Iowa Dui Lawyer / Attorney
Arrested for Iowa DUI charges? Find an experienced Iowa DUI Lawyer now!
When you begin to fight against drunk driving charges, you can face a lot of difficulties, especially if your lawyer is not experienced in DUI laws in the state where you have been charged. Understanding the law and courtroom proceedings can be challenging for an ordinary lawyer, which is why it is important that you hire an Iowa DUI attorney to handle your case.
In any Iowa OWI case, the offender is called to court after the arrest where the judge formally explains the charges against the offender. At this time, the offender is asked to enter a plea and if found guilty, is imposed with a sentence. The penalties and charges in Iowa OWI case are similar to those in other states of the US. Any person operating while under influence (OWI) of alcohol or any other drug can be charged for DUI, when the alcohol concentration is more than 0.08%.
Iowa OWI First Time Offense
The first offense is a serious misdemeanour and is charged up to $1250. The offender is jailed for a minimum of 48 hours up to 1 year, and his license is suspended for a year after release. Once the licence suspension is revoked, the offender has to install an ignition interlock device while driving and also undertake an alcohol evaluation and treatment program.
Iowa OWI Second Offense
A second offense in Iowa is considered an aggravated misdemeanour and is charged anywhere between $1875 up to $6250. The offender is jailed for a minimum of 7 days up to 2 years, and his licence is also suspended for 2 years after release.
Iowa DUI Third or subsequent Offense
A third or subsequent offense is considered Class D felony and is fined minimum of $3125 up to $9375. The offender is jailed for a minimum of 30 days up to 5 years and the drivers licence is revoked for 6 years.
Serious Injury by Motor Vehicle
If you have been involved in a serious motor vehicle accident in Iowa due to being drunk or under the influence of drugs, you will have to face serious consequences. The offender is required to stay in prison for 5 years and will have to undergo a drunk driving course, and substance abuse evaluation. After these 5 years of jail, the drivers licence will be suspended for 1 year, along with any other administrative revocation.
In Iowa, the option of deferred judgement is only available for first time offenders who have not been involved in any kind of crash or vehicle accident before. Similarly, the offender should not have refused a chemical testing at the time of the accident and should have had a BAC of 0.15% of less to be able to go for a deferred judgement.
Offenders in DUI cases can plea for their case in court and if proven guilty, will have to go through any punishment imposed by court. After the term of probation is over, the DUI offense is not entered in the defendant’s criminal record if all the probation terms are met successfully. Therefore, it is important for the defendant to know the terms and Iowa OWI law properly to be able to have a smooth record after the probation is over.
To fully understand the penalties associated with an Iowa DUI charge, it is strongly recommended that you consult with an Iowa DUI lawyer that you are most comfortable with and who can knowledgeably represent you throughout your trial and court proceedings. You can find an Iowa drunk driving attorney by typing in the city of your arrest above or call our 24 hour DUI hotline
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