What an Iowa speeding ticket is

Iowa Code § 805.6(1)(a) (legis.iowa.gov, Iowa Code 2026, retrieved 9 Oct 2026) provides for a uniform citation and complaint. It states that three state officials, acting jointly, “shall adopt a uniform, combined citation and complaint which shall be used for charging all traffic violations in Iowa under state law or local regulation or ordinance”. It also states: “This subsection does not prevent the charging of any of those violations by information, by private complaint filed under chapter 804, or by a simple notice of fine where permitted by section 321.236, subsection 1.” The section number printed on the citation shows which rule is charged, for example the speed restrictions in Iowa Code § 321.285. Confirm what your notice says.

A scheduled violation (Iowa Code § 321.285(8) and § 805.8)

§ 321.285(8): “A person who violates this section for excessive speed in violation of a speed limit commits a simple misdemeanor punishable as a scheduled violation under section 805.8A, subsection 5.” § 805.8(1): “The crime services surcharge required by section 911.1 shall be added to the scheduled fine.” That is the statute’s statement.

Speed limits (Iowa Code § 321.285)

§ 321.285(1) begins: “Any person driving a motor vehicle on a highway shall drive the same at a careful and prudent speed not greater than nor less than is reasonable and proper, having due regard to the traffic, surface, and width of the highway and of any other conditions then existing”. § 321.285(2)(a): “Unless otherwise provided by this section, or except as posted pursuant to sections 262.68, 321.236, subsection 5, section 321.288, subsection 2, paragraph “f”, sections 321.289, 321.290, 321.293, 321.295, and 461A.36, the following shall be the lawful speed and any speed in excess thereof shall be unlawful:”

(1) “Twenty miles per hour in any business district.”
(2) “Twenty-five miles per hour in any residence or school district.”
(3) “Forty-five miles per hour in any suburban district.”

2026 Iowa Acts, chapter 1132, section 3 (Senate File 378, approved June 1, 2026, effective 1 July 2026) amended § 321.285(3), the speed limit for all vehicular traffic unless otherwise provided, from fifty-five to sixty miles per hour. The Iowa Code 2026 edition retrieved for this page predates that change. § 321.285(5)(a): “Notwithstanding any other speed restrictions, the speed limit for all vehicular traffic on fully controlled-access, divided, multilaned highways is sixty-five miles per hour.” It continues: “However, the speed limit for all vehicular traffic on highways that are part of the interstate road system, as defined in section 306.3, is seventy miles per hour.” That is the statute’s statement. Read the speed and the limit printed on your citation.

Scheduled fines for speed (Iowa Code § 805.8A(5))

§ 805.8A(5)(a): “For excessive speed violations in excess of the limit under section 321.236, subsections 5 and 11, section 321.285, section 321.383, subsection 5, section 321O.5, subsection 1, and section 461A.36, the scheduled fine shall be the following:”

(1) “Thirty dollars for speed not more than five miles per hour in excess of the limit.”
(2) “Fifty-five dollars for speed greater than five but not more than ten miles per hour in excess of the limit.”
(3) “One hundred five dollars for speed greater than ten but not more than fifteen miles per hour in excess of the limit.”
(4) “One hundred twenty dollars for speed greater than fifteen but not more than twenty miles per hour in excess of the limit.”
(5) “One hundred thirty-five dollars plus five dollars for each mile per hour of excessive speed over twenty miles per hour over the limit.”

That is the statute’s statement. This page does not apply the formula in (5) to any speed.

Road work zones (Iowa Code § 805.8A(14)(i))

§ 805.8A(14)(i): “The scheduled fine for any moving traffic violation under chapter 321, as provided in this section, shall be doubled if the violation occurs within any road work zone, as defined in section 321.1.” It continues: “However, notwithstanding subsection 5, the scheduled fine for violating the speed limit in a road work zone is as follows:”

(1) “One hundred ninety-five dollars for speed not more than ten miles per hour over the posted speed limit.”
(2) “Three hundred ninety dollars for speed greater than ten but not more than twenty miles per hour over the posted speed limit.”
(3) “Six hundred forty-five dollars for speed greater than twenty but not more than twenty-five miles per hour over the posted speed limit.”
(4) “One thousand two hundred eighty-five dollars for speed greater than twenty-five miles per hour over the posted speed limit.”

That is the statute’s statement.

Surcharge and court costs (Iowa Code § 911.1 and § 602.8106)

§ 911.1(1): “When a court imposes a fine or forfeiture for a violation of state law, or a city or county ordinance, except an ordinance regulating the parking of motor vehicles, the court shall assess an additional penalty in the form of a crime services surcharge equal to fifteen percent of the fine or forfeiture imposed.” § 602.8106(1): “The clerk of the district court shall collect the following fees:” (d) “For court costs in scheduled violation cases where a court appearance is required, fifty-five dollars.” (e) “For court costs in scheduled violation cases where a court appearance is not required, fifty-five dollars.” That is the statute’s statement. This page does not list every fee that may apply, does not apply the surcharge or the costs to any amount, and does not compute a total. Confirm what your notice says.

Driving record and suspension (761 IAC ch. 615)

Iowa Department of Transportation rule 761—615.6(1) (Iowa Administrative Code, chapter 615 as published “IAC 6/24/26”, retrieved 9 Oct 2026): ““Habitual violator” means that the person has been convicted of three or more moving violations committed within a 12-month period.” Rule 761—615.10(1): “The department may suspend a person’s license when the person has committed a serious violation of the motor vehicle laws.” Rule 761—615.10(2) lists, as one meaning of a serious violation: “The person was convicted for speeding 25 miles per hour (mph) or more above the legal limit.” That is the rule’s statement. The rule then prints suspension periods by mph over the limit; this page does not reproduce them. Rule 761—615.4(1) sets out a point system for deciding who is a habitual offender; speeding is not among the convictions it assigns points to. We do not tell you how a ticket will affect your license or insurance. Confirm your driving record with the Iowa Department of Transportation.

Paths the citation describes (not which to choose)

Read the court name, the appearance date, and the response instructions printed on your citation. We do not tell you whether to pay, request a hearing, or take any other step.

Violation.com does not collect Iowa fines, surcharges or court costs. If you upload a speeding notice, we summarize what the notice shows. It is not legal advice.

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Sources retrieved 9 Oct 2026:

Not legal advice. Not a law firm. Not affiliated with a government agency. Information Only.

Information on this page was last checked against official sources on October 17, 2026.