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

The timeline for filing pre-trial motions in a criminal case in Minnesota varies with the type of motion. A motion related to the discovery of evidence or dismissal of a criminal case must be filed at least three days before the Omnibus Hearing. The prosecution is then allowed to respond to the motions, and the court sets the timeline for these responses.
Knowing the tips for interacting with law enforcement as a suspect in Minnesota can keep you from saying or doing something that incriminates you. These tips include understanding your rights while interacting with law enforcement, knowing how to handle search and seizure, and seeking the early intervention of a criminal defense lawyer. You should apply these tips when you are stopped for questioning, a suspect in a criminal investigation, pulled over in a car, and during arrest, arrest processing, and custody.
You may need to hire a criminal defense lawyer even if you have not been charged. A criminal defense lawyer protects your rights when law enforcement officers are investigating you for a crime. Without a lawyer, you might say something that could be incriminating or misconstrued. Your lawyer can engage with the police or the prosecutors and provide evidence that prevents them from filing formal charges. Your lawyer can also go through your case and prepare a defense strategy if there is a possibility of you getting charged.