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Penalties for an OWI offense in Iowa
Posted: 03.22.2012 at 10:41 AM
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OTTUMWA, IOWA -- For Thursday's Facebook story of the day, our Facebook fans voted to know more about OWI, or operating while intoxicated, offenses and the related penalties.
In Iowa, you will lose your license on your first offense. If you get pulled over for an OWI, are given the applied consent form and blow over the legal limit, you have a ten day grace period to arrange other means of transportation before your license is taken away for 180 days.
If you refuse the breathalyzer test or other chemical test, your license can be taken away for up to a year, according to Ottumwa Police Chief Jim Clark.
A third OWI offense in Iowa is considered a Class D Felony. Your license will be taken away for six years, and you could face imprisonment from 30 days to five years.
To get your license back, Chief Clark said you must pay a civil penalty, and will most likely have to get high risk insurance.
For more information on Iowa's OWI laws and penalties, visit the Iowa Motor Vehicle Division website.