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Attorney Matthew Thomas Lindholm Attorney Robert G. Rehkemper Attorney Cory F. Gourley
 
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Gourley, Rehkemper & Lindholm PLC

pROTECTING tHE RIGHTS OF IOWANS

CRIMINAL & DRUNK DRIVING DEFENSE ATTORNEYS
DES MOINES, IA.
6 MARCH 2009

Iowa Supreme Court upheld the suppression of a chemical blood test result obtained from our client in an operating while intoxicated charge. The court was asked to decide whether the blood test which was withdrawn without consent and without a warrant would run afoul of Iowa law.
DES MOINES, IA.
14 APRIL 2009

GRL Law's client failed chemical breath test, criminal charges filed, and The State of Iowa dismissed all the criminal charges due to the police officer’s misrepresentations.

WIN
DES MOINES IOWA.
13 MAY 2009

CDL Saved -
OWI 2nd Amended

Drunk Driving Second Offense charge amended to Public Intoxication and CDL (commercial driver's license) and non-commercial driving privileges saved for Gourley, Rehkemper & Lindholm client.

[Read at OWI 2nd Amended CDL Saved]
DES MOINES, IA.
15 MAY 2008

Law enforcement agencies refuse to respond to public requests for copies of criminal records, even when the request comes from the person charged with the crime. However, under the Iowa Freedom of Information Act, the law requires agencies to comply with such requests, and provides that courts can assess damages for their failure to do so. Attorney Robert Rehkemper addresses Iowa's laws and your rights to information at:
Iowa Criminal Records
DES MOINES IOWA.
19 MAY 2009

Evidence suppressed and DRUNK DRIVING charge amended to public intoxication. GRL client's driver's license was never suspended.

[Read at DUI Evidence Suppressed - Driver's License Saved]
DES MOINES IOWA.
JUNE 1, 2009.

An OWI 3rd offense was reduced to public intoxication and reckless driving. The Gourley, Rehkemper & Lindholm client never lost his drivers license because the hearing with the Department of Transportation was also won.

WIN
DES MOINES IOWA.
JUNE 17, 2009.

State of Iowa vs.
Andrea LaForge

Iowa Court of Appeals throws out blood test result but refuses to dismiss Vehicular Homicide charge.

WIN
DES MOINES IOWA.
60 pounds of marijuana suppressed!

The defendant was stopped because police felt that his windows were tinted too much, and the vehicle failed to present a front license plate. Police officers stopped the vehicle and conducted a warrantless search. The police found 63 pounds of marijuana, the evidence was obtained in violation of the Fourth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States. Evidence suppressed!
iowa sex offender & registration laws change july 1, 2009

Effective July 1, 2009, recent amendments designed to provide necessary exceptions and leniency for those convicted of sex crimes warranting treatment, and better protection for the public from potential re-offenders go into effect.

See Iowa Sex Offender Registration Laws Change.
DES MOINES IOWA.
2 SEPTEMBER 2009

Operating while intoxicated second offense dismissed based upon the State not being able to proceed due to lack of evidence.

WIN
DES MOINES IOWA.
10 SEPTEMBER 2009

Operating while intoxicated case dismissed and driver’s license spared due to officer incorrectly invoking implied consent based upon the fact that the client was on prescription medication.

WIN
DES MOINES IOWA.
16 SEPTEMBER 2009

Hamilton County operating while intoxicated charge dismissed after judge grants defendant’s motion to suppress evidence. Driving privileges reinstated.

WIN
DES MOINES IOWA.
17 SEPTEMBER 2009

Iowa Court of Appeals reverses GRL Law clients conviction for operating while intoxicated, second offense, finding that the arresting officer violated Iowa Code § 804.20 when he cut her phone call short after only 15 minutes of speaking with her father.

WIN
DES MOINES IOWA.
25 SEPTEMBER 2009

Dallas County possession of marijuana charge dismissed for lack of sufficient evidence after the filing of defendant’s motion to suppress evidence.

WIN
DES MOINES IOWA.
29 SEPTEMBER 2009

Iowa County possession with the intent to distribute marijuana, conspiracy to distribute marijuana and tax stamp violation charges put in jeopardy following the Court’s suppression of 63 pounds of marijuana.

WIN
DES MOINES IOWA.
5 OCTOBER 2009

Driving privileges spared. Petition for Judicial Review was granted challenging the Iowa Department of Transportation’s attempt to suspend a GRL Law client’s driving privileges for operating while intoxicated when the arresting officer failed to advise him of the consequences to his commercial driver’s license if he took the test and failed as opposed to refused the test. The Court on Judicial Review of the Iowa Department of Transportation’s action found that they could not disqualify the client’s driving privileges because failure to provide the required advisory violated Iowa Code § 321J.8 and Due Process under the Iowa and United States Constitutions.

