A 3-minute lesson from the Iowa course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.
Driving under the influence is one of the most enforced laws in the nation, and Iowa's penalties are high. Under 21, the legal limit is far lower—and refusing a test is punished more harshly than failing one.
OWI (Operating While Intoxicated)
Iowa's official name for drunk driving: a BAC of .08 or higher, or operating with any amount of a controlled substance in your system.
Even if you are not convicted of OWI in criminal court, your driving privileges will be revoked for a minimum of 180 days if you operate while intoxicated.
As an Iowa license holder you have agreed to a field sobriety test when law enforcement demands one (Iowa Code §321J.6). It also applies to non-resident drivers in Iowa.
If found guilty of refusing a test, the court may also order a substance use disorder class and evaluation, or an ignition interlock device installed at your expense.
A 19-year-old driver blows .05 at a traffic stop. That's under .08, but for a driver under 21 it's OWI (.02 or more): the license is revoked for at least 60 days.
Check your understanding
Read the question, decide on an answer, then open it to check the explanation. These are Roadwise study questions based on the source handbook.
What BAC defines OWI for a driver who is 21 or older in Iowa?
0.05 percent or higher
0.02 percent or higher
0.10 percent or higher
0.08 percent or higher
Answer: 0.08 percent or higher
OWI is defined as a BAC of .08 or higher for drivers 21 and older, or any controlled substance in the system.
A passenger may legally hold an open container of alcohol in the vehicle as long as the driver does not drink.
True
False
Answer: False
False. Iowa law makes it illegal for any person or passenger to transport an open container of alcohol in a motor vehicle; open containers may be carried only in the trunk.