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 attached to a car’s starter which ensures that the driver has a breath alcohol concentration below a designated limit, often 0.00-0.02, before the car will start. When you request regular plates in lieu of whiskey plates, you will be charged a fee for the plates ($100) for each vehicle.
Because this law just passed, the DMV has a lot of kinks to work out and it is unclear if they are even processing these requests yet. However, if you are on ignition interlock, or if you want to get back on the road with ignition interlock, you may be eligible to get rid of the whiskey plates!
Try calling DPS or going to your local office to see if they will give you regular plates once you have ignition interlock installed.