Helpful Resources

Commercial drivers in Minnesota play a critical role transporting goods from one place to another. While they play an essential role in the economy, commercial drivers are still subject to consequences if they decide to operate a vehicle under the influence of alcohol.

There are many factors that affect a person’s BAC, such as gender, rate of consumption, amount of consumption, and weight. Because so many factors affect BAC, it can be hard for a person to accurately judge whether or not it is okay to get behind the wheel. Even counting drinks cannot necessarily give an accurate understanding of a person’s BAC because the type of drink changes BAC levels. No matter how much a Minnesota resident has had to drink, if his or her BAC is at or above 0.08, it is possible for the person to get a DWI.

With more than 25,000 people arrested every year in Minnesota for drunk driving, understanding the laws is important. With tough penalties to be faced and inaccurate testing methods, drivers who have been arrested and charged with suspected drunk driving offenses should always contact an attorney in Minnesota for help. This will give them the opportunity to have someone explain the laws to them and advocate on their behalf.

The charges for both felony and misdemeanor DWI are extremely severe and have the potential to harm a driver’s reputation, employment prospects, and finances. The consequences drivers face for this offense depend on how many alcohol-related convictions are on their record and if the DWI is considered a misdemeanor or a felony. If you were recently charged with DWI, consult with an attorney who can explain to you your legal rights.

The United States Supreme Court has agreed to hear a case that will answer the question – is it lawful for a police officer to obtain a blood sample from a suspected drunk driver without the driver’s consent and without a warrant? The Supreme Court’s decision could have a significant impact on an individual’s Fourth Amendment rights. When someone is arrested for driving while intoxicated, consulting with a Twin Cities DWI attorney will ensure a strong defense is established.

An arrest for drunk driving or a DWI of any sort can be serious. For repeat DWI offenses, the consequences are even more severe. If you have been charged with your second or more DWI in 10 years, you still have options for a DWI defense. These include potential collateral challenges to your previous convictions if you were not represented by an attorney, challenging the admissibility of the state’s test results, suppression of evidence obtained in violation of your constitutional rights, and even avoiding mandatory jail time by getting in the ignition interlock program.

Often, people believe that their social media accounts are safe because they have their profile settings set to private, not public. However, this is not necessarily the case. Being suspected of drunk driving in Minnesota is a serious offense. Law enforcement may use a person’s actions before he or she is stopped, during questioning, and after his or her arrest to build a case for DWI. As such, those who have been charged with driving while intoxicated may benefit from seeking legal counsel. An attorney may advise them of their rights, and help them build a defense against the charges they are facing.

In Minnesota, charges of driving while impaired that involve aggravating factors, such as high blood alcohol concentration levels, are punished more harshly than regular DWI charges. Earlier this year, state lawmakers lowered the BAC level that triggers these enhanced penalties from .20 to .16 percent. This change, which became effective in August, could result in harsher punishments for thousands of drivers in Eagan and other areas.

Minnesota’s specialty court system for those convicted of driving while intoxicated multiple times reduces recidivism while also saving the state money. While these courts can provide DWI offenders with treatment options, many still face the severe penalties associated with drinking and driving. According to the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, drivers who operate a vehicle with a blood alcohol content level at or above 0.08 may face criminal consequences, like jail time, and driver’s license administration sanctions.

In this article, we cover the frequently asked questions on whiskey plates and recent 2022 updates to these laws in Minnesota.

One of the most cherished rights held by Americans is their right to due process: the idea that they get their day in court to tell their side of the story. That’s exactly what didn’t happen in a recent DUI case from the Minneapolis suburb of Plymouth, and the violation of the defendant’s due process rights led to the case against him being thrown out.

The Minnesota Supreme Court has ruled that the controversial criminal refusal law is constitutional, according to the Minneapolis Star Tribune. The implied-consent law allows officers to request a blood or breath sample from suspected drunk drivers without first obtaining a warrant to do so. Anybody who is facing a charge of DUI or criminal test refusal needs to contact a criminal defense attorney immediately. An experienced attorney can help a defendant understand how best to respond to such charges so that his or her freedom and reputation are better protected.

An interesting development in Minnesota’s driving under the influence law is currently underway that will have significant ramifications for most drivers in the state facing DUI charges.

Although it is true that drunk drivers make up the majority of impaired drivers, it is also illegal in Minnesota to drive while under the influence of drugs or hazardous substances. This can include prescription medications and illegal drugs alike. Researchers at Washington State University are developing a device that would test for the presence for marijuana. According to the researchers, it would operate in a similar manner to the portable breath tests that are used today to test the levels of alcohol in a person’s body. However, instead of alcohol, the device would detect the presence of THC, the active ingredient in marijuana.

A DWI arrest can cost you your driving privileges. Fortunately, there are ways to keep driving after a DWI arrest. Every DWI case is different. After an arrest, you should always consult with a lawyer to discuss your options for minimizing the criminal consequences and keeping your driver’s license.

In this blog post, learn more about whether police in Minnesota can perform blood alcohol testing without a warrant from experienced DUI Attorneys.

Firm partner Jeffrey Sheridan was quoted in the Minneapolis Star Tribune in a story about inconsistencies with the shelf life of the fuel cells on the DataMasters, created by National Patent Analytical Systems. Unlike other breath test machines, DataMasters use two separate technologies to test drivers’ breath alcohol limits (BAC).