DWI

The Vikings football team may not have won the championship this year, but that doesn’t mean the state does not rank first in many other areas. For example, a recent report shows that Minnesota’s drunk driving laws raise the state to the number one spot for strictest laws in the country. While safety advocates may applaud this trend, those who…

In Minnesota, like most states, a drunk driving charge is usually a misdemeanor. This means it is a less serious crime, but it is never one to take lightly and still deserves a strong DWI defense strategy. A driver convicted of a misdemeanor may serve a short amount of time in jail, if any, whereas a felony may result in…

A drunk driving arrest can be unsettling because it may carry with it the potential for many negative consequences, including jail, probation, fines and other heavy financial consequences. A conviction for driving while impaired can also place a driver’s job and reputation on the line. One Minnesota official is facing that possibility now following a recent arrest and subsequent DWI…

Truck drivers are often responsible for transporting goods that, together with the weight of the truck, may total as much as 40 tons. Traveling at highways speeds or through city traffic, this much weight can mean devastating damage if the driver makes a mistake. Understandably, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has established rigid rules governing those with commercial driver’s…

In most cases, courts say police cannot just take your blood and test it. The U.S. Constitution, courts say, demands police get a warrant from a judge first. But last year, by the slimmest margin possible, the U.S. Supreme Court agreed with Wisconsin that the state’s “impliedly consented” law allows police to take a driver’s blood and test the alcohol…

Even after having just one drink, alcohol can begin to affect your body and mind. And while it’s always safe to have someone else drive you home, most adults still have the ability to safely make it back with a small amount of alcohol in their system. Across the nation, the legal limit for driving after consuming alcohol is a…

Getting pulled over can make anyone’s stomach drop. Even if the person is sober or well below the legal limit, field sobriety tests can be unreliable. While many are beginning to question the accuracy of chemical tests, some are beginning to wonder whether field sobriety tests should be getting the same level of scrutiny. What are the steps in a…

While ignition interlock devices have prevented numerous drunk driving crashes, an investigation by the New York Times finds that the gadgets have also caused many accidents. The newspaper’s investigation found that interlocks have been effective as one study concluded states mandating their use have seen 15% fewer fatalities from alcohol-related crashes. What is an ignition interlock? The device is installed…