Court Opinion

ID: 9686956
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-24 16:12:07.772946+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:18:23.208891
License: Public Domain

McCORMICK, Justice
(concurring specially).
When the court finds a defendant is an habitual offender, section 321.559 provides “the court shall by appropriate judgment direct that such person not operate a motor vehicle on the highways of this state for the period specified in section 321.560.” Under section 321.560 a license shall not be issued to such offender “for a period of one year from the date of judgment.”
The license is revoked, not merely suspended, and the period of revocation is mandatory. See State v. Nichols, 264 N.W.2d 765, 766 (Iowa 1978). Therefore the trial court lacked authority to shorten the period of revocation by allowing credit for an earlier suspension. I would reverse on this basis.
UHLENHOPP, J., joins in this special concurrence.