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

Iowa Code § 321.78 (2026)

Injuring or tampering with vehicle

✓ current as of July 2026
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Any person who either individually or in association with one or more other persons willfully injures or tampers with any vehicle or breaks or removes any part or parts of or from a vehicle without the consent of the owner is guilty of a simple misdemeanor. [C39, §5006.07; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §321.78] Referred to in §322C.6

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Notes of Decisions
Cited in 7 cases, 1965–2020 · leading case: State v. Perry, 440 N.W.2d 389 (Iowa 1989).
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State v. Perry, 440 N.W.2d 389 (Iowa 1989). · cites it 15× “4 (1987), to be irreconcilable with the willful injury or tampering with a motor vehicle statute, Iowa Code section 321.78 (1987). The State argues the statutes are reconcilable and provide the prosecution discretion to select either statute as a basis for its criminal charge.”
State v. Li-Yu Chang, 587 N.W.2d 459 (Iowa 1998). · cites it 4× “2d 389 (Iowa 1989), this court was considering the overlap between section 321.78 (willful injury or tampering of a vehicle) and section 716.”
State v. Uebberheim, 263 N.W.2d 710 (Iowa 1978). · cites it 9× “Mark Uebberheim, then a juvenile, was charged by preliminary information with injuring or tampering with a motor vehicle in violation of Section 321.78, The Code 1975, a nonindictable misdemeanor.”
State v. Stodola, 134 N.W.2d 920 (Iowa 1965). · cites it 4× “'crime of injuring or tampering with a vehicle, to wit an automobile, in violation of section 321.78, Code, 1962. From the judgment, as.”
Epc of Hillsborough Cty. v. Volkswagen Grp. of Am., 959 F.3d 1201 (9th Cir. 2020). “1-3; Iowa Code Ann. § 321.78 ; La. Admin. Code tit.”
State v. Arnett, 168 N.W.2d 807 (Iowa 1969). · cites it 12× “Defendants were charged by county attorney’s informations with the crime of injuring or tampering with a vehicle in violation of section 321.78, Code of Iowa. On trial to the municipal court judge, defendants were found guilty.”
In Re the Welfare of W.A.H., 642 N.W.2d 41 (Minn. Ct. App. 2002). “2d 807 (Iowa 1969), the Iowa Supreme Court interpreted a statute, currently found at Iowa Code § 321.78 (1997), that provides: Any person who either individually or in association with one or more other persons willfully injures or tampers with any vehicle or breaks or removes…”
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