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Dakota County DWI Lawyer

Dakota County is the third most populous county in Minnesota, situated across the southern half of the Twin Cities. Dakota County includes the cities of Apple Valley, Burnsville, Coates, Eagan, Farmington, Hampton, Hastings, Inver Grove Heights, Lakeville, Lilydale, Mendota, Mendota Heights, Miesville, New Trier, a small portion of Northfield, Randolph, Rosemount, South St. Paul, Sunfish Lake, Vermillion and West St. Paul. Many prosecutors represent the state on misdemeanor and gross misdemeanor DWI cases in these municipalities. Each prosecuting office has its own policies when it comes to offering plea bargains and spending resources on prosecuting DWI matters to their fullest extent.

Derek A. Patrin handles all Dakota County matters for our office and has 10-plus years’ experience representing DWI defendants in that county. Our office has handled hundreds of DWI and test refusal matters in Dakota County, and Derek is in court in Dakota County several times per month. Our office has appeared in front of every judge in the county and has handled multiple cases against every city attorney in the county. Dakota County is also where Derek won his first DWI jury trial early in his career, and it is where Derek’s landmark Supreme Court victory regarding the Intoxilyzer 5000 source code originated.

There are three courthouses in Dakota County, so pay close attention to the location listed on your citation or summons. All hearings for gross misdemeanors are held at the main Dakota County Judicial Center in Hastings, 1560 Highway 55. This building is connected to the Dakota County Jail and workhouse. Misdemeanor cases are handled in one of three courthouses: the Hastings courthouse listed above, the Northern Service Center in West St. Paul (One Mendota Road West) and the Western Service Center in Apple Valley (14955 Galaxie Avenue West). All of the judges in the county rotate between these locations, so it is unlikely that you will have the same judge twice in the same case. As usual, the judge you face will play a major role in the outcome of a contested hearing or a plea agreement. We know all of the judges, including the ones to avoid.

Find a DWI attorney in Dakota County, Minnesota, who is reliable and ready to help you with your case. Get in contact with the DWI Guys and let us help you, call 612-688-2299 for your FREE case evaluation.