1. A person shall not drive a motor vehicle equipped with a windshield, sidewings, or side
or rear windows which do not permit clear vision.
2. A person shall not operate on the highway a motor vehicle equipped with a front
windshield, a side window to the immediate right or left of the driver, or a sidewing forward
of and to the left or right of the driver which is excessively dark or reflective so that it is
difficult for a person outside the motor vehicle to see into the motor vehicle through the
windshield, window, or sidewing.
a. The department shall adopt rules establishing a minimum measurable standard of
transparency which shall apply to violations of this subsection.
b. This subsection does not apply to a person who operates a motor vehicle owned or
leased by a federal, state, or local law enforcement agency if the operation is part of the
person’s official duties.
3. Every motor vehicle except a motorcycle, or a vehicle included in the provisions of\n\nTue Dec 09 22:17:00 2025 Iowa Code 2026, Chapter 321 (137, 2)
237 MOTOR VEHICLES AND LAW OF THE ROAD, §321.442\n\nsection 321.383 or section 321.115 shall be equipped with a windshield in accordance with
section 321.444.
[C39, §5034.47; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §321.438]
83 Acts, ch 125, §5; 2021 Acts, ch 183, §53
Referred to in §805.8A(3)(ai)
For applicable scheduled fine, see §805.8A, subsection 3
\n
Notes of Decisions
United States v. Murillo-Figueroa, 862 F. Supp. 2d 863 (N.D. Iowa 2012).
· cites it 4× “The government maintains that probable cause was provided by the presence of multiple air fresheners hanging from the vehicle’s rear view mirror in violation of Iowa Code section 321.438(1), which provides that “[a] person shall not drive a motor vehicle equipped with a…”
Dejuan Haynes v. Brian Minnehan, 14 F.4th 830 (8th Cir. 2021).
· cites it 2× “See Iowa Code § 321.438 (1) (“A person shall not drive a motor vehicle equipped with a windshield, sidewings, or side or rear windows which do not permit clear vision.”
State v. Aderholdt, 545 N.W.2d 559 (Iowa 1996).
· cites it 2× “See Iowa Code § 321.438 (2). The record offers no support for defendants’ bald assertion that this was an illegal “profile” stop prompted solely by Arizona licensing and registration to an Hispanie-surnamed individual.”
Hilton v. State, 901 So. 2d 155 (Fla. 2d DCA 2005).
“§ 14-99f(6) (2000); Iowa Code § 321.438 (1) (1997); Kan. Stat.”
City of Des Moines v. Huff, 232 N.W.2d 574 (Iowa 1975).
“When, by Code § 321.438, quoted above, the General Assembly provided an emergency vehicle siren shall be sounded “when necessary to warn pedestrians and other drivers of the approach thereof” the manifest purpose was to protect against injury and damage to all persons then on,…”
United States v. Johnathon Rose, 124 F.4th 1101 (8th Cir. 2025).
“See Iowa Code § 321.438 (2). Rose’s window tint allowed only 14% light transmittance, well below the 70% transmittance for front-seat windows required under Iowa law.”
State of Iowa v. Gatkek Dual Lieth (Iowa Ct. App. 2025).
· cites it 12× “” In its resistance, the State contended Trooper Roos had probable cause to stop the vehicle because the cracked windshield violated Iowa Code section 321.438(1) (2023). The district court agreed with the State and denied the motion to suppress.”
State of Iowa v. Jonathan Brian Kissee (Iowa Ct. App. 2015).
· cites it 6× “” Iowa Code § 321.438 (1). The officers observed heavy cracking across the windshield both vertically and horizontally, which constitutes an articulable fact supporting their reasonable suspicion that a violation of section 321.”
State of Iowa v. Patrick Moreno (Iowa Ct. App. 2014).
· cites it 4× “Iowa Code section 321.438(1) provides: “A person shall not drive a motor vehicle equipped with a windshield, sidewings, or side or rear windows which do not permit clear vision.”
State of Iowa v. Jarrod Michael Jacobsen (Iowa Ct. App. 2022).
· cites it 2× “Iowa Code section 321.438(1) states, “A person shall not drive a motor vehicle equipped with a windshield, sidewings, or side or rear windows which do not permit clear vision.”
— Iowa Code § 321.438(1) — 5 cases
United States v. Murillo-Figueroa, 862 F. Supp. 2d 863 (N.D. Iowa 2012).
“The government maintains that probable cause was provided by the presence of multiple air fresheners hanging from the vehicle’s rear view mirror in violation of Iowa Code section 321.438(1), which provides that “[a] person shall not drive a motor vehicle equipped with a…”
State of Iowa v. Gatkek Dual Lieth (Iowa Ct. App. 2025).
“” In its resistance, the State contended Trooper Roos had probable cause to stop the vehicle because the cracked windshield violated Iowa Code section 321.438(1) (2023). The district court agreed with the State and denied the motion to suppress.”
State of Iowa v. Patrick Moreno (Iowa Ct. App. 2014).
“Iowa Code section 321.438(1) provides: “A person shall not drive a motor vehicle equipped with a windshield, sidewings, or side or rear windows which do not permit clear vision.”
State of Iowa v. Jonathan Brian Kissee (Iowa Ct. App. 2015).
“” Iowa Code § 321.438 (1). The officers observed heavy cracking across the windshield both vertically and horizontally, which constitutes an articulable fact supporting their reasonable suspicion that a violation of section 321.”
State of Iowa v. Jarrod Michael Jacobsen (Iowa Ct. App. 2022).
“Iowa Code section 321.438(1) states, “A person shall not drive a motor vehicle equipped with a windshield, sidewings, or side or rear windows which do not permit clear vision.”
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