DWI/DUI/OWI Drunk Driving - License Suspension Period In Iowa
| A comprehensive guide to drunk driving laws, penalties, fines and attorneys. |
© Copyright 2008 Enticing Designs Inc.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
DUI /DWI/OWI License Suspension Period In Iowa
Administrative - driver's license revocation due to chemical test
failure
First Offense - 180 day suspension
a) When a chemical test indicates an alcohol level of .08 or more or the
presence of a controlled substance, and the person has had no OWI-
related revocations in the previous 12 years, the person may apply for a
temporary restricted license.
b) If an accident occurred or their blood alcohol content (BAC) level was
greater than .15, the person must wait 30 days from the effective date of
the sanction.
c) An individual must install an ignition interlock device, if the BAC level
was greater than .10 or an accident occurred.
d) Persons under age 21 are ineligible for a temporary restricted license
until 60 days have passed from the effective date of the sanction.
Second Offense (or one or more driver's license revocations in the
previous 12 years) - 1 year suspension
a) The person is not eligible for a temporary restricted license for one
year.
b) If a driver is under the age of 18 and his or her driver's license or
operating privileges are revoked administratively or by a court order, the
revocation continues until the revocation expires or until the person
reaches 18, whichever is later.
Upon conviction in a court of law if the license has not otherwise been
revoked administratively
The court is required to revoke a first-time offender's driver's license for
180 days. In addition, the law places the following motor vehicle
operating restrictions on a first-time offender as follows:
1) A defendant whose alcohol concentration is .08 or more but not more
than .10 shall be eligible to apply for a temporary restricted license (work
permit) immediately upon revocation if a test was obtained, and shall
not be required to install an approved ignition interlock device.
2) A defendant whose alcohol concentration is .08 or more but not more
than .10 shall not be eligible to apply for a work permit for at least 30
days after the effective date of the revocation if a test was obtained and
an accident resulting in personal injury or property damage occurred. In
addition, such a defendant shall be required to install an approved
ignition interlock device on all vehicles owned or operated by the
defendant.
3) A defendant whose alcohol concentration is more than .10 but less
than .15 shall be eligible to apply for a temporary restricted license
immediately upon revocation if a test was obtained, and shall be
ordered to install an approved ignition interlock device on all vehicles
owned or operated by the defendant.
4) A defendant whose alcohol concentration is more than .10 who is
involved in an accident in which property damage or personal injury
occurred or whose alcohol concentration exceeded .15 shall not be
eligible to apply for a temporary restricted license for at least 30 days
after the effective date of the revocation if a test was obtained and shall
be required to install an ignition interlock device on all vehicles owned or
operated by the defendant.
The court is required to revoke a second-time offender's (revoked or
convicted) driver's license for two years, and a second-time offender is
not eligible for a temporary restricted license for one year, provided the
defendant installs an ignition interlock device on the defendant's vehicle.
A third or subsequent offender faces license revocation for six years and
the same eligibility restrictions for a temporary restricted license.
License revocation periods for persons convicted of an OWI offense are
thus dependent upon the number of prior convictions, not on the level of
the current offense, except for persons convicted of OWI that resulted in
either serious injury or death. In cases involving a serious injury to a
person other than the defendant, but caused by the defendant, the court
shall order to revoke the defendant's driver's license for one year in
addition to any other revocation already imposed.
In OWI vehicular homicide cases, a defendant faces a license
revocation period of six years, and is ineligible for a temporary restricted
license for two years.
Underage Violators - Iowa's OWI law contains a "zero tolerance"
provision for a person under the age of 21 who submits to a chemical
test which indicates a blood alcohol level of .02 or more. A first-time
violator under this provision faces a license revocation of 60 days, and
90 days on subsequent violations. If a person under the age of 21
refuses to be tested, the person's license will be revoked for one year for
a first violation and for two years for a second violation. These
revocations are administrative and do not depend on any criminal
charges. If a person's license is revoked for this violation, the person is
not eligible for a temporary restricted license at all during the revocation
period. In addition, a person who violates this law must participate in a
youthful offender substance abuse awareness program, which consists
of an educational program and a substance abuse evaluation.
Another underage provision in the OWI law includes a parental and
school notification requirement for persons under the age of 18 who
violate the OWI law. In addition, if the license of a person under the age
of 18 is revoked as a result of a conviction, deferred judgment, chemical
test refusal, or chemical test failure, the revocation period lasts until the
person turns 18 or until the revocation period expires, whichever is
longer.
Driving While Under Suspension In Iowa ( Fines/Penalties)
A person who drives while their driver's license is revoked under the
OWI law (whether the revocation is administrative or court ordered, and
whether for an OWI or for a .02 violation) commits a serious
misdemeanor and must pay a fine of $1,000. Law enforcement officers
may impound vehicles, if the individual's driver’s license is revoked for
an OWI. If a driver is convicted of a second or subsequent offense of
driving with a revoked license, the vehicle that is being operated must be
seized and forfeited to the state. The owner of a vehicle who lends the
vehicle to a person whose license is revoked for an OWI commits a
simple misdemeanor and is jointly liable for any damages the driver
causes, if the owner knew, should have known or gave consent to the
operation of the vehicle by a driver with a revoked license.
Reinstatement Of License
If a driver's license or non-resident operating privilege has been revoked
for any OWI offense the license or privilege may not be reinstated until
the person:
a) Pays a $200 civil penalty.
b) Presents proof of completion of a course for drinking drivers.
c) Presents proof of completion of a substance abuse evaluation and
treatment or rehabilitation services.
d) Complies with financial responsibility law, if applicable.
