whenever a driver of a vehicle approaches an oncoming vehicle within one thousand feet, the driver shall use a distribution of light, or composite beam, so aimed that the glaring rays are not projected into the eyes of the oncoming driver. The lowermost distribution of light, or composite beam, specified in section 321.409, subsection 1, paragraph “b”, shall be deemed to avoid glare at all times, regardless of road contour and loading.
b. Whenever the driver of a vehicle follows another vehicle within four hundred feet to the rear, except when engaged in the act of overtaking and passing, the driver shall use a distribution of light permissible under this chapter other than the uppermost distribution of light specified in section 321.409, subsection 1, paragraph “a”.\n\nTue Dec 09 22:17:00 2025 Iowa Code 2026, Chapter 321 (137, 2) 229 MOTOR VEHICLES AND LAW OF THE ROAD, §321.421\n\n 2. The provisions of subsection 1, paragraphs “a” and “b”, do not apply to motorcycles or motorized bicycles being operated between sunrise and sunset. [C39, §5034.23 – 5034.25; C46, 50, 54, §321.414 – 321.416; C58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §321.415] 92 Acts, ch 1175, §36; 2010 Acts, ch 1061, §175 Referred to in §321.1, 321.384, 321.418, 456A.12, 805.8A(3)(w) For applicable scheduled fines, see §805.8A, subsection 3 \n
Notes of Decisions
Cited in
7
cases (
1 in the last 5 years), 1961–2022 · leading case:
Andrews v. Struble, 178 N.W.2d 391 (Iowa 1970).
Andrews v. Struble, 178 N.W.2d 391 (Iowa 1970).
· cites it 4× “384 pertinent provides : “Every motor vehicle upon a highway within the state, at any time from sunset to sunrise, * * * shall display lighted head lamps as provided in section 321.415, ‡ ‡ ‡ ” Section 321.415 contains this: “ * * * “Whenever a driver of a vehicle approaches an…”
Rosenberg v. Mosher, 331 N.W.2d 79 (S.D. 1983).
· cites it 2× “The relevant portions of Iowa Code § 321.415 (1966) provide: Whenever a motor vehicle is being operated on a roadway or shoulder [from sunset to sunrise], the driver shall use a distribution of light, or composite beam, directed high enough and of sufficient intensity to reveal…”
United States v. Michael D. Menard, 95 F.3d 9 (8th Cir. 1996).
“On appeal, Menard concedes that Officer Hawley lawfully stopped the auto for a minor traffic violation, see Iowa Code Ann. § 321.415 (1), 2 that Hawley properly searched the auto with driver Jensen’s consent, and that the pat-down search of Walker was reasonable.”
Sisson v. Weathermon, 108 N.W.2d 585 (Iowa 1961).
· cites it 2× “409 provides for specific lighting equipment, and section 321.415 provides for usage of such equipment.”
Stimmel v. Johnson, 199 N.W.2d 356 (Iowa 1972).
· cites it 2× “392; and his failure to have and use sufficient lighting to comply with section 321.415. The submission of these statutory violations does not necessarily preclude the submission also of a charge of failure to warn as common law negligence, as alleged in specification 6(d).”
State v. L. Gardner, 2022 MT 3 (Mont. 2022).
“Code § 9-21-7-5 (2021); Iowa Code § 321.415 (2021); Kan. Stat. Ann.”
— Iowa Code § 321.415(1) — 1 case
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