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No one can deny that underage binge drinking is a serious problem in the U.S. The Midwest is especially known for underage drinking on college campuses and among high school students.
Recently, this blog reported on the Minnesota Supreme Court’s opinion issued earlier this week on February 8, 2011 regarding the question of whether DWI urine tests are reliable. Specifically, the court did NOT decide the question of whether DWI urine tests are reliable, but instead chose to sidestep the issue on procedural grounds. The high Court refused to decide whether urine tests require a so-called Frye-Mack Hearing on their reliability.
The Minnesota Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that a defendant who has been charged with driving while impaired based upon a “first-void” urine test is not entitled to a hearing to challenge the reliability of that urine test because blood alcohol concentration is not relevant in a DWI case involving a urine test.
A 20-year-old Andover woman was charged in late January with several crimes after she called police to report a potential theft. Hopkins police say that an officer went to an establishment in Hopkins to investigate the alleged theft. The officer arrived at the Wild Boar shortly after 2:00 in the morning.
The state has selected 13 counties for increased enforcement of driving while intoxicated. Increased enforcement will likely lead to an increase in drunk driving charges across the 13 counties in Minnesota. One new county was added to the list. Sherburne will be added after Itasca County was removed last year.
Alcohol testing under Minnesota’s implied consent law has seen a number of challenges in recent years. This blog has reported the issues challenging the Intoxilyzer machines that are currently under review in the Minnesota Supreme Court. Last year, this blog discussed the issue of whether police can request a urine sample without a warrant under the implied consent laws and use the test results in the criminal case involving driving while impaired charges.
On any given day in Minnesota, law enforcement agencies seek to make traffic stops, hoping to enforce Minnesota’s driving while impaired laws. Most drivers here in Minnesota are accustomed to increased DWI enforcement details surrounding holiday periods.
An employee of an Inver Grove Heights gentleman’s club reportedly offered to call a cab for a patron. Apparently, according to the employee, the patron declined the cab ride home and later left the establishment. The 51-year-old Florida resident is now facing serious Minnesota DWI charges.
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