Administrative - driver's license revocation due to chemical test
failure
First Offense - 180 day suspension
a) When a chemical test indicates an alcohol level of .08 or more or the
presence of a controlled substance, and the person has had no OWI-
related revocations in the previous 12 years, the person may apply for a
temporary restricted license.
b) If an accident occurred or their blood alcohol content (BAC) level was
greater than .15, the person must wait 30 days from the effective date of
the sanction.
c) An individual must install an ignition interlock device, if the BAC level
was greater than .10 or an accident occurred.
d) Persons under age 21 are ineligible for a temporary restricted license
until 60 days have passed from the effective date of the sanction.
Second Offense (or one or more driver's license revocations in the
previous 12 years) - 1 year suspension
a) The person is not eligible for a temporary restricted license for one
year.
b) If a driver is under the age of 18 and his or her driver's license or
operating privileges are revoked administratively or by a court order, the
revocation continues until the revocation expires or until the person
reaches 18, whichever is later.
Upon conviction in a court of law if the license has not otherwise been
revoked administratively
The court is required to revoke a first-time offender's driver's license for
180 days. In addition, the law places the following motor vehicle
operating restrictions on a first-time offender as follows:
1) A defendant whose alcohol concentration is .08 or more but not more
than .10 shall be eligible to apply for a temporary restricted license (work
permit) immediately upon revocation if a test was obtained, and shall
not be required to install an approved ignition interlock device.
2) A defendant whose alcohol concentration is .08 or more but not more
than .10 shall not be eligible to apply for a work permit for at least 30
days after the effective date of the revocation if a test was obtained and
an accident resulting in personal injury or property damage occurred. In
addition, such a defendant shall be required to install an approved
ignition interlock device on all vehicles owned or operated by the
defendant.
3) A defendant whose alcohol concentration is more than .10 but less
than .15 shall be eligible to apply for a temporary restricted license
immediately upon revocation if a test was obtained, and shall be
ordered to install an approved ignition interlock device on all vehicles
owned or operated by the defendant.
4) A defendant whose alcohol concentration is more than .10 who is
involved in an accident in which property damage or personal injury
occurred or whose alcohol concentration exceeded .15 shall not be
eligible to apply for a temporary restricted license for at least 30 days
after the effective date of the revocation if a test was obtained and shall
be required to install an ignition interlock device on all vehicles owned or
operated by the defendant.
The court is required to revoke a second-time offender's (revoked or
convicted) driver's license for two years, and a second-time offender is
not eligible for a temporary restricted license for one year, provided the
defendant installs an ignition interlock device on the defendant's vehicle.
A third or subsequent offender faces license revocation for six years and
the same eligibility restrictions for a temporary restricted license.
License revocation periods for persons convicted of an OWI offense are
thus dependent upon the number of prior convictions, not on the level of
the current offense, except for persons convicted of OWI that resulted in
either serious injury or death. In cases involving a serious injury to a
person other than the defendant, but caused by the defendant, the court
shall order to revoke the defendant's driver's license for one year in
addition to any other revocation already imposed.
In OWI vehicular homicide cases, a defendant faces a license
revocation period of six years, and is ineligible for a temporary restricted
license for two years.
Underage Violators - Iowa's OWI law contains a "zero tolerance"
provision for a person under the age of 21 who submits to a chemical
test which indicates a blood alcohol level of .02 or more. A first-time
violator under this provision faces a license revocation of 60 days, and
90 days on subsequent violations. If a person under the age of 21
refuses to be tested, the person's license will be revoked for one year for
a first violation and for two years for a second violation. These
revocations are administrative and do not depend on any criminal
charges. If a person's license is revoked for this violation, the person is
not eligible for a temporary restricted license at all during the revocation
period. In addition, a person who violates this law must participate in a
youthful offender substance abuse awareness program, which consists
of an educational program and a substance abuse evaluation.
Another underage provision in the OWI law includes a parental and
school notification requirement for persons under the age of 18 who
violate the OWI law. In addition, if the license of a person under the age
of 18 is revoked as a result of a conviction, deferred judgment, chemical
test refusal, or chemical test failure, the revocation period lasts until the
person turns 18 or until the revocation period expires, whichever is
longer.
Driving While Under Suspension In Iowa ( Fines/Penalties)
A person who drives while their driver's license is revoked under the
OWI law (whether the revocation is administrative or court ordered, and
whether for an OWI or for a .02 violation) commits a serious
misdemeanor and must pay a fine of $1,000. Law enforcement officers
may impound vehicles, if the individual's driver’s license is revoked for
an OWI. If a driver is convicted of a second or subsequent offense of
driving with a revoked license, the vehicle that is being operated must be
seized and forfeited to the state. The owner of a vehicle who lends the
vehicle to a person whose license is revoked for an OWI commits a
simple misdemeanor and is jointly liable for any damages the driver
causes, if the owner knew, should have known or gave consent to the
operation of the vehicle by a driver with a revoked license.
Reinstatement Of License
If a driver's license or non-resident operating privilege has been revoked
for any OWI offense the license or privilege may not be reinstated until
the person:
a) Pays a $200 civil penalty.
b) Presents proof of completion of a course for drinking drivers.
c) Presents proof of completion of a substance abuse evaluation and
treatment or rehabilitation services.
d) Complies with financial responsibility law, if applicable.
| Learn on what will happen to your license if you get a DUI/DWI out of state or outside of the country. |
| Learn About DUI Laws In Mexico Ireland United Kingdom Canada Australia |