Opinion ID: 2210398
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Heading: Was a Statutory Duty Owed Appellants' Decedents?

Text: At the heart of this dispute is Iowa Code section 321.358(8) (1985), which provides in part that: No person shall stop, stand, or park a vehicle, except when necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic or in compliance with the directions of a police officer or traffic-control device, in any of the following places: .... 8. Within fifty feet of the nearest rail of a railroad crossing, except when parked parallel with such rail and not exhibiting a red light. However, Iowa Code section 321.228 (1985) specifies that: The provisions of this chapter relating to the operation of vehicles refer exclusively to the operation of vehicles upon highways except: 1. Where a different place is specifically referred to in a given section. 2. The provisions of sections 321.261 to 321.274, section 321.277 and sections 321.280 to 321.282 shall apply upon highways and elsewhere throughout the state. Appellants contend it is apparent from a plain reading of these statutes that Iowa Code section 321.358(8) (1985) governs the placement of such vehicles even when parked on private property. A careful reading of Iowa Code chapter 321 (1985), however, shows that the chapter applies only to the operation of motor vehicles upon Iowa highways. It cannot be construed to legislate where vehicles may or may not park on private property. When the legislature has intended for a rule of the road to apply elsewhere, it has explicitly stated so. For example, Iowa Code section 321.358(1) (1985) prohibits stopping, standing, or parking vehicles on a sidewalk. Where no specific place is specified, it is mandated by Iowa Code chapter 321 (1985) that the provisions of the chapter shall only apply to the public roads. Construing the statutory language as appellants would have this court construe it, would place a strained, impractical or absurd construction upon such language in contravention to our principles of statutory construction. Doe v. Ray, 251 N.W.2d 496, 501 (Iowa 1977). The meaning of the statute is always an issue of law for the court to decide. North Star Steel Co. v. Iowa Dep't of Revenue, 380 N.W.2d 677, 680 (Iowa 1986) (citing Schmitt v. Iowa Dep't of Social Serv., 263 N.W.2d 739, 745 (Iowa 1978)). Any speculation about the legislature's intent in enacting Iowa Code section 321.358(8) (1985) cannot displace the plain meaning of Iowa Code sections 321.228 and 321.251. Therefore, because the semi-trailers owned by Mike's Lines were parked on the private parking lot of Swiss Valley, we hold that the provisions of Iowa Code section 321.358(8) are not applicable to the facts of this case and create no statutory duty for the appellees to guard against the harm alleged.