In DUI / Drunk Driving Case, Right To Phone Call Upheld

The Iowa Supreme Court overturned a DUI / Drunk Driving conviction of a man who was not allowed to make a telephone call after being arrested for DUI / Drunk Driving. Once at the police station, the arrested driver requested to call his mother. The police did not allow this call to be made.

In Iowa, an arrested person has a right to make a telephone call.

Many states give arrestees the right to make a telephone call after being arrested but do not have a remedy for failure to allow a post arrest telephone call.

It looks like Iowa will now require police to honor telephone call requests after a driver is arrested for DUI / Drunk Driving.