St. Patrick’s Day is known as a popular drinking holiday. But is it worth it to drink and drive tonight? Here are some consequences of getting a DWI on St. Patrick’s Day. Jail Time It’s not a given that you’ll spend time in jail if you are arrested for a DWI. However, you will be locked up if any of...
As we enter a new 2023 snowmobiling season, it is important to keep safety in mind when operating snowmobiles and all-terrain vehicles this winter. In 2018, Little Alan’s Law (Minnesota Statutes section 183) was passed and created zero-tolerance DWI laws for these vehicles after a drunk snowmobile driver caused the death of an 8-year-old in Minnesota. Now, if you get...
When you get charged with a DWI, there are not just criminal penalties that go along with it, but civil penalties, too. Under Minnesota Statute § 169A.54, subd. 1, a person’s license can be revoked for a period of anywhere from 30 days up to 6 years, depending on the level of DWI they are charged with. This period may be...
The Day Before Thanksgiving is considered one of the heaviest drinking days of the year which means DWI patrol will likely be significant. Whether you are drinking with your family or with old friends, the day before Thanksgiving is one of the worst days to get arrested for a DWI. But why? For certain degrees of DWIs, you may be...
You can be charged with a misdemeanor, gross misdemeanor, or even a felony DWI. The seriousness of the charge relates to how many “aggravating factors” are present in a particular case. That means that all DWIs start at the misdemeanor level (called a “fourth degree”) and can increase in severity based on any aggravating factors. The factors that can aggravate...
We hear people talk about getting fingerprinted for a variety of reasons. But where do these fingerprints go? And when does someone need to get fingerprinted? Fingerprinting data is sent to the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA). The BCA compiles fingerprints and other identification data into a criminal database to facilitate connecting individuals to crimes. Fingerprinting data will stay within...
If you are driving in Anoka County during the late evening hours, you may notice more police on the road than usual. This is because several local police departments in Anoka County have received DWI Enforcement Grants. The DWI Enforcement Grant Program provides local police with additional funding to combat driving while intoxicated. These new grants are effective from October...
While there are small modifications made each year to our laws here in Minnesota, this year comes with some more impactful changes. The changes themselves might appear small, but their impact on individuals charged with DWI are huge. While this blog specifically addresses the changes made regarding ignition interlock, you can read about other impactful DWI law changes on our...
While there are small modifications made each year to our laws here in Minnesota, this year comes with some more impactful changes. The changes themselves might appear small, but their impact on individuals charged with DWI are huge. While this blog specifically addresses the changes made regarding vehicle forfeitures, you can read about other impactful DWI law changes on our...
Whiskey plates are the scarlet letters of DWIs. Minnesota is one of only two states that require special registration plates (whiskey plates) after a DWI—the other state is Ohio. The Minnesota legislature passed a new law on July 1, 2021, that says you can remove whiskey plates IF you get ignition interlock in your vehicle. Ignition interlock is a machine...
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