2009 Iowa Code
Title 8 - Transportation
Subtitle 2 - Vehicles
CHAPTER 321 - MOTOR VEHICLES AND LAW OF THE ROAD
321.31 - RECORDS SYSTEM.

        321.31  RECORDS SYSTEM.
         A state and county records system shall be maintained in the
      following manner:
         1.  State records system.  The department shall install and
      maintain a records system which shall contain the name and address of
      the vehicle owner, current and previous registration number, vehicle
      identification number, make, model, style, date of purchase,
      registration certificate number, maximum gross weight, weight, list
      price or value of the vehicle as fixed by the department, fees paid
      and date of payment.  The records system shall also contain a record
      of the certificate of title including such information as the
      department deems necessary.  The information to be kept in the
      records system shall be entered within forty-eight hours after
      receipt insofar as is practical.  The records system shall constitute
      the permanent record of ownership of each vehicle titled under the
      laws of this state.
         The department may make photostatic, microfilm, or other
      photographic copies of certificates of title, registration receipts,
      or other records, reports or documents which are required to be
      retained by the department.  When copies have been made, the
      department may destroy the original records in such manner as
      prescribed by the director.  The photostatic, microfilm, or other
      photographic copies, when no longer of use, may be destroyed in the
      manner prescribed by the director, subject to the approval of the
      state records commission.  Photostatic, microfilm, or other
      photographic copies of records shall be admissible in evidence when
      duly certified and authenticated by the officer having custody and
      control of the copies of records.  Records of vehicle certificates of
      title may be destroyed seven years after the date of issue.
         The director shall maintain a records system of delinquent
      accounts owed to the state using information provided through the
      computerized data bank established in section 421.17.  The department
      and county treasurers shall use the information maintained in the
      records system to determine if applicants for renewal of registration
      have delinquent accounts, charges, fees, loans, taxes, or other
      indebtedness owed to or being collected by the state as provided
      pursuant to section 8A.504.  The director, the director of the
      department of administrative services, and the director of revenue
      shall establish procedures for updating the delinquent accounts
      records to add and remove accounts, as applicable.
         2.  County records system.  Each county treasurer's office
      shall maintain a county records system for vehicle registration and
      certificate of title documents.  The records system shall consist of
      information from the certificate of title, including the date of
      perfection and cancellation of security interests, and information
      from the registration receipt.  The information shall be maintained
      in a manner approved by the department.
         Records of vehicle certificates of title for vehicles that are
      delinquent for five or more consecutive years may be destroyed by the
      county treasurer.  Automated files, optical disks, microfiche
      records, and photostatic, microfilm or other photographic copies of
      records shall be admissible in evidence when duly certified and
      authenticated by the officer having custody and control of the
      records.  

         Section History: Early Form

         [S13, § 1571-m2; C24, 27, 31, 35, § 5010; C39, § 5001.15; C46,
      50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, § 321.31] 

         Section History: Recent Form

         89 Acts, ch 185, §2; 95 Acts, ch 194, §3, 12; 2003 Acts, ch 145,
      §246; 2004 Acts, ch 1013, §6, 35
         Referred to in § 331.557