Did you know that if you are charged with an OWI (Operating While Intoxicated) in the State of Iowa the Department of Transportation will revoke your license. How long it is revoked depends on how many times you have been charged with OWI in the past 12 years and whether you take the breathalyzer test at the police station but you will lose your license to drive for a minimum of six months.
This obviously makes life difficult for people who have been charged with OWI. The State allows people to obtain Temporary Restricted Licenses (TRLs). It used to be that there were more strict laws about who could get a TRL and when and even then a TRL would only allow you to drive for very limited purposes (work, school, medical appointments etc).
That all changed in July of 2018. Now there are very limited situations in which people cannot get a TRL (for instance, if a death results because of the OWI). Now, anyone (except for those limited exclusions) is immediately eligible for a TRL. Even better though, the new TRL will allow someone to drive where ever he or she needs to go without any restrictions.
To get a TRL though, you must first have an ignition interlock device installed into your car. This is a device that someone needs to breath into prior to their car starting. When the person breathes into the device, the device measures any alcohol on the breath. If there is any alcohol, the vehicle will not start. The car will also require the person to continue to breath into the device at various intervals while the car is operated. In addition to the ignition interlock device, you will be required to get SR-22 insurance and pay a $200 civil penalty prior to getting your TRL.
If you are charged with your first OWI and you get a TRL, often times, you can get half of your fine waived as well.
If you have been charged with an OWI, it is important to have an excellent defense attorney advocating for you. Let’s talk about your rights and how it can be protected. Send us a message. Or give us a call at 319 364-5525.