DWI & DUI in Minnesota

Driving under the influence (DUI) is a serious offense in Minnesota, and it carries severe consequences. Minnesota law enforcement is determined to reduce the number of DUI-related incidents, and as a result, the penalties for this offense are harsh and escalate with each subsequent DUI conviction. In this blog post, we will explore the consequences of a DUI in Minnesota, focusing on jail...

What is DWI? Many people have heard the term but might not know exactly what it means or what the consequences are for those who are charged with it. DWI, or Driving While Intoxicated, is a serious offense that can result in severe penalties and even life-altering consequences. In this blog, we will discuss the ins and outs of DWI, its implications, and what you should know to avoid getting...

Being convicted of a DWI (Driving While Intoxicated) under Minnesota law can be a traumatic experience. But the requirement that your automobile or other vehicle be fitted with what are commonly referred to as “Whiskey Plates” under Minnesota Whiskey Plates law can add to the trauma. Minnesota whiskey plates law can be difficult and often seemingly unfair. This is particularly true if you are...

Are DWI and DUI the same thing? There is a distinction between DUI vs DWI in Minnesota. “DWI” stands for Driving While Intoxicated. A DWI charge means someone was driving a motor vehicle while having a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of over 0.08.  Conversely, DUI stands for “Driving Under the Influence.” This charge means a person was driving a motor vehicle while impaired by alcohol. A...

If you have been charged with 2nd Degree DWI in MN, it is essential that you understand  the difference between 2nd degree DWI in Minnesota and other classification levels. When police charge a Minnesota driver with Driving While Intoxicated (commonly known as DWI), the driver faces fines, license suspension or revocation, and even jail time. The state may also confiscate the vehicle and...

DISCLAIMER: Leverson Budke does not offer assistance for the Ignition Interlock program in any way. We’ve compiled this comprehensive guide for the Minnesota Ignition Interlock program as a service to our clients, however this is purely informational.  We are unable to assist you in any capacity with the planning, process or implementation of Minnesota’s ignition interlock program. With that...

One of the most frequent questions we get asked by folks that have gotten a DWI is, “Can you get a DWI expunged?”  The quick answer is Yes, if you were convicted of driving while intoxicated, you may be eligible to seek expungement for a DWI. Expungement is the process by which an individual can have a certain entry removed from his or her criminal record. Although this particular...

Attorney Nick Leverson filed a petition for judicial review of his client’s license revocation following a DWI charge. After convincing the court that his client only submitted to the blood test when the officer threatened to charge him with an unconstitutional crime, the client’s driver’s license and license plates were returned to him, and the derogatory reference was removed from the...

Court of Appeals Update: State v. Mike (Decided August 27, 2018) The defendant in State v. Mike was in a motorcycle accident in October of 2017 (DWI Law). When officers arrived at the scene, they believed that Mike may have been under the influence of alcohol. En route to the hospital, law enforcement officers obtained a search warrant for Mike’s blood. Officers executed the search warrant at...

If you’ve been pulled over by a Minnesota police officer, and that officer had reason to believe you were under the influence of drugs or alcohol, you were likely put through a series of embarrassing standardized field sobriety tests on the side of the road. This process isn’t a secret. In fact, most people have either seen it on television or driven past someone being subjected to these...