Category: DWI

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.

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.

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.

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 Department of Public Safety Cracks Down on Holiday Drunk Driving

The colder season is filled with holiday festivities. It is tradition for Minnesotans to partake in the merriment of Thanksgiving get-togethers, Christmas parties and New Year’s Eve celebrations. The holidays are a time to reunite with old friends and family. However, along with many of these festivities comes the spirit of overindulgence: plenty of gifts, an assortment of rich foods and, in many instances, one too many alcoholic beverages.

With extra DWI enforcement, drivers should know their rights

According to figures from the Minnesota Department of Public Safety’s Office of Traffic Safety, roughly 160 drivers across the state were arrested. on May 10, 2013, on suspicion of driving while intoxicated. Roughly 80 of the arrests were made in the Twin Cities.

What special efforts are used in Minnesota DWI enforcement?

Prior to the Labor Day holiday we discussed the intense law enforcement presence on Minnesota roads seeking to enforce Minnesota drunk driving laws. Events, celebrations and holidays often bring increased patrols, as police think that more people will be out on the roads who may be impaired because of changes in routine associated with an event.

Police get warrant for May 1 DWI blood draw

Authorities in Hennepin County reportedly obtained a warrant to draw blood in an alleged drunk driving investigation on May 1. Authorities claim that a St. Cloud, Minnesota man led an off-duty Plymouth police officer on a chase that began in Maple Grove near Interstate 94 and Weaver Lake Road. Hennepin County deputies and officers from the Rogers Police Department reportedly were also involved.

Court: search warrants generally required for DWI blood draws; Warrantless DWI Tests Outlawed

The United States Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that the natural dissipation of alcohol in the human bloodstream is not a sufficient justification by itself to avoid the warrant requirement to conduct a blood draw in a routine drunk driving investigation. The long awaited McNeely decision (we previously previewed the McNeely case and its potential impact on Minnesota DWI cases last month) says that circumstances may arise in individual cases that make obtaining a warrant impractical, but the natural dissipation alone is insufficient to conduct a warrantless blood draw after a driving while impaired arrest.