Opinion ID: 1676347
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Extent of agency authority to revoke under section 321.209(2) in light of prior revocation under section 321B.16.

Text: Pietig argues, and the district court determined, that the department could not revoke his driver's license under section 321.209(2) because the department had previously revoked his license under section 321B.16. [1] Section 321.209(2) provides in part: The department shall forthwith revoke the license of any operator ... upon receiving a record of such operator's ... [final conviction of]: Operating a motor vehicle [while intoxicated] by a person whose driver's license has not been revoked under chapter 321B [the administrative proceedings against intoxicated drivers] for the occurrence from which the arrest arose. (Emphasis added.) The department responds that, for purposes of section 321.209(2), revocation does not occur unless the driver actually loses driving privileges. It claims support for its view in the underlying purpose of section 321.209(2): protecting the public by removing from the highways those drivers who have endangered life and property. Crow v. Shaeffer, 199 N.W.2d 45, 47 (Iowa 1972). Originally, section 321.209(2) mandated revocation in all convictions for operating while intoxicated. Iowa Code § 321.209(2) (1981). At that time there was no provision for test-result revocation in chapter 321B. The legislature later added such a provision to this chapter. 1982 Iowa Acts ch. 1167, § 13. Presumably the legislature intended to harmonize the two procedures by adding whose driver's license has not been revoked under chapter 321B for the occurrence from which the arrest arose. Id., § 2. We are bound to construe section 321.209(2) in a practical manner. See Beier Glass Co., 329 N.W.2d at 283. Accordingly, we believe revocation in section 321.209(2) means the termination of the licensee's authority to drive. The department is correct in urging that this interpretation promotes the statutory purpose of removing from the highways those drivers who have endangered life and property. Crow, 199 N.W.2d at 47. This interpretation is consistent with the department's statutory duty to revoke in case of conviction of operating while intoxicated. Iowa Code §§ 4.1(36)(a), 321.209(2); Shaw v. Department of Public Safety, 257 Iowa 30, 34, 131 N.W.2d 261, 264 (1964). We can discern no legislative intent to allow drivers convicted under section 321.281(1) to escape revocation procedures. Pietig was able to drive, with a temporary license or permit, until the department revoked his regular driver's license under section 321.209(2). We are not persuaded by Pietig's argument that a revocation under section 321B.16 occurred because he could not cash checks, obtain credit, and lease or drive automobiles without his regular driver's license. Thus, Pietig's license was not revoked under chapter 321B, and the district court erred in concluding otherwise.