Teenage Drinking & Driving Rates are Declining

Responding to these statistics, Minneapolis DWI lawyer Max Keller remarked, “No one factor is responsible for the decline. Educational campaigns, increased sobriety checkpoints, and tougher penalties for underage drinking and driving have all helped. Coupled with social pressures, parental involvement, and the stigma associated with a DWI conviction, more and more teens are simply not drinking and driving.”

While the decrease in teenage drinking and driving rates is something to celebrate, it’s a victory that should be tempered. That’s because the CDC’s records over this period showed that nearly 25% of teenage driving fatalities remain alcohol related. Of these, 17% of teenage drivers between the ages of 16 and 20 who died in alcohol related accidents had Blood Alcohol Concentrations that were .8% or greater. This meant their ability to safely operate a motor vehicle was severely limited. Moreover, in their diminished capacity these drivers and their passengers neglected seatbelt usage. According to the CDC, 71% of teenage drivers killed in alcohol related accidents in 2012 were not wearing their seat belts.

“The CDC conducted a survey in 2013 that indicated 22% of teenagers reported having ridden in a vehicle with a driver who had been drinking. To counter this, the CDC recommends stronger enforcement of Zero BAC laws for drivers under 21 years of age. It also supports enhanced education and public awareness efforts. These efforts are showing their effectiveness. However, it’s clear that there is still a long road ahead,” stated Minneapolis DWI lawyer Max A. Keller.

In Minnesota, teenagers convicted of DWI (.08 or greater) can be fined $3000 and sentenced to up to one year in jail. Moreover, a first time conviction (.08 or lower) can result in the loss of driving privileges for 30 days. A second conviction can result in revocation of a license for 6 months. This information will remain on a driver’s record for 15 years.

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.

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

Getting falsely accused of domestic violence in Minnesota may put you at risk of losing your job, custody of your children, or even your home. You may face criminal charges and the accusation may damage your reputation in the community, as people will now view you as an abuser. False domestic violence accusations often happen when couples are in a contentious relationship with a risk of divorce.
The top reasons for license suspension in Minnesota include driving under the influence of alcohol, repeated traffic violations, and failure to appear in court or pay fines. Failure to pay child support, criminal convictions and felonies, medical conditions/disabilities, and drag racing can also lead to license suspension. The suspension takes away your driving privileges, preventing you from driving legally.
Motorists arrested for allegedly driving while impaired might wonder, “Can you refuse a breathalyzer?” In Minnesota, the implied consent law requires a person licensed to drive, control, or operate a vehicle to agree to a chemical test to check for alcohol or other intoxicants in that person’s body. Refusing to submit to a breathalyzer or another chemical test is a crime, often charged as a gross misdemeanor.