If Minnesota police pull you over in traffic and ask you to exit your vehicle, it’s likely they suspect you of impairment. The stop may occur because an officer witnessed your tires veer over the yellow line or your brake lights turn on and off at random moments that didn’t match the traffic flow. You must step out of your vehicle when instructed to do so. If you wind up in custody for suspected DUI, it’s important for you to remember details about the traffic stop.
As mentioned in the previous section, police must have a justifiable reason for making a traffic stop. They must also establish probable cause to make a DUI arrest. If you have evidence to show that either of these elements did not exist when an officer pulled you over or arrested you, it may become part of your defense strategy.
These DUI defense strategies may be relevant to your case
The following list includes several possible defense strategies that often apply in DUI cases in Minnesota, though not all of them:
- Lack of reasonable suspicion to make a traffic stop or probable cause to arrest
- Mishandling of blood sample during chain of custody
- Breath testing device (DMT) not properly calibrated or administered by an uncertified individual
- Denial of a driver’s right to speak with an attorney before chemical testing at the station
Each of these circumstances may be the basis for refuting DUI charges in court. In fact, some of these issues might compel a judge to dismiss a case before it goes to trial. If you’ve been arrested, it’s imperative that you understand your rights and know how to determine which type of defense strategy best fits your circumstances.
Obtaining as positive of an outcome as possible
The more you know ahead of time regarding Minnesota DWI laws, your rights and the duties of a police officer, the better able to defend yourself you’ll be. It’s always a good idea to seek guidance from someone who has experience navigating the criminal justice system. This type of support can help determine whether you have grounds for requesting a dismissal or challenging certain evidence as inadmissible in court.
If an unlawful search occurred, for instance, then any evidence confiscated during that search would be inadmissible. However, you’d first have to prove the search was a violation of your rights as protected under the Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. The good news in all of this is that a DUI arrest doesn’t necessarily have to ruin your life, especially if you can build a strong defense.
