SMV sign info for those in Iowa

[LOBRI]

For those of us riding in Iowa for the time being we do need to display a SMV sign. (Slow Moving Vehicle)

From what I understand there were several tickets issued last weekend in Northern Iowa for not having them on a group ride.

Sounds like they are working on getting this law changed but for now...

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[Jay B]

Thanks. I'm from Southeast South Dakota and we get into Iowa once in a while on supper rides.

 

[Big Red]

SMV (slow moving vehicle) signs were required in Iowa by most counties that had UTV ordinances, that was before Iowa passed HF2130 in 2022 that allowed UTV's to operate in every Iowa county. When that law was passed there was no mention of the SMV sign so many of us quit displaying them. I called the Sheriff's office after the law passed for clarification and they didn't know if I needed one or not. In November of last year (2024) Iowa code 321.383 was updated which spells out that UTV's and ATV's must display them. In February of this year the Lee County Recorder posted on Facebook that they were once again required. The whole damn thing is kind of stupid if you ask me. If you load it on a trailer, you now have to remove it or cover it up.

 

[LOBRI]

Agree. Has anyone come up with a good way to mount a SMV sign to our 1500s?

 

[Big Red]

Agree. Has anyone come up with a good way to mount a SMV sign to our 1500s?

I have a simple design that makes it easy to remove when not needed. No fasteners just slide in a front stake pocket (behind rear window) I will take some pics and measure what I made and post it when I get home today.

 

[LOBRI]

I have a simple design that makes it easy to remove when not needed. No fasteners just slide in a front stake pocket (behind rear window) I will take some pics and measure what I made and post it when I get home today.

Thank you!

 

[Big Red]

Here are some pics of what I did for a simple, easily removable SMV sign. Basically you make a board to fit your stake pocket behind the rear glass, you can place it to the left or right side your choice. The board I made is 20 3/4" long so it would sit above my toolbox, you can make it any length you want. The board is 3 1/2" wide and 3/4" thick. I put a 1/4" radius on all 4 sides and tapered the bottom of the board to help it snug up to the stake pocket which tappers in the deeper you get. Once I got the board fitted to my liking, I painted it and screwed on a plastic standard size SMV sign. I'll attach a link to the one I just bought for a holder I made for someone else.

https://a.co/d/9OovTHF

 

[LOBRI]

Awesome Big Red, thank you!