Have you been accused of driving while intoxicated? If so, then you probably know that you are facing serious criminal charges. DWI in Minnesota is a serious criminal offense and, depending on your history and the implications of your arrest, you could be facing prison time as well as a hefty fine. Regardless of the details surrounding your case, as soon as you are arrested for driving under the influence, you need to contact a Minneapolis criminal defense attorney.

DWI/DUI Charges and Degrees

Driving while intoxicated in a somewhat complicated matter in the state of Minnesota. Your severity of punishment will depend on a number of factors. First of all, you need to determine if any aggravating factors were present in the arrest. This may include

• Driving with a BAC of .2 or higher
• Driving while under the influence with a child under the age of 16 in the car
• If you have been convicted of a DUI offense in the last ten years
• Refusing to take a breathalyzer, blood test or provide a urine sample

If one or more of these aggravating factors are present, then you are most likely facing a higher degree of DUI charge. There are four different degrees of offense which include:

Fourth Degree DWI – if you have a BAL of .08 or higher and are operating a commercial or recreational vehicle. This is the lowest form of offense and can come with up to $1000 in fines and 90 days in prison.

Third Degree DWI – if you have one aggravating factor present during the time of your arrest. This is often classified as a gross misdemeanor and comes with a $3000 fine and up to one year in prison.

Second Degree DWI – if you have two or more aggravating factors present during the time of your arrest.

First Degree DWI - if you commit a violation within ten years of the first three or more drunk driving incidents or if you have been convicted of a DWI felony in Minnesota. This is the most severe instance of DWI charges and comes with up to 7 years in prison, license revocation indefinitely and up to $14,000 in fines.

Additional DWI Concerns

In addition to these fines and prison times, you may also face license revocation or suspension, whiskey plates, restitution costs and several other conditions that could impact your life.

It is also important to remember that if you are drinking and driving under the legal limit of 21, there are even stricter penalties in place. Furthermore, DWI charges are not only in place on the roads – there are boating while intoxicated (BWI) and snowmobiling while intoxicated (SWI) laws as well as rules and regulations against driving any recreational vehicle, from an ATV to a golf cart, while under the influence.

Minneapolis Criminal Defense Lawyer

If you have been charged with a DUI offense your best defense is to contact a Minneapolis DWI lawyer as soon as possible. There are a number of defense strategies used when it comes to the Minnesota DUI courts and we can help determine which one is best for your situation. There is hope when it comes to DWI charges and we can provide you with the knowledge, aggression and experience to ensure you the best outcome possible. Contact Olson Law Firm at 612-816-2322 for a free consultation.