Category: DWI

Hennepin County student campaigns address underage drinking

For most Minnesota high schools, prom season has already come and gone. But the risks of underage drinking, DWI arrests and crashes are still upon us. Why? Because high school graduations are just around the corner. In fact, Hopkins seniors graduate today, and next week, it is Minnetonka seniors’ turns to say goodbye to their high school careers.

Minnesota study suggests sporting events create DWI risk and more

According to sources, baseball stadiums across the country have reported an increase in the amount and severity of rowdy behavior during professional sports games. It is believed that this increase has been caused in part by alcohol consumption and the influx of younger, college-aged fans who have been frequenting the stadiums.

Court: Party hosts not to blame for underage drinking and crash

It’s not easy for any parent or loved one to lose a family member or friend. It is natural to look for someone to blame in such instances, and sometimes that blame is just. If someone owed a responsibility to someone and their negligence leads to death, then the courts will often hold negligent parties accountable, criminally, civilly or both.

Drinking and Flying Don’t Mix? Drunk Flyer Detoxed and Sent to Jail After Assaulting Cops

A reminder for travelers drinking and flying: maybe do your drinking after you get on the plane. Earlier this weekend, a Minneapolis flyer was arrested when she had the police called on her for being extremely intoxicated while waiting to board a plane at the Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport. Not only was she not allowed to board her flight, she was also taken in to custody. The police planned to merely send her to Detox to sleep it off. But, that was not good enough for her.

Ignition interlock devices required for Minnesota DWI in July

For most people, driving is a necessity. We need to drive to get to work, to go to the grocery store and run various other errands – that includes Minnesota DWI offenders who have had their licenses pulled. That’s apparently why so many DWI offenders whose licenses are suspended wind up driving anyway.

Future of Minnesota Vikings linebacker cloudy after driving drunk

Erin Henderson, a linebacker for the Minnesota Vikings, has been arrested for the second time on suspicion of driving while intoxicated. On Wednesday, Jan. 1, the football player was taken into custody after crashing his vehicle into trees near a parking lot in Chanhassen. According to police reports, Henderson refused to take a sobriety test and now faces several charges for DWI as well as a charge for not taking the test. He also allegedly had drug paraphernalia and marijuana in his possession at the time of the arrest.

State Patrol Using Traffic Cams and Cell Phones to Catch Drunk Drivers

According to the Associated Press, Minnesota’s Department of Transportation monitors over 500 cameras to observe traffic throughout the state, with most focusing on the Twin Cities and surrounding areas. More and more, the Minnesota State Highway Patrol is relying on this network of traffic cameras and citizens reporting drunk drivers on the road.

New Drunk Driving Penalties for Minnesotans in 2011

Minnesota is known throughout the country as a tough state on drunk drivers; a conviction for driving while intoxicated can carry very stiff consequences in the North Star State. As of July 1, 2011, new additions to Minnesota’s DWI laws have expanded the range of sentencing options, especially for second and subsequent offenses and DUIs committed with a high alcohol content (AC).

Mandatory Minimum Sentences for Repeat DWI Offenders in Minnesota

It is common knowledge that Minnesota takes a hard line approach to drunk driving penalties: even first-time offenders can face substantial jail time, fines of up to $3,000 and a heavy smattering of license-related fees once they try to reinstate their driver’s license after a period of suspension. Repeat DWI offenders are raked over the coals to an even higher degree.

Minnesota DWI Testing Still Questionable in Wake of Source Code Issues

For years, the machine primarily used to detect breath alcohol content in Minnesota was the Intoxilyzer 5000. However, numerous errors became evident in the Intoxilyzer 5000’s source code (the internal computer code upon which the device is completely reliant). Now, law enforcement authorities are moving away from the Intoxilyzer 5000 — but many DWI cases have nonetheless been left in limbo, and alternative alcohol testing methods, such as urine testing for DWIs, have also failed to withstand scientific scrutiny.