Move Over or Pay: Iowa’s Traffic Enforcement Starts Now

There are a lot of things to pay attention to when driving. Sure, winter driving has more challenges overall, but summer driving is no walk, erm, drive in the park either.

Between copious amounts of roadwork projects and hazards on the side of the road that pop up, the Iowa Department of Transportation is reminding Iowans that the state has a simple but important Move-Over law.

The law has been in place since 2022 and requires Iowa motorists to change lanes or slow down when changing lanes is not possible, when approaching a vehicle on the shoulder displaying flashing lights.

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For the next few days, law enforcement will be vigilantly enforcing the Move-Over law on Iowa roads.

Iowa-wide Move-Over Traffic Enforcement Project

Beginning today, June 17, the Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau (GTSB) is partnering with the Central Iowa Traffic Safety Task Force (CITSTF) to enforce Iowa's Move-Over law strongly.

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A Department of Public Safety press release reminds Iowans of the law and explains that enforcement will be extra strong from June 17-19.

There have been many fatal crashes in Iowa and across the country caused by drivers failing to move over.

And it's not just law enforcement that is at risk from motorists who fail to move over or slow down.

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One group especially vulnerable is tow truck operators. Hanifen Towing, a company serving the Des Moines area, experienced this tragedy firsthand, losing two employees in 2011 after a motorist didn’t move over or reduce their speed.

What is the Penalty for Violating Iowa's Move-Over Law?

With enforcement stepped up in the next few days, remember, violating Iowa’s Move-Over law (Code 321.323A/321.324) can result in a $210.25 fine, and in more serious cases, like property damage, injury, or death, if there is an accident as a result.

Also, your driver’s license could be suspended for 90 days up to one year. In other words, it's not worth it. Please move over.