Earlier in June, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) issued a significant recall of blood alcohol testing kits provided by manufacturer Becton Dickinson (BD) causing speculation over whether thousands of DWI cases will subsequently be thrown out in court. In fact, BD initially issued the voluntary recall.
Even though Canada has legalized recreational cannabis—medical marijuana has been legal since 2001—the US border crossing continues to be a drug-free zone because, under US federal law, cannabis remains illegal despite legalization in some states. Thus, anyone caught with marijuana at the border is subject to arrest and prosecution under federal law, as well as potential seizure, denial of admission, and/or fines. The same potential serious effect applies to driving under the influence of alcohol.
If you have been convicted of a DWI, you may be required to have an ignition interlock device (IID) installed in your vehicle. Such a device requires you—as the vehicle’s owner—to provide a breath sample before driving and will prevent the vehicle from starting if it senses any alcohol on your breath.
If you have accepted a plea bargain, have been convicted of a crime, or have been granted a stay of adjudication, then you may receive probation. Probation is a court-imposed sentence in lieu of actual jail time; however, there are certain requirements that a person on probation must follow. Failure to do so will oftentimes result in probation revocation and your being sent to jail to serve your original sentence. Probation is viewed as a lenient option for courts to maintain some control over a person without sending him/her to jail.
Back in 2017, we reported on the new state law that permits innocent owners to request a hearing to prevent their vehicles from being confiscated if they lend their vehicle to someone who is ultimately arrested for DWI. However, this law recently came under attack when an innocent owner’s vehicle was seized and impounded for 18 months while her daughter’s DWI criminal trial concluded.
Late last year, we reported on a Minnesota man who was facing his 28th DWI and discussed the need for and effectiveness of harsher DWI legislation. Discussion involved mandatory revocation of one’s driver’s license after five DWI convictions.
We previously reported on the difficulties of securing convictions for motorists arrested for DWI regarding substances not currently on the state law’s intoxicating substances list. To address this, in March 2018, Minnesota senators examined how current state DWI law addresses sniffing inhalants—better known as “huffing.”
Top 20 DWI Questions in MN
Technology has come a long way in addressing and reducing impaired and distracted driving. However, with all of this advancement, drunk driving continues to be a serious problem across the US.
Earlier this year, Minnesota joined 17 other states and Washington, D.C. in requiring that any motorist in a moving vehicle must have his/her cellphones in hands-free mode.
Being arrested in Minnesota—well, anywhere actually—is not only stressful but can also be scary. Here are some tips about what to do—and what not to do—if you do get stopped and/or arrested in Minnesota for driving while intoxicated.