WIN
DES MOINES IOWA.
5 OCTOBER 2009

Operating while intoxicated case dismissed and driver’s license spared after winning motion to suppress due to the officer not having a valid reason for stopping client when he failed to use his turn signal when changing lanes or getting onto an on-ramp.

WIN
DES MOINES IOWA.
6 OCTOBER 2009

Warren County Operating While Intoxicated charge amended from 2nd Offense down to Simple Misdemeanors, Public Intoxication and Reckless Driving. Test refusal was suppressed and driving privileges spared.

WIN
DES MOINES IOWA.
7 OCTOBER 2009

Driving privileges spared when administrative law judge concludes that arresting officer violated licensee’s right to phone calls when he failed to provide him an opportunity to place calls upon his arrival at the police station after the licensee asked to place a phone call immediately upon being advised he was going to be arrested.

WIN
DES MOINES IOWA.
9 OCTOBER 2009

Operating While Intoxicated 1st offense amended to public intoxication and reckless driving following the arresting officer improperly advising the client about the applicable periods of license suspension. Clients non-commercial and commercial driving privileges were spared.

WIN
DES MOINES IOWA.
12 OCTOBER 2009

Operating While Intoxicated 1st offense amended to public intoxication and reckless driving following a successful motion to suppress based upon the fact that the officer who invoked implied consent was not certified. Client’s driver’s license was spared.

WIN
DES MOINES IOWA.
16 OCTOBER 2009

Polk County OWI charge amended to Reckless Driving after motion to suppress is granted on the grounds that the arresting officer did not have reasonable grounds to believe the defendant was operating while intoxicated prior to requesting the preliminary breath test.

WIN
DES MOINES IOWA.
16 OCTOBER 2009

Polk County carrying weapons charge dismissed by prosecution for lack of evidence.

WIN
DES MOINES IOWA.
26 OCTOBER 2009

Jasper County Operating While Intoxicated charge dismissed with costs assessed to the State after defendant’s motion to suppress was filed alleging violation of defendant’s right to phone calls and that the officer did not have reasonable grounds to invoke implied consent or probable cause to arrest defendant.

WIN

suspected of owi?

Gourley, Rehkemper & Lindholm PLC - Attorneys At Law

Iowa DUI Police Stops

What Can I Expect if an officer supects me of driving drunk?

Often times, an officer's initial observations play an important role in determining whether or not he/she will expand his traffic stop into a drunk driving investigation.  These observations include, among other things:

  1. Your driving;
  2. Your physical appearance;
    1. Do you "smell of alcoholic beverage?
    2. Do you have "blood shot and watery eyes?
    3. Are your clothes messy or soiled?
    4. Do you have problems speaking clearly "slurred speech"?
    5. Do you have problems maintaining your balance?
  3. Admitting to drinking or coming home from a party or bar;
  4. Observations of vehicle - open alcohol containers in vehicle.

When an Officer makes observations that that give him reason to believe that you are driving while drunk, he will then expand his investigation.  The most common observations are "blood shot and watery eyes" and the "smell of alcoholic beverage"

At this point the officer asks whether or not you have been drinking or if are coming from a bar or party.  If the answer to this is "yes", he/she will then likely request that you exit the vehicle in order to perform field sobriety tests.  There are three primary field sobriety tests used in Iowa.  (1) Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus - officer checks your eyes and has you follow his finger; (2) Walk and turn; and (3) One leg stand.

If the officer believes in his subjective opinion that you failed the tests, he/she will often request that you provide a sample in the Preliminary Breath Test device better known as the PBT.  At this point, regardless of whether you pass or fail this test, you will most likely be arrested for OWI.

Once at the police station, the officer then reads what is called the Implied Consent Advisory and requests that you provide a breath sample in the DataMaster direct breath-testing device.  This advisory informs the individual of the consequences to their driving privileges of taking the test and failing it as opposed to refusing the test.  This is the big machine that prints out a reading that the State will attempt to use against you in court. The result of this test will determine a number of variables with regards to license suspensions, work permit eligibility, severity of sentence and so on.

After taking and presumably "failing" the test, the officer will ordinarily request to conduct an interview of you regarding your alcohol consumption that evening.  After that you are provided with a citation and released; returned to lock up and given an opportunity to call someone to bail you out or sit until the morning when you can see a judge.



From our offices in Des Moines, Iowa, we give high-quality representation to people throughout the State of Iowa, including Polk, Warren, Dallas, Boone, Story, and Marion counties, and the cities of Des Moines, Ames, Indianola, Adel, Boone, Nevada, Urbandale, West Des Moines, Waukee, and Knoxville




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