The Minnesota Court of Appeals released a new opinion today that might surprise you, although it comes as no surprise to us. It opens the door for officers to stop vehicles if the vehicle was originally equipped with unnecessary components that have been removed by...
physical control
Minnesota Superintendent seeks DWI defense
A 55-year-old school Superintendent is facing a potentially career-ending charge after he was allegedly found drunk in a district vehicle. The man has been placed on paid suspension by the school board. It is unclear whether he has retained criminal defense counsel to...
Sleeping it off in your car counts as DWI in Minnesota
You have had beverages and you think your blood alcohol is above the legal limit. Maybe you also had a long day at work before your first drink. Before driving home, would it be wise to climb into the back seat of your car and take a nap? Would the police give you a...
Derek Patrin wins boating DWI for his client
Derek Patrin was able to create another success story if you’re one of our clients recently in Dakota County. Our client was charged with boating while impaired on the river after a Fourth of July celebration in Hastings. There was a dispute about whether he was the...
2021 Changes to DWI Law in Minnesota
Every year we see some kind of tweaking and modification of Minnesota’s DWI laws, usually to make penalties harsher. This year had a mix of changes that seem small but will have a big impact on many people who are arrested for DWI. There were also some long-awaited...
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...
Is community service better than jail?
An arrest for drunk driving can be a wake up call for some, but it may also result in serious hardships, perhaps for years to come. A conviction for driving while impaired carries potential penalties that may include fines, license suspension and the possibility of...
Should the Crime of “Driving” While Impaired Include “Physical Control”?
While all States have impaired driving crimes, there are different variations of abbreviations used for them, including DUI, DWI, OWI, OUI, DWAI, and others. One of the problems with using these abbreviations is that people eventually equate “DWI” or “DUI” solely...