There’s nothing like riding in the bed of a truck with your friends as fresh air blows through your hair.
Sitting with friends, holding conversations and enjoying the wind while traveling can be memorable, especially in the fall.
But is it legal in Iowa to ride in the bed of a truck? That all depends.
What does Iowa law say about riding in truck beds?
While some may question the safety of riding in the bed of a truck on Iowa roads, there is no Iowa state law that prohibits passengers from riding in the bed of a truck.
However, some cities and counties in Iowa have enacted ordinances that make riding in the bed of a truck illegal.
Here’s a look at a few areas in Iowa that we checked.
Davenport and Scott County restrict riding in a truck bed
In Scott County, there is an “unlawful riding” ordinance in place.
The ordinance, in part, says “no person shall ride on any vehicle upon any portion thereof not designed or intended for the use of passengers.”
According to the county, the penalty for violating this ordinance is $25.
Davenport, the county’s seat, also passed a restriction in 2000 after an 8-year-old boy was killed when the truck he was riding in flipped, pinning him underneath, according to the Quad-City Times.
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Des Moines area city codes restrict passengers outside vehicles
The City of Des Moines does not allow passengers to ride in a truck bed.
“No person shall ride on any vehicle upon any portion thereof not designed or intended for the use of passengers,” according to Section 114-11 of the city code.
However, city officials added that this section does not apply to city employees “engaged in the necessary discharge of a duty or to a person riding within a truck body in space intended for merchandise.”
Similarly, Altoona, Johnston, Urbandale, Waukee and West Des Moines city codes all say, “No person shall drive a motor vehicle on the streets of the city unless all passengers of said vehicle are inside the vehicle in the place intended for their accommodation.”
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Central Iowa counties lack restrictions on truck beds
A search of county ordinances found no mention of whether it is legal or illegal to ride in the bed of a truck for the following central Iowa counties:
Ames does have a city code prohibiting passengers from riding “on any vehicle, upon any portion thereof not designated or intended for the use of passengers.”
Johnson County allows riding in a truck bed
Similar to most central Iowa counties, it appears Johnson County does not have an ordinance that prohibits anyone from riding in the bed of a truck.
However, Iowa City code does include an “unlawful riding” ordinance that restricts passengers from riding on “any part of any vehicle unless it is expressly designed either for passenger use or designed for carrying livestock, merchandise or freight.”
Corallville’s code requires that passengers “are inside the vehicle in the place intended for their accommodation.”
Emery Glover is an audience engagement specialist for the Des Moines Register. Reach him at eglover@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Is it illegal to ride in the bed of a truck in Iowa?