Many Cedar County, Iowa cases originate on the stretch of Interstate 80 between Iowa City and the Quad Cities.
When someone is stopped on this section of the road by the Iowa State Patrol, the case will be filed at the Cedar County Courthouse, 10 minutes north of the interstate in Tipton, Iowa.
Unlike the local sheriff (who would take defendants to the jail that night), when the Iowa State Patrol files an indictable charge, they generally do not want to take the defendant to jail. The Trooper wants to stay on the road and conduct further stops.
This is both good and bad.
It’s good because the defendant does not have to go to jail that night. It’s bad because they are left scrambling for an attorney in a small town they have never been to and know nothing about.
That is why our office in Iowa City handles cases in Cedar County (as well as many of the other jurisdictions surrounding Iowa City/Johnson County).
Each jurisdiction handles their cases slightly differently than the surrounding areas. It is important to hire a local lawyer that is familiar with the local procedure and the likely outcomes of the case.
Thompson Law Office is experienced in Cedar County cases, such as OWI/DUI and drug charges.
A local attorney will help a defendant receive the lightest penalty for the case, and will help avoid any unnecessary trips to the courthouse. (It is still likely the defendant will have to appear at least once, however. But we try to limit it to that.)
For someone passing through, and especially if they have had their license revoked due to a pending OWI, then saving trips to the courthouse is tremendous benefit.
If you have been stopped and charged with an indictable offense in Cedar County, Iowa, please give us a call.
We can provide a free consultation on your case and point you in the right direction to resolving the criminal charge as quickly and with as little inconvenience as possible.