Iowa § 321I.1 - 321I.1 Definitions.

§ 321I.1. 321I.1 Definitions.

As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires: 1. a. “All-terrain vehicle” means a motorized vehicle with not less than three and not more than six nonhighway tires that is limited in engine displacement to less than one thousand cubic centimeters and in total dry weight to less than one thousand two hundred pounds and that has a seat or saddle designed to be straddled by the operator and handlebars for steering control. b. Off-road motorcycles shall be considered all-terrain vehicles for the purpose of registration. Off-road motorcycles shall also be considered all-terrain vehicles for the purpose of titling if a title has not previously been issued pursuant to chapter 321. An operator of an off-road motorcycle is subject to provisions governing the operation of all-terrain vehicles in this chapter, but is exempt from the education instruction and certification program requirements of sections 321I.25 and 321I.26. 2. “ ‘A’ scale” means the physical scale marked “A” graduated in decibels on a sound level meter which meets the requirements of the American national standards institute, incorporated, publication S1.4-1961, general purpose sound level meters. 3. “Commission” means the natural resource commission of the department. 4. “Dealer” means a person engaged in the business of buying, selling, or exchanging all-terrain vehicles required to be registered under this chapter and who has an established place of business for that purpose in this state. 5. “Department” means the department of natural resources. 6. “Designated riding area” means an all-terrain vehicle riding area on any public land or public ice under the jurisdiction of the department that has been designated by the department for all-terrain vehicle use. 7. “Designated riding trail” means an all-terrain vehicle riding trail on any public land, private land, or public ice that has been designated by the department, a political subdivision, or a controlling authority for all-terrain vehicle use. 8. “Director” means the director of the department. 9. “Direct supervision” means to provide supervision of another person while maintaining visual and verbal contact at all times. 10. “Distributor” means a person, resident or nonresident, who sells or distributes all-terrain vehicles to all-terrain vehicle dealers in this state or who maintains distributor representatives. 11. “Education certificate” means an all-terrain vehicle education certificate, approved by the commission, which is issued to a qualified applicant who is twelve years of age or older. 12. “Established place of business” means the place actually occupied either continuously or at regular periods by a dealer or manufacturer where the books and records are kept and the dealer’s or manufacturer’s business is primarily transacted. 13. “Manufacturer” means a person engaged in the business of constructing or assembling all-terrain vehicles required to be registered under this chapter and who has an established place of business for that purpose in this state. 14. “Nonambulatory person” means an individual with paralysis of the lower half of the body with the involvement of both legs, usually caused by disease of or injury to the spinal cord, or caused by the loss of both legs or the loss of a part of both legs. 15. “Nonresident” means a person who is not a resident of this state. 16. “Off-road motorcycle” means a two-wheeled motor vehicle that has a seat or saddle designed to be straddled by the operator and handlebars for steering control and that is intended by the manufacturer for use on natural terrain. “Off-road motorcycle” includes a motorcycle that was originally issued a certificate of title and registered for highway use under chapter 321, but which contains design features that enable operation over natural terrain. 17. a. “Off-road utility vehicle” means a motorized vehicle with not less than four and not more than eight nonhighway tires or rubberized tracks that has a seat that is of bucket or bench design, not intended to be straddled by the operator, and a steering wheel or control levers for control. “Off-road utility vehicle” includes the following vehicles: Thu Dec 11 19:44:08 2025 Iowa Code 2026, Section 321I.1 (32, 0) §321I.1, ALL-TERRAIN VEHICLES 2 (1) “Off-road utility vehicle — type 1” means an off-road utility vehicle with a total dry weight of one thousand two hundred pounds or less and a width of fifty inches or less. (2) “Off-road utility vehicle — type 2” means an off-road utility vehicle, other than a type 1 off-road utility vehicle, with a total dry weight of two thousand pounds or less, and a width of sixty-five inches or less. (3) “Off-road utility vehicle — type 3” means an off-road utility vehicle with a total dry weight of more than two thousand pounds or a width of more than sixty-five inches, or both. b. The operator of an off-road utility vehicle is subject to provisions governing the operation of all-terrain vehicles in section 321.234A, this chapter, and administrative rules, but is exempt from the education instruction and certification program requirements of sections 321I.25 and 321I.26. An operator of an off-road utility vehicle shall not operate the vehicle on a designated riding area or designated riding trail unless the department has posted signage indicating the riding area or trail is open to the operation of off-road utility vehicles. Off-road utility vehicles are subject to the dealer registration and titling requirements of this chapter. A motorized vehicle that was previously titled or is currently titled under chapter 321 shall not be registered or operated as an off-road utility vehicle. 18. “Operate” means to ride in or on, other than as a passenger, use, or control the operation of an all-terrain vehicle in any manner, whether or not the all-terrain vehicle is moving. 19. “Operator” means a person who operates or is in actual physical control of an all-terrain vehicle. 20. “Owner” means a person, other than a lienholder, having the property right in or title to an all-terrain vehicle. The term includes a person entitled to the use or possession of an all-terrain vehicle subject to an interest in another person, reserved or created by agreement and securing payment or performance of an obligation, but the term excludes a lessee under a lease not intended as security. 21. “Person” means an individual, partnership, firm, corporation, association, and the state, its agencies, and political subdivisions. 22. “Public ice” means any frozen, navigable waters within the territorial limits of this state and the frozen marginal river areas adjacent to this state, other than farm ponds, that are under the jurisdiction of the commission. 23. “Public land” means land owned by the federal government, the state, or political subdivisions of the state and land acquired or developed for public recreation pursuant to section 321I.8. 24. “Railroad right-of-way” means the full width of property owned, leased, or subject to easement for railroad purposes and is not limited to those areas on which tracks are located. 25. “Resident” means as defined in section 483A.1A. 26. “Roadway” means that portion of a highway improved, designed, or ordinarily used for vehicular travel. 27. “Snowmobile” means the same as defined in section 321G.1. 28. “Special event” means an organized race, exhibition, or demonstration of limited duration which is conducted on public land, public ice, or a designated riding trail under the jurisdiction of the commission according to a prearranged schedule and in which general public interest is manifested. 29. “Street” or “highway” means the entire width between property lines of every way or place of whatever nature when any part thereof is open to the use of the public, as a matter of right, for purposes of vehicular travel, except in public areas in which the boundary shall be thirty-three feet each side of the center line of the roadway. 2004 Acts, ch 1132, §44; 2007 Acts, ch 141, §26, 27; 2009 Acts, ch 144, §6, 7; 2012 Acts, ch 1013, §3, 4; 2012 Acts, ch 1100, §31 – 34; 2014 Acts, ch 1005, §1; 2014 Acts, ch 1141, §66; 2016 Acts, ch 1073, §106 Referred to in §321G.1, 322F.1, 423.3 Thu Dec 11 19:44:08 2025 Iowa Code 2026, Section 321I.1 (32, 0)