Opinion ID: 2066474
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Heading: Application of the Law and Analysis

Text: Defendant's conviction for his third lifetime OWI offense occurred on July 26, 1995. His driver's license was revoked for six years based on this conviction. See Iowa Code § 321J.4(3)(a) (1995). On June 26, 1997, defendant applied for early restoration of his eligibility for a driver's license pursuant to Iowa Code section 321J.4(3)(b). Two years had not yet elapsed from the date of the order for revocation. Under the plain language of the statute, defendant was not then eligible for license restoration. Section 321J.4(3)(b) states: After two years from the date of the order for revocation, the defendant may apply to the court for restoration.... Clearly, the defendant was not yet eligible to apply for restoration when he made his application on June 26, 1997. The two-year period set forth in section 321J.4(3)(b) had not yet elapsed. Kotlers did not become eligible to apply until July 26, 1997, two years from the date the revocation was entered. Therefore, at the time Kotlers applied and at the time the hearing was held, his application was not ripe for consideration by the court. Additionally, at the time of the hearing and the court's ruling, the repeal of the early restoration provisions had already become effective and Kotlers had no right to restoration because the two-year period had not expired before the repeal and he could not establish he had satisfied the four conditions set forth in section 321J.4(3)(b)(1)-(4) prior to the repeal. See Iowa Dep't of Transp. v. Iowa Dist. Ct. for Buchanan County, 587 N.W.2d 774, 777 (Iowa 1998). The district court was correct in its ruling, which is affirmed.