Iowa criminal charge
Removal of an officer’s communication or control device in Iowa
Removal of an officer’s communication or control device is a criminal offense under Iowa law, defined by Iowa Code § 708.12. Its classification is not fixed: Iowa assigns a different penalty class depending on the circumstances of the offense. The class that applies — and the sentencing range that follows from it — depends on which statutory variant fits the facts.
Defined by Iowa Code § 708.12.
What is the penalty for removal of an officer’s communication or control device in Iowa?
| Penalty | Range | Basis | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jail / prison | up to 30 days (Base offense — removal without further circumstance — A person who removes or attempts to remove an officer's communication or control device, without more, is guilty of a simple misdemeanor.; may be ordered in lieu of or in addition to the fine (§903.1(1)(a))) | discretionary | Iowa Code § 903.1 |
| Fine | $105 to $855 (Base offense — removal without further circumstance — A person who removes or attempts to remove an officer's communication or control device, without more, is guilty of a simple misdemeanor.; fine may not be suspended by the court (§903.1(1)); jail may be ordered in lieu of the fine; §911 surcharges added on top) | mandatory | Iowa Code § 903.1 |
| Jail / prison | up to 1 years (Removal with intent to interfere with officer's communications or duties — A person who knowingly or intentionally removes or attempts to remove the device with intent to interfere with the officer's communications or duties is guilty of a serious misdemeanor.; the court may order imprisonment in addition to the fine (§903.1(1)(b))) | discretionary | Iowa Code § 903.1 |
| Fine | $430 to $2,560 (Removal with intent to interfere with officer's communications or duties — A person who knowingly or intentionally removes or attempts to remove the device with intent to interfere with the officer's communications or duties is guilty of a serious misdemeanor.; fine may not be suspended by the court (§903.1(1)); §911 surcharges added on top) | mandatory | Iowa Code § 903.1 |
| Jail / prison | up to 1 years (Removal resulting in bodily injury (unintentional) — If a violation of paragraph (a) results in bodily injury to the officer, the person is guilty of a serious misdemeanor.; the court may order imprisonment in addition to the fine (§903.1(1)(b))) | discretionary | Iowa Code § 903.1 |
| Fine | $430 to $2,560 (Removal resulting in bodily injury (unintentional) — If a violation of paragraph (a) results in bodily injury to the officer, the person is guilty of a serious misdemeanor.; fine may not be suspended by the court (§903.1(1)); §911 surcharges added on top) | mandatory | Iowa Code § 903.1 |
| Jail / prison | up to 2 years (Removal resulting in serious injury (unintentional) — If a violation of paragraph (a) results in serious injury to the officer, the person is guilty of an aggravated misdemeanor.; a sentence of more than one year is an indeterminate term (§903.1(2))) | discretionary | Iowa Code § 903.1 |
| Fine | $855 to $8,540 (Removal resulting in serious injury (unintentional) — If a violation of paragraph (a) results in serious injury to the officer, the person is guilty of an aggravated misdemeanor.; fine may not be suspended by the court (§903.1(1)); §911 surcharges added on top) | mandatory | Iowa Code § 903.1 |
| Jail / prison | up to 2 years (Removal with knowing/intentional infliction of bodily injury — If a violation of paragraph (a) occurs and the person knowingly or intentionally causes bodily injury to the officer, the person is guilty of an aggravated misdemeanor.; a sentence of more than one year is an indeterminate term (§903.1(2))) | discretionary | Iowa Code § 903.1 |
| Fine | $855 to $8,540 (Removal with knowing/intentional infliction of bodily injury — If a violation of paragraph (a) occurs and the person knowingly or intentionally causes bodily injury to the officer, the person is guilty of an aggravated misdemeanor.; fine may not be suspended by the court (§903.1(1)); §911 surcharges added on top) | mandatory | Iowa Code § 903.1 |
| Jail / prison | up to 5 years (Removal with knowing/intentional infliction of serious injury — If a violation of paragraph (a) occurs and the person knowingly or intentionally causes serious injury to the officer, the person is guilty of a class D felony.; indeterminate term (§902.3); maximum only, release determined by the board of parole) | discretionary | Iowa Code § 902.9 |
| Fine | $1,025 to $10,245 (Removal with knowing/intentional infliction of serious injury — If a violation of paragraph (a) occurs and the person knowingly or intentionally causes serious injury to the officer, the person is guilty of a class D felony.; §911 surcharges added on top) | mandatory | Iowa Code § 902.9 |
Applies to current (2026 Iowa Code; fine levels per 2020 Acts ch 1074).
How is removal of an officer’s communication or control device classified in Iowa?
The classification depends on the circumstances:
| Variant | Classification | When it applies | Statute |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base offense — removal without further circumstance | Simple Misdemeanor | A person who removes or attempts to remove an officer's communication or control device, without more, is guilty of a simple misdemeanor. | Iowa Code § 708.12(3)(a) |
| Removal with intent to interfere with officer's communications or duties | Serious Misdemeanor | A person who knowingly or intentionally removes or attempts to remove the device with intent to interfere with the officer's communications or duties is guilty of a serious misdemeanor. | Iowa Code § 708.12(3)(b) |
| Removal resulting in bodily injury (unintentional) | Serious Misdemeanor | If a violation of paragraph (a) results in bodily injury to the officer, the person is guilty of a serious misdemeanor. | Iowa Code § 708.12(3)(c) |
| Removal resulting in serious injury (unintentional) | Aggravated Misdemeanor | If a violation of paragraph (a) results in serious injury to the officer, the person is guilty of an aggravated misdemeanor. | Iowa Code § 708.12(3)(d) |
| Removal with knowing/intentional infliction of bodily injury | Aggravated Misdemeanor | If a violation of paragraph (a) occurs and the person knowingly or intentionally causes bodily injury to the officer, the person is guilty of an aggravated misdemeanor. | Iowa Code § 708.12(3)(e) |
| Removal with knowing/intentional infliction of serious injury | Class “D” Felony | If a violation of paragraph (a) occurs and the person knowingly or intentionally causes serious injury to the officer, the person is guilty of a class D felony. | Iowa Code § 708.12(3)(f) |
Common questions about removal of an officer’s communication or control device in Iowa
Is removal of an officer’s communication or control device a felony or a misdemeanor in Iowa?
It depends on the circumstances: removal of an officer’s communication or control device ranges from a Simple Misdemeanor to a Class “D” Felony in Iowa under Iowa Code § 708.12.
Base offense — removal without further circumstance: Simple Misdemeanor (Iowa Code § 708.12(3)(a)) · Removal with intent to interfere with officer's communications or duties: Serious Misdemeanor (Iowa Code § 708.12(3)(b)) · Removal resulting in bodily injury (unintentional): Serious Misdemeanor (Iowa Code § 708.12(3)(c)) · Removal resulting in serious injury (unintentional): Aggravated Misdemeanor (Iowa Code § 708.12(3)(d)) · Removal with knowing/intentional infliction of bodily injury: Aggravated Misdemeanor (Iowa Code § 708.12(3)(e)) · Removal with knowing/intentional infliction of serious injury: Class “D” Felony (Iowa Code § 708.12(3)(f))
What are the penalties for removal of an officer’s communication or control device in Iowa?
Which Iowa statute covers removal of an officer’s communication or control device?
Removal of an officer’s communication or control device is governed by Iowa Code § 708.12 (Removal of an officer’s communication or control device).
Legal terms used in this law
This reference is informational and is not legal advice. Penalty ranges are the statutory classification ranges; sentencing in a specific case depends on its facts and history.