Fiscal Note
Fiscal Services Division
SF 419 – Front License Plates (LSB2084SV)
Staff Contact: Austin Brinks (515.725.2200) austin.brinks@legis.iowa.gov
Fiscal Note Version – New
Description
Senate File 419 prohibits a peace officer from stopping or detaining a person if the person’s
motor vehicle is required to display a license plate on both its front and rear, but the motor
vehicle displays a license plate only on its rear. The Bill also amends 321.37(2) to say that a
vehicle registered as an antique under Iowa Code section 321.115, or a motor vehicle that
would require modifications to mount a front license plate are exempt from displaying a front
license plate.
Background
The display of front license plates is currently not required on certain vehicles such as
autocycles and motorcycles, and motor vehicles with a model year of 1948 or older. In addition,
truck tractors are required to display a front license plate under Iowa Code section 321.37(1). In
FY 2018 there were 2,005 scheduled violations for failing to display license plates under Iowa
Code section 321.37. In FY 2019, there were 1,937 violations, and in FY 2020, there were
1,586 violations.
Under Iowa Code section 602.8106(4)(b), scheduled fine revenue for a State law violation is
distributed as follows: 91.0% to the State and 9.0% to the general fund of the county in which
the violation occurred. For the State share of citations, 1.3% is distributed to the Emergency
Medical Services (EMS) Fund and 98.7% is distributed to the State General Fund.
In addition to the scheduled fine, a Crime Services Surcharge, equal to 15.0% of the fine, and a
$55 fee for court costs are also imposed. The Crime Services Surcharge is remitted to the
State Court Administrator and is distributed as follows: 46.0% to the Juvenile Detention Home
Fund; 32.0% to the Victim Compensation Fund; 20.0% to the Criminalistics Laboratory Fund;
and 2.0% to the Drug Abuse Resistance Education Fund. The fee assessed for court costs is
deposited into the State General Fund.
Assumptions
• Fewer vehicles will be stopped for incorrectly displaying their license plates, resulting in
fewer violations of section 321.37.
• There will be 1,800 convictions of current law in FY 2021, based on an average of the last
three years.
• The collection rate is 58.0%.
• The scheduled fine for a violation of improper display of registration plates is $30.
Correctional Impact
Since the penalty for violation of Senate File 419 does not include imprisonment, a correctional
impact is unknown. Refer to the Legislative Services Agency (LSA) memo addressed to the
General Assembly, Cost Estimates Used for Correctional Impact Statements, dated January 22,
2021, for information related to the correctional system.
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Minority Impact
Convictions under current Iowa Code section 321.37 are displayed in Table 1. While
convictions are likely to decrease due to this Bill, the impact is unknown. Refer to the LSA
memo addressed to the General Assembly, Minority Impact Statement, dated January 27, 2021,
for information related to minorities in the criminal justice system.
Table 1
Iowa Code Section 321.276 Convictions by Ethnicity
Caucasian African American Other
FY 2019 1631 176 130
FY 2020 1335 144 106
Fiscal Impact
Table 2 — Estimated Range of Annual Fiscal Impact Under SF 419
Current Law Potential Decrease in Convictions
Est. FY 2021 500 Convictions 1,000 Convictions 1,500 Convictions
General Fund
Penalty Revenue $ 28,000 $ -8,000 $ -16,000 $ -23,000
Court Fee 57,000 -16,000 -32,000 -48,000
Subtotal $ 85,000 $ -24,000 $ -48,000 $ -71,000
Surcharge Revenue
Juvenile Detention $ 2,200 $ -600 $ -1,200 $ -1,800
Victim Comp. 1,500 -400 -800 -1,200
Crime Lab 900 -200 -500 -700
DARE 90 -20 -50 -70
Subtotal $ 4,690 $ -1,220 $ -2,550 $ -3,770
Other
County General Funds $ 2,800 $ -800 $ -1,500 $ -2,300
EMS Fund 400 -100 -200 -300
Grand Total $ 92,890 $ -26,120 $ -52,250 $ -77,370
*Figures may not add up due to rounding
While the number of convictions of 321.37 under this Bill is unknown, Table 2 provides a range
of possible decreases in convictions of 500, 1,000, and 1,500, and the resulting loss of revenue.
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Sources
Legislative Services Agency
Criminal Juvenile and Justice Planning Division
/s/ Holly M. Lyons
February 22, 2021
Doc ID 1213594
The fiscal note for this Bill was prepared pursuant to Joint Rule 17 and the Iowa Code. Data used in
developing this fiscal note is available from the Fiscal Services Division of the Legislative Services
Agency upon request.
www.legis.iowa.gov
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