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

Iowa Code § 321.484 (2026)

Offenses by owners

✓ current as of July 2026
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1. It is unlawful for the owner, or any other person, employing or otherwise directing the driver of any vehicle to require or knowingly to permit the operation of such vehicle upon a highway in any manner contrary to law.

2. The owner of a vehicle shall not be held responsible for a violation of a provision \n Tue Dec 09 22:17:01 2025 Iowa Code 2026, Chapter 321 (137, 2) §321.484, MOTOR VEHICLES AND LAW OF THE ROAD 264\n\nregulating the stopping, standing, or parking of a vehicle, whether the provision is contained in this chapter, or chapter 321L, or an ordinance or other regulation or rule, if the owner establishes that at the time of the violation the vehicle was in the custody of an identified person other than the owner pursuant to a lease as defined in chapter 321F or pursuant to a rental agreement as defined in section 516D.3. The furnishing to the county attorney where the charge is pending of a copy of the lease prescribed by section 321F.6 or rental agreement that was in effect for the vehicle at the time of the alleged violation shall be prima facie evidence that the vehicle was in the custody of an identified person other than the owner within the meaning of this subsection. Upon receipt of such evidence, the appropriate authority shall dismiss as against the owner of the vehicle any citation issued for a violation within the meaning of this subsection that occurred while the vehicle was in the custody of the identified person.

3. If a peace officer as defined in section 801.4 has reasonable cause to believe the driver of a motor vehicle has violated section 321.261, 321.262, 321.264, 321.341, 321.342, 321.343, 321.344, or 321.372, the officer may request any owner of the motor vehicle to supply information identifying the driver. When requested, the owner of the vehicle shall identify the driver to the best of the owner’s ability. However, the owner of the vehicle is not required to supply identification information to the officer if the owner believes the information is self-incriminating.

4. A person who violates this section commits a simple misdemeanor. [C24, 27, 31, 35, §5085; C39, §5037.01; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §321.484; 81 Acts, ch 49, §3; 82 Acts, ch 1144, §1] 89 Acts, ch 247, §8; 92 Acts, ch 1152, §2; 95 Acts, ch 118, §27; 96 Acts, ch 1034, §24; 2000 Acts, ch 1061, §1; 2003 Acts, ch 151, §26; 2005 Acts, ch 54, §5, 12; 2010 Acts, ch 1140, §19 Referred to in §321.40, 321.344A, 321.372A \n

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 5 cases, 2008–2020 · leading case: City of Davenport v. Seymour, 755 N.W.2d 533 (Iowa 2008).
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City of Davenport v. Seymour, 755 N.W.2d 533 (Iowa 2008). · cites it 4× “Iowa Code § 321.484 . Under chapter 321, an owner can only be culpable for a driver's moving violation if the owner of any vehicle requires, or knowingly permits the operation of such vehicle upon a highway in any manner contrary to the law.”
City of Sioux City v. Michael Jon Jacobsma, 862 N.W.2d 335 (Iowa 2015). · cites it 4× “Compare Iowa Code § 321.484 (4) (noting a violation is a simple misdemeanor), with Sioux City, Iowa, Mun.”
State of Iowa v. Jasmaine R. Warren (Iowa Ct. App. 2020). · cites it 4× “See Iowa Code § 321.484 (2) (stating owners “shall not be held responsible” for parking violations if the owner produces a copy of a lease or rental agreement for the vehicle).”
Amended June 30, 2015 City of Sioux City v. Michael Jon Jacobsma (Iowa 2015). · cites it 5× “Iowa Code section 321.484 imposes criminal liability upon an owner for a driver’s moving violation if the vehicle owner requires or knowingly permits the operation of the vehicle upon a highway in any manner contrary to law.”
City Of Davenport Vs. Thomas J. Seymour (Iowa 2008). · cites it 2× “Iowa Code § 321.484 . Under 24 chapter 321, an owner can only be culpable for a driver’s moving violation if the owner of any vehicle requires, or knowingly permits the operation of such vehicle upon a highway in any manner contrary to the law.”
— Iowa Code § 321.484(2) — 1 case
State of Iowa v. Jasmaine R. Warren (Iowa Ct. App. 2020). “See Iowa Code § 321.484 (2) (stating owners “shall not be held responsible” for parking violations if the owner produces a copy of a lease or rental agreement for the vehicle).”
— Iowa Code § 321.484(3) — 1 case
State of Iowa v. Jasmaine R. Warren (Iowa Ct. App. 2020). “See Iowa Code § 321.484 (2) (stating owners “shall not be held responsible” for parking violations if the owner produces a copy of a lease or rental agreement for the vehicle).”
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