Iowa has one of the strictest impaired driving laws in the nation. While some states set the bar for a felony charge at a fourth offense for DUI, Iowa lowers that standard to three impaired driving arrests. Iowa does follow the standardized guideline of .08 BAC when...
Drunk Driving
What to know about Iowa’s drunk driving penalties
Most Iowa residents are charged with operating a vehicle while intoxicated when chemical tests reveal that they were behind the wheel with a blood alcohol concentration of .08 or higher, but the BAC threshold is reduced for commercial vehicle drivers and motorists...
Open container laws in Iowa
While the initials used to refer to drunk driving differ, all states mandate laws to combat intoxicated driving. Iowa calls drunk driving OWI, or operating while intoxicated. Drivers in West Des Moines, Iowa, know that it's illegal to operate vehicles under the...
Are Breathalyzer tests always accurate?
The state of Iowa sets a standard for alcohol impairment at .08 blood alcohol content level for those who are stopped while operating a motor vehicle. In fact, motorists can even be cited for "wet" reckless driving when the content level is above .05 BAC. However,...
Overview of a legal search of a vehicle after an OWI stop
It is important for Iowa motorists to know what a law enforcement officer can and cannot do after pulling a driver over on a suspicion of operating while intoxicated. One of the questions that often comes up is whether a police officer is able to search a vehicle when...
What to do after a traffic stop in Iowa
It can feel unsettling to see flashing red lights in your rearview mirror during a drive home at night. You wonder what prompted police to pull you over. Regardless of what charges they may attempt to pursue you on, it is important to keep the following tips in mind:...
Penalties for refusing drunk driving tests in Iowa
In Iowa, impaired driving is called an OWI, or operating while intoxicated. Law enforcement may effectuate a traffic stop if they have probable cause or reasonable suspicion to stop a motor vehicle. Once stopped, if a law enforcement officer develops suspicion that a...
What are common OWI defenses in Iowa?
Operating a motor vehicle under the influence (OWI) of alcohol or drug charges and convictions in Iowa can have a devastating impact on a person's life, even for a first offense. If arrested, you face a criminal case over the OWI charge and a civil matter involving...
Your metabolic rate affects how drunk you get
Everyone has seen the one guy at the bar who seems to be able to toss back beers and shots, then get up and walk a straight line. Then there are others who get tipsy and lightheaded from a single glass of wine. How is that possible?It could have to due with the rate...
Motorists should question the credibility of field sobriety tests
Motorists coming home from the bar may feel anxious if police stop them. In some cases, it doesn't matter if you're not impaired or below the legal limit; an officer may still choose to charge you with an OWI.Many have started to question how authorities determine...
