Iowa Code Title VIII. Transportation [Chs. 306-330B] § 321.465. Weighing vehicles and removal of excess

1. Any peace officer having reason to believe that the weight of a vehicle and load is unlawful is authorized to require the driver to stop and submit to a weighing of the same either by means of portable or stationary scales and may require that such vehicle be driven to the nearest public scales.

2. If an officer upon weighing a vehicle and load determines that the weight is unlawful, the officer may require the driver to stop the vehicle in a suitable place until such portion of the load is removed as may be necessary to reduce the gross weight of the vehicle to the limit as permitted under this chapter. All material so unloaded shall be cared for by the owner or operator of the vehicle at the risk of the owner or operator. The owner or operator of an overweight vehicle, designed to transport solid waste and domiciled within the state, which is transporting solid waste, shall not be required to unload any portion of the load, if the load is indivisible, in a place other than a facility which is permitted to handle solid waste disposal, processing, or recycling. For purposes of this section, “solid waste” means waste which is acceptable at a local sanitary landfill and the solid waste shall be considered to be an indivisible load.

3. A driver of a vehicle who fails or refuses to stop and submit the vehicle and load to a weighing, or who fails or refuses when directed by an officer upon a weighing of the vehicle to stop the vehicle and otherwise comply with this section, is guilty of a simple misdemeanor.

4. Upon weighing a vehicle and load, as above provided, if such load is a sealed load, the weight officer shall issue a certificate setting forth the weights as determined by the weight officer and the seal number or numbers, if requested by the operator.