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Many people in Minneapolis and St. Paul may be wondering what changes a new medical marijuana bill could have on the criminal justice system if it becomes law next year, including how drug offenses will be prosecuted. With many states passing medical marijuana laws of their own, there may be concerns about being wrongfully charged with or convicted of drug crimes.
While our blog has talked extensively about how important it is for Minneapolis and St. Paul residents charged with a crime to seek out the help of an experienced criminal defense lawyer, the following story shows just what can go wrong if you do not ask for a lawyer immediately after being arrested. Though the story does not happen in Minnesota, it is important reminder that it is essential to understand your rights and the legal ramifications of talking to police.
Today the United States Supreme Court decided the DWI case of McNeely v. Missouri. We have previously blogged on this case several times. In summary, the high Court said that police cannot take a DWI blood sample from a driver without his consent where they also did not have a warrant. This means that Warrantless DWI Tests are unconstitutional, illegal, and should not be allowed. Thus any DUI/DWI test evidence gathered without a warrant should be tossed out by a Judge.
Last week we talked about the damage that comes with someone being forced to register as a sex offender while still a child. There are numerous issues that arise when someone finds out about a former offender’s status, both for children and adults, making it very important that only the most dangerous people be added to the Minnesota Sex Offender Registry. Unfortunately, there are a variety of people who are added each year, many of whom pose no threat to the communities in which they live.
Police in Lakeville, Minnesota say that the manager of a Cedar Avenue fast-food restaurant called to report a driver sleeping at the wheel in the restaurant’s drive-thru lane. The man apparently had ordered food and police claim that he took a nap while waiting for his order. Restaurant workers claim that the staff was able to awaken the man and he pulled forward to clear the drive-thru.
A Southern Minnesota man is accused of felony test refusal after being arrested on the property of an Austin, Minnesota business April 10. In addition to the test refusal charge, authorities have brought charges of felony DWI, and two misdemeanor offenses alleging driving after revocation and fleeing an officer on foot.
An Austin, Minnesota man was sentenced earlier this month on a felony driving while impaired conviction involving allegations that the man had been driving drunk on a motorized bicycle. Mower County, Minnesota officials claim that the 44-year-old was riding the motorized scooter without any headlights around 2:00 in the morning on July 31. An Austin police officer observed the man run a stop sign and travel on the wrong side of the road before the cop pulled him over, according to the criminal complaint.
Authorities filed felony drunk driving charges against a Jordan, Minnesota man Monday in Anoka County, Minnesota. Police in Blaine claim that a driver called 911 to report that another driver was tailgating and trying to pass on the right. The caller claims that he pulled over and the second driver followed suit-and threatened the man who had pulled over. Police claim that the caller said that the tailgating driver smelled of alcohol.
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