Opinion ID: 2219657
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Exclusion of Prior Driving Convictions.

Text: Farm & City's final argument is the district court erred in excluding evidence of Tuma's previous driving offenses. Prior to the accident, Tuma had numerous driving convictions. Farm & City urges that these prior convictions are relevant to whether Tuma had a reasonable belief of entitlement to drive and are admissible under Iowa Rule of Evidence 404(b). The district court excluded evidence of Tuma's previous driving convictions stating that the prejudice outweighed any probative value as to the details why Tuma's license had been revoked. See Iowa R.Evid. 403. The determination to exclude evidence under rule 403 rests within the sound discretion of the trial court. Harris v. Jones, 471 N.W.2d 818, 821 (Iowa 1991). The court properly considered Tuma's lack of a driver's license and the fact it had been suspended or revoked and weighed the evidence accordingly. The district court did not abuse its discretion in excluding evidence of Tuma's prior driving convictions. Accordingly, we affirm the district court's declaratory judgment. AFFIRMED.