This bill requires Idaho to suspend driver's licenses for individuals who are 60 days or more behind on unpaid fines for moving traffic violations. It creates a new legal provision that allows courts to notify the Department of Transportation when a driver fails to pay an infraction penalty, triggering an automatic suspension without a prior hearing. To restore driving privileges, drivers must pay all outstanding fines and fees, and the law includes an appeal process through district court as well as limited exceptions for medical emergencies and employment-related travel.
H 663 amends Idaho law to allow agriculture license plates to feature unique designs highlighting Idaho farming, approved by the Food Producers of Idaho, Inc. and the Idaho ag in the classroom program, instead of following standard plate design rules. It adjusts fee distribution: $10 from the initial plate fee and $10 from annual renewals go to the state highway fund, while the remainder supports agricultural education programs. The bill affects farm vehicle owners (typically those with vehicles under 26,000 pounds gross weight) who use these specialty plates, with changes taking effect July 1, 2026.
H 629 (Idaho House Bill 629) amends Idaho law to allow electronic vehicle registration, directly affecting all Idaho vehicle owners and the Idaho Department of Transportation. The bill revises Section 49-202 to update procedures for replacing physical registration and amends Section 49-427 to explicitly permit an electronic registration format. This change eliminates the need for physical registration stickers by enabling electronic verification, while maintaining existing fee structures for services like duplicate registration copies. The bill passed the Idaho House 43-26 and is now moving to the Senate.
Idaho bill H 490 revises the state's reckless driving law (Idaho Code §49-1401). It adds a specific prohibition against passing when a lane line indicates a sight distance restriction and clarifies that driving 20+ mph over the speed limit in school or construction zones constitutes reckless driving. The bill creates a new "inattentive driving" offense for less severe cases (e.g., minor carelessness), punishable by up to 90 days in jail or a $300 fine, while maintaining tiered penalties for reckless driving: first-time offenders face up to 6 months jail or $1,000 fine, and repeat offenders within 5 years face up to 1 year jail or $2,000 fine plus automatic license suspension. This law directly affects drivers convicted of these traffic violations, with changes taking effect July 1, 2026.
