Because drinking and driving leads to many accidents in Iowa, drunk driving is treated harshly. Now, a law has been passed that requires first-time offenders to install ignition interlock systems in their vehicles if they want to get work permits.
New ignition interlock law for first-time DUI offenders
Man faces child endangerment charge in DUI case
On Jan. 19, police in Iowa spotted a vehicle being driven at 60 miles per hour in a 35 mile per hour zone. This took place at about 7:37 p.m near the 1400 block of West Broadway. When police made contact with the man, it was noted that he was slurring his speech and had bloodshot eyes. Furthermore, the vehicle smelled like alcohol. A Breathalyzer test revealed that the man had a blood alcohol content of .207 percent.
Car accidents rise on annual cannabis holiday
Drivers in Iowa may be concerned about the dangers posed on the roadways by drunk and distracted drivers. While the dangers of driving under the influence of alcohol are well-known, there are also dangers to using other kinds of drugs before getting behind the wheel. One study indicates that April 20, a self-declared holiday for marijuana users, is linked with a slight jump in fatal car crashes across the United States.
Reasonable suspicion and probable cause in DUI stops
When an officer pulls over a driver, he or she must have reasonable suspicion that the driver is committing a crime. If the officer violates this standard, the traffic stop may not hold up in court, even if the stop resulted in criminal charges, like a DUI. Similarly, in order to justify arresting a driver, an officer must assess enough evidence to reasonably claim the driver committed a crime.
Report encourages changes to drunk driving laws
A report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine suggested lowering the legal blood alcohol content in the United States. If its recommendation was adopted, Iowa residents would need to keep their BAC under .05 percent if they wish to operate a motor vehicle. For women this would limit their intake to two drinks prior to driving while men would be limited to two or three drinks.
Jackass actor charged with drunk driving
Iowa residents may have loved the crazy stunts and hijinks of Bam Margera on the MTV show "Jackass" in the early 2000s, but police didn't think much of his driving when they arrested the performer on suspicion of drunk driving in early January. In 2011, his longtime friend and fellow member of the cast Ryan Dunn was killed in a drunk driving accident.
You may sometimes challenge breathalyzer results
Fighting a DUI involving breathalyzer results is never easy, but it is not impossible. Just like any measurement device, a breathalyzer has weaknesses and a general margin of error, so it is usually possible to build some sort of legal defense against such charges.
Country star Michael Ray arrested for DUI, drug possession
Iowa music fans may be interested to learn that country singer Michael Ray has been taken into custody for alleged drug possession and drunk driving. The incident took place in Florida on Dec. 20.
Lawsuit from Randy Travis attempts to restrict DUI footage
Randy Travis fans in Iowa may have heard that in 2012, he was taken into custody after a DUI and that he had a stroke in 2013. The 2012 incident involved a video of a naked and ranting Travis. The incident occurred in Texas, and Travis and his family have been fighting to keep the footage from being released.
Rap star Fetty Wap charged with drunk driving and street racing
Hip-hop music fans in Iowa and around the country may know Willie Maxwell better by his stage name Fetty Wap. Wap's 'Trap Queen" reached number two on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2015, but the 26-year-old rapper was making headlines of a different sort on Nov. 3. That was when officers with the New York City Police Department took Wap into custody on drunk driving, street racing and motor vehicle charges following an alleged early morning street race on a Brooklyn highway.
