Yes, it is absolutely possible to face DWI charges under Minnesota law, even if your car was not in motion and you were simply sleeping in the vehicle. The way the law is set up, a person cannot be "in physical control" of the vehicle while impaired. This distinction...
One of the strongest forms of evidence that the police have in a DWI case is the results of a breath test. If an officer suspects that a driver is under the influence, they often take the driver to the station for a Breathalyzer test. This checks their blood alcohol...
In Minnesota, if an officer has reasonable cause to believe you are driving while impaired (DWI), they may pull you over. If they do, they might ask you to take part in a series of voluntary tests. These exercises are known as field sobriety tests. Officers often use...
When you are battling a Driving While Impaired (DWI) charge, you will need to appear at an arraignment. This is your first formal appearance before a judge and knowing what comes next can help ease your anxieties about the process. Navigating the arraignment process...
In Minnesota, most drivers assume that their legal limit is 0.08%. This refers to their blood alcohol concentration. The authorities can determine this level in a few different ways, such as taking a blood draw or administering a breath test. If someone is over the...
Blood alcohol concentration is an important part of a DWI arrest. It is possible to be arrested on DWI charges even if you do not break the legal limit, such as if you admit to drinking and the officers can provide other evidence of impairment. But if your BAC reaches...
Field sobriety tests are used when officers suspect someone may be under the influence but are not sure. Common tests include the one-leg stand or the walk-and-turn test. Another example is the horizontal gaze nystagmus test. The problem with these roadside tests is...
Under current Minnesota law, some drivers convicted of driving while intoxicated (DWI) might get their license plates impounded and need to apply for special license plates that alert police that the car’s owner was convicted of DWI. These plates begin with the letter...
When you’re arrested on suspicion of driving while impaired (DWI), the police may ask you to take a chemical test that measures your blood alcohol concentration (BAC). The results of the test are crucial for prosecutors to prove intoxication in court. Many drivers...
As reported yesterday by Minnesota’s KEYC, our nation is in the middle of a period of enhanced highway danger. The Fourth of July holiday is the midpoint in the year’s “100 Deadliest Days,” the span of months from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day. It’s also the time...
