The Iowa State Fair kicks off on August 7th this year, and that means concerts, food, and good times. It also means there will likely be a fair amount of drinking. Every year, we handle two to three dozen cases related to the fair, most of them involving alcohol. A large portion of these involve public intoxication charges.
In Iowa, public intoxication is a simple misdemeanor and carries up to 30 days in jail, along with an $855 fine, a 15% surcharge, and court costs. The minimum sentence is a $105 fine. If you are charged with public intoxication, give us a call so we can review potential options with you. In many cases, we may be able to get you into the CRD program, which can result in the charge being dismissed.
In addition to public intoxication, we also see a significant number of OWI (Operating While Intoxicated) charges arise from activities at the fair. These charges carry serious consequences, including the potential loss of your driver’s license, financial penalties, and possible jail time. Generally, after being charged with an OWI, you have ten days to appeal your license revocation. If the appeal is not filed within that period, your license will be revoked. It is very important that we file the appeal with the Department of Transportation (DOT) as soon as possible.
In most cases, our clients are able to keep their driving privileges during the revocation period, provided they have an ignition interlock device installed in their vehicle. At the very least, speak with an experienced OWI defense attorney right away to ensure you do not miss any critical deadlines.
Lastly, we often handle assault charges, which frequently stem from alcohol related incidents. As you may know, these are considered crimes of violence and can have a significant impact on your employment opportunities. Contact a defense attorney to go over your options. In some cases, it may be possible to amend the charge so it does not appear on your record. Another option could be receiving a deferred judgment, which would prevent a conviction from appearing on your criminal record.
Although public intoxication, OWI, and assault are some of the most common charges at the Iowa State Fair, if you are charged with any other crime, do not hesitate to reach out to the Feld Law Firm. We are here to help and can point you in the right direction.