Iowa Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Enforcement Agency
Encyclopedia
The Iowa Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Enforcement Agency is a law enforcement agency
located in the state of Iowa
. Like the Iowa State Patrol
, the Motor Vehicle Enforcement Agency is a statewide agency, however unlike the Patrol it is primarily concerned with the enforcement of laws and regulations concerning commercial vehicles in the state.
The officers deal with state and Federal safety regulations, hazardous material regulations, commercial driver licensing, commercial vehicle registration, oversized vehicles, tax compliance, ensuring proper documentation is carried, and ensuring vehicles have appropriate insurance. The officers are certified law enforcement officers, and can assist with other law enforcement duties as required.
There are 130 sworn peace officers in the agency. Like many other agencies, officers drive Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptors with at least least one Chevrolet Silverado
also in service as of 2008. Their vehicles are painted light blue in color with a gold stripe running along the sides of the car.
In 1975 the Iowa Department of Transportation was formed. As part of the law forming the Iowa DOT, the highway commission officers, officers of the Iowa Commerce Commission, and motor vehicle investigators from the Iowa Department of Public Safety were combined into the modern Motor Vehicle Enforcement Agency. This new department was placed under the authority of the Iowa DOT.
Law enforcement agency
In North American English, a law enforcement agency is a government agency responsible for the enforcement of the laws.Outside North America, such organizations are called police services. In North America, some of these services are called police while others have other names In North American...
located in the state of Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
. Like the Iowa State Patrol
Iowa State Patrol
The Iowa State Patrol is the state police organization in the state of Iowa. Currently, there are just over 378 officers in the patrol. State Troopers are responsible for patrolling over of roadways in the state. The State is broken into . Their primary concern is enforcing motor vehicle laws,...
, the Motor Vehicle Enforcement Agency is a statewide agency, however unlike the Patrol it is primarily concerned with the enforcement of laws and regulations concerning commercial vehicles in the state.
The officers deal with state and Federal safety regulations, hazardous material regulations, commercial driver licensing, commercial vehicle registration, oversized vehicles, tax compliance, ensuring proper documentation is carried, and ensuring vehicles have appropriate insurance. The officers are certified law enforcement officers, and can assist with other law enforcement duties as required.
There are 130 sworn peace officers in the agency. Like many other agencies, officers drive Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptors with at least least one Chevrolet Silverado
Chevrolet Silverado
The Chevrolet Silverado , is the latest line of full-size pickup trucks from General Motors.-History:...
also in service as of 2008. Their vehicles are painted light blue in color with a gold stripe running along the sides of the car.
History
In early 1941 highway engineers expressed concern that overweight commercial vehicles would eventually cause serious damage to Iowa's highway system. Legislation was passed, and signed in to law on April 16, 1941 that allowed the highway commission to designate certain employees as peace officers to enforce the laws concerning size and weight. The first officer entered service on July 1 of that year.In 1975 the Iowa Department of Transportation was formed. As part of the law forming the Iowa DOT, the highway commission officers, officers of the Iowa Commerce Commission, and motor vehicle investigators from the Iowa Department of Public Safety were combined into the modern Motor Vehicle Enforcement Agency. This new department was placed under the authority of the Iowa DOT.