Iowa drivers can be charged with operating while intoxicated (OWI) if they have a blood alcohol content (BAC) of .08 or greater. Commercial drivers will be charged if their BAC is .04 or higher, while drivers under the age of 21 will face an OWI charge with a BAC of at least .02. Iowa OWI laws not only cover alcohol impairment. Drivers are also prohibited from driving with any amount of a controlled substance, such as marijuana, cocaine or methamphetamine, in their system.
Iowa OWI Laws Include Implied Consent
Drivers in Iowa give their implied consent to submit to chemical testing when placed under arrest for suspicion of drunk driving. Refusal will result in a one to two year suspension of your license. You may apply for a restricted license 90 days after suspension, but you must first voluntarily install an ignition interlock device in your vehicle.
Iowa DUI laws provide that you also consent to a preliminary breath test, although you can refuse to take this without penalty. The preliminary test acts a field sobriety test, although it may not be the only one the officer uses to determine probable cause for arrest. Regardless of whether or not you consent to a preliminary breath test, the arresting officer must submit a written request for a chemical test. He or she then has two hours to provide you with the test of his or her choosing. You may refuse to take a blood test without penalty provided you consent to the officer’s second choice.
OWI Penalties in Iowa
You will be required to spend a minimum of 48 hours in jail and could be sentenced to up to one year for your first OWI conviction in Iowa, which is considered a misdemeanor. You will also have to pay fines ranging from $625 to $1,250 and will have your license suspended for one year. You may apply for a restricted license immediately if your BAC at the time of arrest was under 0.10, but an ignition interlock device will be required if your BAC was greater than 0.10. You could also be ordered to complete community service and various alcohol or drug counseling and treatment programs.
A second OWI conviction within 12 years is considered an aggravated misdemeanor in Iowa, which will mean a longer jail sentence, higher fines and a longer license suspension. You will not be eligible for a restricted license for 90 days and must install an ignition interlock device. You could also be ordered to complete evaluation and treatment programs, as well as community service.
Under Iowa OWI laws, a third or subsequent conviction is considered a Class D felony, which could result in up to five years imprisonment and the loss of your driver’s license for six years, with a minimum of one year before you can apply for a restricted license. You will also be required to complete a substance abuse evaluation at your own expense, and the court could commit you to an inpatient treatment program.