321.189A Driver’s license for undercover law enforcement officers — fee — penalties.
1. The department may issue undercover driver’s licenses to certified peace officers employed by a local authority or by the state or federal law enforcement officers for use in the line of duty when a fictitious identity is necessary. The department, in cooperation with the commissioner of public safety, shall adopt rules pursuant to chapter 17A regarding the issuance, use, and cancellation of licenses issued pursuant to this section.
2. A license issued pursuant to this section shall only be issued to a certified peace officer or federal law enforcement officer, who is qualified to obtain the class of license sought, at the request of the law enforcement agency employing the officer for official use when the officer is involved in duty in which a fictitious identity is necessary. An officer issued a license pursuant to this section shall surrender the license when the license is no longer needed.
3. a. A license issued pursuant to this section shall only be used in the line of duty when it is necessary for the officer holding the license to assume a fictitious identity. An officer issued a license pursuant to this section shall report as soon as practical to the law enforcement agency employing the officer any traffic citation issued to the officer while using the officer’s fictitious identity.
b. An officer using a license issued under this section shall not be prosecuted for a public offense under this chapter if the offense was committed in the line of duty and was necessary to protect the identity of the officer. However, this paragraph shall not apply to a violation of subsection 4, paragraph “a”.
4. a. An officer who provides the department false information for the purposes of obtaining a license under this section commits a class “D” felony.
b. An officer who displays or uses a license issued pursuant to this section during the commission or attempted commission of a public offense other than a public offense referred to in subsection 3 or who knowingly permits another person to use the license issued under this section commits a class “D” felony.
c. An officer who displays or uses a license issued pursuant to this section in any manner which is not a public offense but which is not authorized under this section or who knowingly fails or refuses to surrender the license upon demand by the department commits an aggravated misdemeanor.
5. The fee for issuing a license under this section shall be the same as for licenses issued pursuant to section 321.189.
6. The department shall keep as confidential public records under section 22.7, all records regarding licenses issued under this section.
97 Acts, ch 92, §2; 98 Acts, ch 1073, §10
Referred to in §22.7(36)