Third Offense DUI in Iowa

A third DUI in Iowa within 12 years is a Class D felony. This serious conviction carries appropriately severe penalties, including time in prison, license revocation and thousands of dollars in fines. Your best chance at reducing the consequences is contacting a lawyer soon after the arrest.

Administrative Penalties

You will be required to complete an alcohol treatment course as well as a substance abuse evaluation. These penalties take time and cost money, so expect to pay out-of-pocket. Your vehicle may also be impounded, depending on the judge's choice. Your prior record and the circumstances surrounding your arrest will come into play here, so consider getting a lawyer to present your best defense.

You can expect your license to be suspended for 6 years following a third DUI in Iowa. You can apply for a restricted license after 1 year of suspension, but you will have to first show proof of an SR22 insurance policy, which is more expensive than most types of coverage. You will also have to get an ignition interlock device put in your car, which costs money.  

If you refuse to undergo these steps to get your license reinstated and instead choose to drive with a suspended license, you will be charged with a misdemeanor. This will be another $1,000 fine.

Criminal Penalties

A 30-day prison sentence is required after a third DUI in Iowa, though you could end up spending up to 5 years in prison.

The minimum fine you can expect to pay after your third DUI in this state is $3,125. The maximum amount is $9,375.

Contact an Attorney

If the state's case against you is solid, and you are not represented by an attorney, you can expect to face the maximum penalties since you will likely simply plead guilty. To have a chance of having your charges dropped or lowered or getting the least severe punishment possible, contact a lawyer. Even if there is plenty of proof against you, an experienced and reputable lawyer may be able to get you an attractive plea bargain that requires you to plead guilty to a lesser charge. This allows you to get the minimum penalties for a third DUI in Iowa. In fact, you may be able to get the case thrown out altogether if there is a chance that the police officers involved made a mistake. The only way to find out is to contact an attorney.