Minnesota DWI Arrests Drop Amid Pandemic

Minnesota witnessed a 68% drop in DWI arrests amid stay-at-home orders and closures of restaurants, nightclubs, and bars.

DWI Arrests Plummet With COVID-19 Closures

Since Minnesota Governor Tim Walz issued a stay-at-home order in March, there has been a significant drop in DWI arrests across the state. To prevent the further spread of COVID-19 illnesses and deaths, Governor Walz mandated the closure of all Minnesota non-essential businesses including restaurants, nightclubs, and bars on March 17, 2020. As a result, DWI accidents and arrests plummeted to their lowest levels in years.

According to the Minnesota Office of Traffic Safety, there were 323 DWI arrests during the weekend of March 13-16, prior to stay-at-home orders. During the weekend of March 20-23, DWI arrests dropped to 126, and during the weekend of March 27-31 dropped again to 94. Compared to DWI arrests during the same time periods in March 2019, Minnesota DWI arrests dropped by 68% during March 2020.

Following mandated stay-at-home orders, Minneapolis DWI attorneys have also seen a significant drop in DWI arrests and related offenses. According to the Minnesota State Patrol, DWI accidents between March 17-26 were cut in half. State Patrol officers attribute the major drop in drunk driving accidents to fewer drivers on the road due to COVID-19 stay-at-home orders and closures of establishments that commonly serve alcohol to customers.

Despite a huge drop in DWI accidents and arrests, unfortunately, there are still problems on Minnesota roads. In recent months, the Minnesota State Patrol announced that troopers have witnessed a rise in cases of excessive speeding, reckless driving, and aggressive behaviors, even with fewer cars on the road. With home isolation and lack of social activities, many drivers seem to be taking their boredom and pent-up energy out behind the wheel of a car. With less traffic and open freeways, many drivers are ignoring speed limits, running stop signs and traffic lights, and throwing safe driving measures right out the window.

In some cases, drivers who are pulled over for speeding are impaired by drugs and/or alcohol with BAC levels well above the legal limit of .08. In Minnesota, state laws impose harsh penalties for DWI accidents and arrests. Depending on the individual circumstances of a DWI arrest, an offender can spend months or years behind bars without proper legal defense from a Minneapolis DWI attorney who can work with Minnesota courts to get a sentence reduced.

Max Keller has won countless jury trial cases involving misdemeanors and felonies, sex crimes, and DWI’s. He is a member of the Minnesota Society for Criminal Justice, which only allows the top 50 criminal defense attorneys in the state as members. Max is a frequent speaker at CLE’s and is often asked for advice by other defense attorneys across Minnesota.

Years of Experience: Approx. 20 years
Minnesota Registration Status: Active
Bar & Court Admissions: State of Minnesota Minnesota State Court Minnesota Federal Court 8th Circuit Federal Court of Appeals State of Maryland

What to Do If You Have Been Charged with a Criminal Offense

You might need to know the long-term impacts of a 3rd degree DWI if you have been arrested or charged with driving while impaired (DWI) in Minneapolis, MN. A 3rd-degree DWI conviction can affect you personally, professionally, socially, and financially. A DWI conviction carries consequences, such as paying huge fines, loss of income, paying higher insurance premiums, strained relationships, and reputation damage. Your driver’s and professional license may be suspended or revoked after you are charged or convicted of a DWI. You may also face a civil lawsuit, which costs you money in the form of financial compensation to the accident victim.
One of the questions that people facing sex crime charges in Minnesota ask is: Will I have to register as a sex offender if convicted? You will most likely be required to register as a sex offender if convicted of a sex crime. Factors that determine sex offender registration include the nature and severity of the offense, aggravating factors, civil commitment, and risk level. You must register as a sex offender if you are relocating to Minnesota for school, work, or to live and have been convicted of sex crimes elsewhere.
People facing drug crime charges who were victims of unlawful search or seizure may wonder, “What role does search and seizure law play in drug cases?” Under the Fourth Amendment, search and seizure law protects you from unreasonable searches and seizures by law enforcement officers. The Minnesota constitution provides similar protections.