Put Your Trust In
Due to 3 recent appellate court decisions the law surrounding drink driving in Minnesota is about as fuzzy as most of our heads were after the recent holiday period. This is because Minnesota is one of the few states where it is a crime to refuse blood alcohol tests if suspected of drunk driving — even if the police do…
It seems like the Minnesota Legislature changes parts of the DWI laws every year that increase penalties on drunk drivers while making the process more easy for officer and courts to convict them. One major change that took effect for offenses occurring on or after August 1, 2015 is creating harsher penalties than ever for many offenders, most notably first…
After years of challenges from defense attorneys in Minnesota, the Minnesota Court of Appeals has finally acknowledged that a search warrant was needed for a DWI blood test request, and the driver’s refusal to submit to that test in the absence of a warrant cannot be a criminal offense. This decision is extremely important, but is limited in its scope. …
A ruling in Minnesota’s Court of Appeals may have implications for how state police implement drunken driving laws in the future. The court overturned the conviction of Todd Trahan, who was sentenced to five years in prison after he was arrested for drunk driving in October 2012 in Ramsey County – after having been convicted of DWI several times previously.…
According to the Minnesota State Patrol, Labor Day is the second deadliest major holiday on Minnesota roads. And this is highlighted by the fact that over the last five years there have been 24 deaths at his time of year, thought of by many as the last big celebration of summer. So if you’re off out this weekend, before you…
Drivers having their license revoked for a DUI or DWI is common across the country. But it is also possible for the courts in Minnesota to actually revoke license plates, meaning you have the humiliation and inconvenience of using ‘whiskey plates.’ But just what are they and what function do they serve. Here’s a look at everything you need to…
Earlier this week, the MN Supreme Court issued its highly anticipated decision in the matter of State v. Bernard. In a 5-2 decision, the Court held that a person arrested for DWI can face additional serious criminal sanctions if they refuse to submit to an official breath test at the station/jail. This is a disappointing decision on a number of…
The Minnesota Department of Public Safety is teaming up with former Minnesota Viking Chuck Foreman to crack down on drunk driving on Super Bowl Sunday. DWI arrests have gone up by 24% during Super Bowl weekend over the past 10 years compared to the weekend before and 18% compared to the weekend after. Extra patrols will be out in Minnesota’s…
Law enforcement officers across Minnesota will be on the lookout for drunk drivers over the holiday period, so motorists beware. The festive safety campaign runs on weekends through December 27 and according to the state Department of Public Safety, during the Thanksgiving holiday period alone 1,624 drivers have been arrested for driving while impaired since 2011. In a press release…
A 36-year-old woman who crashed into a fire station in St. Paul on Friday night has been cited for driving while impaired. Although the station at West Seventh Street and Randolph Avenue was damaged, nobody was injured in the incident. Angela Montoya of St. Paul told police she was driving west on Seventh Street about 9:30 pm when a vehicle…