Don’t assume justice will be served in the Hawkeye State. Iowa OWI laws can be complex and confusing. We’ll break it down for you and emphasize the necessity of legal representation.
Blood Alcohol Content (BAC)
In the state of Iowa you are Operating While Intoxicated (OWI) when you’re blood alcohol level is .08 or greater. If the results were .15 or greater OWI penalties become more severe. The Blood Alcohol Level (BAL) for drivers under 21 is .02.
Field Sobriety Tests (FST) and Chemical Testing
If you’re pulled over in Iowa and suspected for OWI the police will request that you perform a FST or chemical testing, possibly a combination of both. The 3 most generally accepted FST are the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus (HGN), walk and turn, and stand on one leg. These tests check for physical signs of an elevated BAL. Chemical testing relies on scientific analysis of a driver’s breath, blood, or urine.
Administrative License Suspension
There are 2 separate cases brought against OWI suspects. If a driver submits to chemical testing and they exceed the legal level, their license is suspended for 180 days. Additional offenses result in a 1 year suspension. If the driver refuses testing their license will automatically be suspended for 1 year.
Criminal Penalties
A first time OWI conviction may result in 2 days to 1 year of incarceration and a fine of $1250 to $1500 plus a government surcharge. Second offenders face a fine of $1850 to $5000 and 7 days to 2 years in prison. Subsequently, drivers with 3 convictions are required to be jailed from 30 days to 5 years. The fine is from $3125 to $7500.
Ignition Interlock
In order to obtain a temporary license after administrative license suspension ignition interlock devices must be installed if the BAC exceeded .10 or an accident was involved. They are also required if chemical testing was refused.
Don’t be Intimidated
OWI laws are complex. It takes a qualified competent lawyer with years of experience defending accused drivers to accurately understand Iowa’s OWI laws. It’s crucial to find a lawyer specializing in OWI law. This can be a challenge, but luckily DULawyers.net had done the hard work for you. Iowa is full of competent OWI lawyers that will listen to your concerns and get to work today!