In Iowa, Law Enforcement and Elected Officials have determined that any time a driver’s blood-alcohol content (BAC) is at or ab
ove .08, that driver is legally intoxicated. If a driver is found to have a BAC of .150 or higher, they face stricter punishments, including mandatory fines, court costs, license suspension, and jail time. Law Enforcement is also able to arrest a person whom they believe to be intoxicated, even if their BAC is less than .08. This is called a “general impairment” OWI.
Sound Complicated?
In many cases, law enforcement has the authority to cite motorists’ carte blanche for an OWI (in Iowa) or DUI (in Illinois). Our office has seen many cases where a person passes all standard field sobriety tests, and blows less than a 0.08 BAC. And the Officer still cites them for Operating or Driving a Vehicle Under the Influence of Drugs or Alcohol.
In cases like these, the only options are to:
• Plead Guilty and take a severe hit on your driving record and hefty fines,
• Fight the Charge on your own, or
• Hire an Attorney who has experience in fighting these types of cases, and who may be able to get the charge dropped or reduced to a lesser charge.
If you have been charged with a DUI or OWI in Illinois or Iowa, it is recommended that you hire a qualified Attorney who can examine your case in detail, and who works with scientific forensic experts in the field of DUI and OWI Defense. The costs of a qualified DUI or OWI defense attorney can be expensive, but the costs of not hiring an attorney can be even greater!
Call 309.797.9000 for a free case evaluation