If a Minnesota police officer makes a traffic stop and asks the driver to exit his or her vehicle, it is likely that the officer suspects the driver of intoxication or other impairment. During this type of traffic stop, a police officer might ask a driver to take a...
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Carrying a pistol while under the influence of alcohol or drugs can result in the revocation of your permit and forfeiture of the pistol
If you are driving along a Minnesota highway and a police officer pulls you over in a traffic stop, there could be negative implications. If you are suspected of DWI, however, things might get a lot worse before they get better, especially if you happen to be carrying...
DWI charges can place a CDL at risk
If you’re one of the more than 3 million CDL holders in Minnesota and throughout the United States, you might be a bus driver or a long-haul trucker. Perhaps you haul heavy equipment. No matter what your specific duties are, you no doubt understand the serious...
Is Your Vehicle Still Street Legal After You Modified it From the Factory? MN Appellate Court Says Cops Can Pull You Over Anyway
The Minnesota Court of Appeals released a new opinion today that might surprise you, although it comes as no surprise to us. It opens the door for officers to stop vehicles if the vehicle was originally equipped with unnecessary components that have been removed by...
When Is It Better to Refuse a Blood, Breath or Urine Test offered at the Police Station?
Minnesota is one of only a handful of states that makes it a crime to refuse to submit to an official blood, breath or urine test after being arrested on suspicion of DWI / DUI. While that basic idea sounds simple, there are many misconceptions about how the crime is...
Sleeping it off in your car counts as DWI in Minnesota
You have had beverages and you think your blood alcohol is above the legal limit. Maybe you also had a long day at work before your first drink. Before driving home, would it be wise to climb into the back seat of your car and take a nap? Would the police give you a...
Derek Patrin wins boating DWI for his client
Derek Patrin was able to create another success story if you’re one of our clients recently in Dakota County. Our client was charged with boating while impaired on the river after a Fourth of July celebration in Hastings. There was a dispute about whether he was the...
2021 Changes to DWI Law in Minnesota
Every year we see some kind of tweaking and modification of Minnesota’s DWI laws, usually to make penalties harsher. This year had a mix of changes that seem small but will have a big impact on many people who are arrested for DWI. There were also some long-awaited...
Is community service better than jail?
An arrest for drunk driving can be a wake up call for some, but it may also result in serious hardships, perhaps for years to come. A conviction for driving while impaired carries potential penalties that may include fines, license suspension and the possibility of...
DWI laws keep getting tougher, but do they work?
You may agree that drunk driving is a problem in Minnesota and nearly every state in the country. In fact, about 10,000 people die in alcohol-related accidents each year, and millions of people admit to having driven under the influence of alcohol at least once....