Iowa, just as the rest of the United States, has very strict drunk driving laws. If you are pulled over and have a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08, you will be arrested for OWI (Operating While Intoxicated) and will have to face the penalties. Commercial drivers and drivers under the age of 21 will face even lower limits. While this is a limit for alcohol consumption, any amount of drugs present in the blood will result in an OWI/DUI arrest as well. The best thing is to not drink or take drugs at all, especially when you drive, to be sure that you keep your money in your pocket and your freedom, as well as your driving privileges.
First OWI Offense
The first offense will result in you losing your license for at least 180 days, but this can vary depending upon your blood alcohol concentration. If your BAC was less than .10, then you will be able to apply for restricted reinstatement with an ignition interlock device installation. If it was over .15, then you will not be able to qualify for a restricted license for at least 30 days. A minimum jail sentence of at least 2 days is mandated and you can be in jail for up to 1 year, depending upon the factors. As far as fines, they will range from $625 to $1250, but this amount will not cover some of the costs that are associated with your sentencing, including drug treatment, ignition interlock device installation and rental, etc.
Second OWI Offense
A second conviction is an aggravated misdemeanor and this will mean that your license will be suspended for up to two years, depending upon your BAC and the other aggravating factors. As far as incarceration, a minimum of seven days will most likely be mandated and this amount can be increased to up to two years, which is a very long time. Fines can range from around $1800 to over $6000, not including the cost of drug or alcohol treatment or assessment, court costs, and more that come with fulfilling your sentencing obligations, as well as getting your license reinstated. This means that your finances, as well as your freedom can be severely impacted if you choose to drink and drive or to drive under the influence of drugs.
Third OWI Offense
A third conviction for OWI means that you are going to have a felony charge on your record, which will follow you around forever. As far as your driver’s license, you can lose it for up to six years, but may be eligible for a restricted license after one year if you can get and afford SR22 insurance coverage. This license suspension will start after you jail time that you are sentenced to. The minimum jail term that you will have to serve is 30 days, but you can serve up to 5 years, depending upon your sentence and the other factors of your arrest. As far as fines, you are looking at some very strict ones. They can be anywhere from $3125 to over $9000 and this doesn’t include the costs that are associated with your sentencing.
When you look at the above penalties that you may face if you get an OWI, you can see that they are very strict and can have a big effect upon your bank account and your freedom. The best thing to do is to simply refrain from driving when you are under the influence of alcohol or drugs to be sure that you can continue driving and keep your life the way that you want.