Post on 10-Aug-2020
By Amanda Elkins, Director & Attorney
With approximately 1,000 arrests per year, Johnson County takes OWI,
Operating While Under the Influence, seriously. OWI is a serious
misdemeanor – a conviction can lead to a $1,250 fine and up to one
year in jail. Let’s review some acronyms commonly
associated with the offense.
BAC (Blood Alcohol Content) or BrAC (Breath
Alcohol Content) – Iowa law prohibits operating with
an alcohol concentration of .08 or more. Blood or
breath tests can be used to determine alcohol level.
Iowa law also prohibits operating a motor vehicle
with any controlled substance, including marijuana,
in one’s blood or urine.
PBT (Preliminary Breath Test) – this is a breath test
offered to suspects on the side of the road prior to arrest. Suspects are
not required to take this test and it is not
an official test for court purposes.
SFTS (Standard Field Sobriety Tests) – A
series of 3 tests offered by an officer to a
suspect in an OWI investigation to
determine if the driver is impaired. The
tests are the HGN (Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus), Walk & Turn, and
One-Leg Stand. Suspects are not required to take these tests.
DMT (Datamaster) – a breath test offered to suspects while at the police
station. This is the official test for court purposes. Suspects are not required
to take this test, but refusal can lead to a lengthier license suspension and
being ineligible for probation if found guilty. Suspects are allowed to
make phone calls prior to deciding whether or not they want to take the
test.
SLS provides free legal advice and low-cost representation to students
charged with OWI, and provides
educational presentations to student
groups on alcohol related offenses,
including OWI. Most importantly, OWI is
a serious offense with very serious
consequences. If you’ve been drinking,
your safest bet is to get a ride home.
HOUSE OF (SLS)
HAIKU
Amanda Elkins:
New SLS Director and
Bad ass lawyer
Visit our website at
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A quarterly newsletter brought to you by STUDENT LEGAL SERVICES November 1, 2019
******STUDENT LEGAL SERVICES******
is an on campus office designed to help currently enrolled students with le-
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To set up an appointment to speak with an SLS lawyer, you can:
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A quarterly newsletter brought to you by STUDENT LEGAL SERVICES November 1, 2019
STUDENT ADVISORY BOARD
Student Legal Services works closely with Student Advisory Board (SAB)
members to help pinpoint ways that will help to strengthen the
relationship between this office and university students. The SAB
provides essential feedback and assists in brainstorming new ways to
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SLS would like to welcome our 2019-2020 SAB board members!
Shu Wan, Sophia Ortiz , Candace Enis, Kirsten Brown, Alec
McMullen, Charles Doyle, Sara Suttin, Emma Myers, Ellen Burns, Jordyn
Ramsey, Lauryn Schnack, Hayley Driskell
11/7 @ 7PM, PAPPAJOHN RM S107
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Presentations offered include (but are not limited to):
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