Category: DWI

December brings more DWI patrols to Minnesota roads

Just before Thanksgiving, this blog reported that law enforcement in Minnesota planned to ramp up enforcement of Minnesota’s tough laws against driving while impaired. Not surprisingly, increased enforcement of Minnesota DWI laws is planned throughout the holiday season. Local police and state troopers across the state are participating in the “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign throughout Minnesota during the entire month of December.

DWI Forces FAA Director to Resign

Proving once again that DWI’s can and do happen to anyone and everyone, from all walks of life, all classes, all races, and all educational levels, the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) resigned yesteday over his weekend arrest for Driving over the limit. Compounding his problems is the fact that FAA Administator Babbitt is in charge of an organization which promotes safety in the skies, and by the airlines, including combatting terrorism.

Thanksgiving travel and increased DWI enforcement in Minnesota

The Thanksgiving holiday always is associated with family gatherings. It is one of the most traveled holidays of the year. People all across Minnesota hit the roads to spend time with family and friends. With the increase in traffic, comes an increase in law enforcement on Minnesota roads. Local law enforcement and state troopers statewide can be expected to be out in full force throughout the holiday weekend.

Minneapolis woman accused of DWI and stealing taxicab

Richfield police arrested a 21-year-old Minneapolis woman after finding her asleep in a taxicab in a parking lot at 66th and Nicollet last Wednesday morning. Police claim the woman took the cab for a joyride and then apparently parked the cab and fell asleep in the vehicle. Law enforcement arrested the woman on felony motor vehicle theft and misdemeanor charges of driving while impaired.

Police claim Minnesota man facing felony DWI switched seats in pickup

A Minnesota man is facing felony driving while impaired charges and a felony charge for an alleged assault on a jailer after a recent traffic stop. Law enforcement claims the man they accuse of DWI changed seats with his female passenger after pulling over for a traffic stop.

DWI Defenses: Did Police Violate Your Right to An Attorney?

Did you know that when you are arrested for a DWI, you have a right to call an attorney before you decide to take a Breath Test, a Blood Test or a Urine Test under the Implied Consent Law, according to the Minnesota Supreme Court in Friedman v. Commissioner of Public Safety ? Not only that, but you also have the right to call a non-attorney to get the name or phone number of an attorney, OR to have your friend or family member try to get a hold of an attorney for you.

Minnesota DWI license revocation law includes ignition interlock provisions

Use of ignition interlock devices is a growing trend across the nation to control the number of DWI/DUI arrests in the country. A recent study indicates that the number of the devices that have been installed has more than doubled across the country in the last five years. The national study says that roughly 249,000 cars across the country now have ignition interlock devices installed. That number is a significant increase that the roughly 101,000 cars equipped with the devices in 2006.

Court of Appeals clarifies DWI forfeiture law in Minnesota

Last week, the Minnesota Court of Appeals handed down an important decision in a DWI vehicle forfeiture case. The Minnesota vehicle forfeiture statute applies to a specified variety of offenses, including first and second-degree DWI cases. Vehicle forfeiture cases are not directly a part of the criminal case against a person accused of DWI, but the forfeiture is related to the DWI charge.

Considering Faulty Intoxilyzer Source Code, Are breath-testing Machines Reliable ?

In August, this blog reported the story of the Intoxilyzer Source Code for the embattled Intoxilyzer 5000ENmachine that is generally used across Minnesota in DWI cases. Minnesota DWI defense attorneys have brought challenges to the test results the machine produces to be used against Minnesota drivers. The scientific validity of the machine’s inner workings or Intoxilyzer Source Code is currently being appealed to the Minnesota Supreme Court, which could affect the outcome of the more than 4,000 Minnesota DWI cases that are involved in the consolidated Source Code case.

Drunk driving is down; severity of DUI charge remains the same

Drunk driving is a serious offense that can lead to serious consequences, and it is more common than most people may recognize. With a culture of happy hours and college parties it isn’t just what people see as stereotypical criminals who face drunk driving charges. It’s their neighbors, their friends and their family.