At the scene of an accident, emotions may run high. People who, seconds earlier, may have been in fear for their lives may now feel disoriented, confused and full of adrenaline. They may not even remember how they behaved or why they acted that way. Unfortunately, if...
DUI
Refusing to submit to portable breath tests
Since the 1950s, scientists have worked to improve the methods of detecting and measuring the amount of alcohol in the blood of someone authorities suspect of drinking and driving. Using a chemical method of oxidizing alcohol on a driver’s breath, modern devices are...
Underage drinking leads to crash, possible criminal charges
It is the rare teenager who does not go through phases of rebellion or emotional turmoil. Sometimes this is the result of physical changes, and other times it may be a response to external factors like family dynamics or school bullying. It is not uncommon for these...
Commercial drivers deal with harsh DWI laws
Driving a commercial vehicle can be a rewarding experience. Whether you drive long distances or around the Minneapolis area, you are providing a valuable service to individuals and businesses. Trucking also allows you to work independently outside of an office...
License suspension or revocation a risk after DWI arrest
Having a few drinks is a way that many people blow off some steam and try to relax. You may not consider yourself a heavy drinker and may only drink when there is occasion to do so. You likely also feel that you know your body well enough to know whether you have had...
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...
Smart alternative to whiskey plates for aggravating factors
Minnesota drivers may be aware of one embarrassing consequence of a DWI conviction. A court may order a driver to register all of his or her vehicles with special plates after a DWI conviction with certain aggravating factors. Many feel the special plates, called...
DWI defense hinges on reasonable suspicion at traffic stop
When police pull over a vehicle and arrest the driver for driving while impaired, the investigation into those charges likely began before the driver stopped. In fact, it is likely that police had their suspicions that the driver had been drinking before they decided...
Michigan investigates Michigan’s breathalyzers for fraud
Like Minnesota and a disturbing number of other states, Michigan faces problems with the breathalyzers it uses during drunk-driving stops. This January, the state stopped a $1.3 million-a-year contract with the company that watches its breathalyzer machines for...
Can self-driving cars create more drunk drivers?
A Forbes article argues that smart cars may make drunk drivers more dangerous and common, at least for the near future. The author believes technology is now creating an era of especially hazardous drunk driving that will continue until more advanced autonomous cars...