Iowa Code

Iowa Code § 321.431 (2026)

Performance ability

✓ current as of July 2026

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1. The service brakes upon any motor vehicle or combination of motor vehicles, when upon dry asphalt or concrete pavement surface free from loose material where the grade does not exceed one percent, when traveling twenty miles per hour shall be adequate: a. To stop such vehicle or vehicles having a gross weight of less than five thousand pounds within a distance of thirty feet. b. To stop such vehicle or vehicles having a gross weight in excess of five thousand pounds within a distance of forty-five feet.

2. Under the conditions specified in subsection 1, the hand brake shall be adequate to hold the vehicle or vehicles stationary on any grade upon which operated.

3. Under the conditions specified in subsection 1, the service brakes upon a motor vehicle equipped with two-wheel brakes only, and when permitted under this section, shall be adequate to stop the vehicle within a distance of forty-five feet and the hand brake adequate to stop the vehicle within a distance of fifty-five feet.

4. All braking distances specified in this section shall apply to all vehicles mentioned, whether such vehicles are not loaded or are loaded to the maximum capacity permitted under this chapter.

5. All brakes shall be maintained in good working order and shall be so adjusted as to operate as equally as practicable with respect to the wheels on opposite sides of the vehicle.

6. A person who violates this section commits a simple misdemeanor punishable as a scheduled violation under section 805.8A, subsection 3, paragraph “ae”. [S13, §1571-m17; C24, 27, 31, 35, §5039; C39, §5034.40; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §321.431] 2010 Acts, ch 1140, §14; 2019 Acts, ch 24, §45; 2020 Acts, ch 1063, §151; 2020 Acts, ch 1074, §41, 93 Referred to in §321.189, 321.430, 321.464, 805.8A(3)(ae)\n\n MISCELLANEOUS EQUIPMENT AND DRIVER SAFETY PROVISIONS \n

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 4 cases, 1950–1975 · leading case: Dubuque Area Chamber of Com. v. Adams, 225 N.W.2d 147 (Iowa 1975).

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Dubuque Area Chamber of Com. v. Adams, 225 N.W.2d 147 (Iowa 1975). · cites it 6× “430 must be read in conjunction with section 321.431 which establishes the standards of performance for the two braking systems.”

Dorcas v. Aikman, 143 N.W.2d 396 (Iowa 1966). · cites it 2× “Section 321.431 requires all brakes be maintained in good working order and that service brakes on vehicles of less than 5000 pounds when on dry asphalt or concrete pavement with the surface free from loose material and the grade does hot exceed one percent must be such as to…”

Peters v. Rieck, 131 N.W.2d 529 (Iowa 1964). · cites it 2× “Section 321.431, subsection 5, requires all brakes be maintained in good working order and be so adjusted as to operate as equally as practicable with respect to the wheels on opposite sides of the vehicle.”

Marr v. Olson, 40 N.W.2d 475 (Iowa 1950). · cites it 2× “He argues the fact that the plaintiff said he could not stop within thirty feet at twenty miles per hour (as required by section 321.431, Code of 1946), together with the fact that he did not so stop although he had ample opportunity, notice and warning to do so, makes the…”

— Iowa Code § 321.431(1) — 1 case

Dubuque Area Chamber of Com. v. Adams, 225 N.W.2d 147 (Iowa 1975). “430 must be read in conjunction with section 321.431 which establishes the standards of performance for the two braking systems.”

— Iowa Code § 321.431(2) — 1 case

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