Opinion ID: 2206061
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Was there a custom or practice between the State and peace officers to compensate the peace officers for their drive time?

Text: The district court did not rule on whether there was a custom or practice to compensate the peace officers for their drive time in its original findings of fact, conclusions of law, and order. The peace officers filed a motion to enlarge or amend the district court's ruling under Iowa Rule of Civil Procedure 1.904(2), asking the district court to address this issue. The district court summarily denied the peace officers' motion. We, therefore, must assume the district court found against the peace officers on this issue. In Raper, the plaintiffs raised many of the same issues involved in the present case. We determined drive time is compensable when there is a custom or practice between the employer and employee to compensate the employee for drive time. 688 N.W.2d at 45. In Raper, we reversed the district court by deciding there was no substantial evidence to support the court's finding there was not a custom to compensate the peace officers for their drive time. We concluded the evidence established a custom to compensate the peace officers for their drive time. In the present case, however, there is substantial evidence to support the district court's conclusion the State did not have a custom or practice to compensate the peace officers for their drive time. Only four of the six peace officers who brought this action considered their drive time compensable. The inconsistency in tracking work time by the peace officers supports the district court's decision the State did not have a custom or practice to compensate the peace officers for their drive time.