Punishment for felony conviction
In Minnesota, the punishment can be quite severe for those facing felony drunk driving charges. The law says that convicted drunk drivers could receive up to seven years in prison as well as being ordered to pay up to $14,000 in fines. While this represents the worst-case scenario, the law explains that judges must sentence those convicted of felony DWI charges to a minimum prison sentence of three years. After the prison sentence has been served, felony DWI convicts can also be placed on conditional release for up to five years and, if they fail to abide by the rules of their release, can be sent back to prison.
Collateral consequences of felony conviction
Beyond prison time, those convicted of a felony DWI can face a series of collateral consequences that can result in punishment for years into the future. Some felony convictions result in the loss of a person’s right to vote or own firearms. Non-citizens can occasionally be deported (though this is unlikely for a drunk driving charge). In some cases, the felony could be used to deny a person access to student loans for education or some public housing opportunities. The message is clear: a felony DWI conviction is serious business and requires the help of an experienced Minnesota DWI attorney.
Source: “An Overview of Minnesota’s DWI Laws,” published at House.Leg.State.MN.US.