All states have a specific approach to processing impaired driving cases through the court system. With one exception, which is Utah, they are uniform regarding the .08 blood alcohol concentration standard, but they differ somewhat when it comes to punishment and...
Drunk Driving
What happens to your driver’s license after a first DUI offense?
A DUI charge can be devastating for residents of Iowa. If you have been arrested for drunk driving, you might want to know what to expect. You might wonder what happens to your license and if it could be suspended even after a first offense. What are Iowa’s DUI laws?...
What to know about OWI in Iowa
Every state enacts laws to combat drunk driving to keep roads safe, even if they use different initials. While most states call it DUI, Iowa calls it OWI, or operating under the influence. Drivers in West Des Moines, Iowa, who get caught drunk driving face several...
Common defenses for OWI law in Iowa
Some states call driving under the influence DUI, but Iowa calls it OWI, or "operating while intoxicated." Drivers in West Des Moines, Iowa, may face several stiff penalties and fines, but they can challenge the charges with some valid defenses. Overview of OWI in...
When is DUI a felony or a misdemeanor?
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...
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:...
