Iowa · Handbook chapter 7 · 3 min read
Chapter 7: Alcohol and drugs
Iowa's Operating While Intoxicated (OWI) law: the 0.08 limit, any controlled substance, the 0.02 limit under 21, implied consent, the penalties for refusing a test, and the open container law.
Why this chapter matters
Impaired driving is one of the most enforced laws in the country, and Iowa's penalties are severe. You need to know the limits for adults and for drivers under 21, and why refusing a test makes things worse, not better.
Operating While Intoxicated (OWI)
- Iowa calls drunk or drugged driving Operating While Intoxicated (OWI).
- You commit OWI with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 or more, or with any amount of a controlled substance in your system.
- BAC is measured by breath, urine or blood test.
- Even if you are not convicted in criminal court, your license is revoked for at least 180 days if you drove while intoxicated.
- Repeat offenses bring longer revocations and harsher criminal penalties.
Drivers under 21
- Under 21, you are treated as operating while intoxicated at a BAC of just 0.02.
- An underage driver loses driving privileges for at least 60 days, or at least 180 days if the BAC is 0.08 or more.
- Offenders under 18 cannot get a temporary restricted license while revoked for OWI.
Implied consent
By holding an Iowa license you have already agreed to testing when a law enforcement officer asks. The rule also applies to drivers from other states traveling in Iowa.
Refusing a test
- Refusing does not stop you from being convicted of OWI.
- The consequences of refusing are more severe than failing: an automatic one-year revocation and a fine of at least $1,250.
- A court may also order a substance use class and evaluation, or an ignition interlock device at your own cost.
Open containers
No one in a motor vehicle, driver or passenger, may carry an open, unsealed container of alcohol. Open containers may be carried in the trunk. Breaking this law is a simple misdemeanor with a fine of up to $200 for each driver and passenger.
Frequently asked questions
What BAC counts as OWI for an adult in Iowa?
0.08 or more, or any amount of a controlled substance in your system.
What is the limit for drivers under 21?
0.02.
What happens if I refuse a breath test?
Automatic one-year revocation and a fine of at least $1,250, and you can still be convicted of OWI.
Where can an open bottle of alcohol be carried?
Only in the trunk.
Can I lose my license even if I am found not guilty in court?
Yes. If you drove while intoxicated, your license is revoked for at least 180 days even without a criminal conviction.
Based on the Iowa Driver's License Manual (Iowa DOT), Chapter 3, section 3.8.