Opinion ID: 1692888
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Statutory Authority to Order Issuance of Temporary Restricted License.

Text: Pursuant to Iowa Code section 321J.4(8) (Supp.1995), a person whose driver's license has been revoked may petition the court for an order to require the DOT to issue the person a temporary restricted driver's license. [1] Section 321J.4(8) provides in pertinent part: A person whose motor vehicle license has [] been revoked under this chapter, ... and who is not eligible for a temporary restricted license under this chapter may petition the court upon the expiration of the minimum period of ineligibility for a temporary restricted license provided for under this section or section 321J.9, 321J.12, or 321J.20 for an order ... to require the department to issue a temporary restricted license to the person.... If the court determines that the temporary restricted license is necessary for the person to maintain the person's present employment, and that the minimum period of ineligibility for receipt of a temporary license has expired, the court shall order the department to issue to the person a temporary restricted license.... (Emphasis added.) Section 321J.12(1) sets forth the driver's license revocation time periods when there is an implied consent test failure: a. One hundred eighty days if the person has had no revocation within the previous six years under this chapter. b. One year if the person has had one or more previous revocations within the previous six years under this chapter. Pursuant to section 321J.12(2), a person who has had one or more previous revocations within the previous six years shall not be eligible for any temporary restricted license for one year after the effective date of the revocation. [2] The DOT insists that the district court exceeded its authority in ordering it to issue Tabor a temporary restricted license in April 1996 because Tabor's minimum period of ineligibility for receipt of a temporary license had not expired. The DOT maintains that, because Tabor has had one or more previous revocations within the previous six years, pursuant to section 321J.12(1)(b) and (2) she was ineligible for a temporary restricted license for a period of one year from the date of her current revocation, December 13, 1995.