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.

After a driver spots a suspected drunk driver and calls 911, the dispatcher uses the traffic cameras to locate the vehicle. Law enforcement officers are notified of the location and move in to stop the driver. The AP report notes that cell phone reports by other drivers result in around 20 arrests for driving while intoxicated (DWI) each day.

Last year, Minnesota State Highway Patrol officers received 42,000 complaints from drivers resulting in over 650 arrests for various traffic offenses, according to a Fox News report.

Serious Penalties

A drunk driving conviction can have serious consequences. Even first-time misdemeanor offenders can face up to 90 days in jail and fines up to $1,000.
Repeat offenders, however, face some of the most serious penalties, including mandatory minimum sentences. For a second offense within 10 years of a prior conviction, Minnesota statutes provide for a mandatory 30 days in jail. The minimum sentences increase with each subsequent offense:

  1. Third subsequent conviction within 10 years of a prior conviction: 90 days minimum incarceration, with at least 30 days to be served consecutively in a jail or local workhouse
  2. Fourth subsequent within 10 years of a prior conviction: 180 days incarceration, with at least 30 days to be served consecutively in a jail or local workhouse
  3. Fifth subsequent offense can result in up to one year with at least 60 days to be served consecutively in a jail or local workhouse

It may be possible to avoid the mandatory sentence, however, and be sentenced to a period of intensive probation. Even in this case, you may be required to spend some time in jail.

Working With an Attorney

If you have been arrested or face drunk driving charges, it is important to discuss your case with an experienced criminal defense attorney.

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

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Defendants in Minnesota may plead guilty or accept deals without understanding the hidden cost of a guilty criminal plea. A guilty criminal plea, regardless of how appealing it appears, can leave you dealing with substantial lifelong consequences. You may skip lengthy trial proceedings and likely get a lenient sentence, but end up with a criminal record. The record can lead to various financial and collateral consequences, including difficulty in securing employment, loss of housing rights, license revocation, and immigration issues.

What You Can Expect at a Pre-Trial Motions Hearing in Minnesota

The pre-trial motions hearing is a court session you attend after your first arraignment. At the hearing, the prosecution and defense appear before a judge to clear several details about the case before trial. These details include pre-trial motions, evidentiary queries, and constitutional matters.

Refusing Arrest vs. Resisting Arrest in Minnesota: What’s the Difference?

Highly publicized incidents of police using excessive force over the past few years have led to people wondering, “What’s the difference between refusing arrest vs. resisting arrest?” Resisting arrest in Minnesota occurs when you use force to prevent a police officer from making a lawful arrest. Refusing an arrest, on the other hand, involves statements or actions that show reluctance to cooperate with an officer’s instructions without using force.