Administrative Penalties for Minnesota DWI Offenses
Individuals facing DWI charges in the state of Minnesota will receive not only criminal charges but will be forced to face administrative sanctions imposed by the state as well. There are three main administrative sanctions as put forth by Minnesota DWI law. You may or may not be subject to all three and they may not be imposed immediately after your arrest.
Minnesota DWI Penalties: License Revocation
Minnesota DUI and DWI law states that you may be subject to immediate driver's license revocation after refusing or failing a chemical test. In most cases, drivers are given temporary permission to drive for up to 7 days before the revocation goes into effect. The time your license will remain suspended depends upon the circumstances surrounding your case.
Individuals facing their first DUI in a 10 year period in Minnesota usually receive a 90 day revocation as long as there are no other mitigating circumstances. This revocation period is sometimes reduced to 30 days for individuals who have never had any DWI conviction in the past. Drivers under the age of 21, the legal drinking age, automatically face a 6 month revocation.
Punishments for repeat DWI arrests in Minnesota are more severe. Your license will be suspended for at least 180 days.
Anyone with a blood alcohol level of .20 will receive double the revocation period and anyone who has refused a chemical test will receive an automatic 1 year suspension, although this can sometimes be reduced to 90 days for first offenses. The courts reserve the right to suspend your driver's license indefinitely if they believe you pose a threat to public safety.
Minnesota DWI Penalties: License Plate Impoundment
The second type of administrative penalty for a Minnesota DUI or DWI is license plate impoundment. You will be given a license plate impoundment if you face a Minnesota DWI arrest after having already had an incident with the preceding 10 year period, with a blood alcohol level of .20 or higher, with a child in the car, or with an already suspended license.
The officer at the scene of the DWI arrest will take the license plates from your car and issue a temporary permit. The permit is good for 7 days unless you are not the owner of the car, in which case it is good for 45 days. After proving that you have regained your license, found a qualified substitute driver, or have another licensed driver in the house you may be allowed to have specially coded license plates for your vehicle for a period up to one year.
Minnesota DWI Penalties: Vehicle Forfeiture
If, after your Minnesota DUI arrests, your license is revoked you may find yourself facing vehicle forfeiture as well. In most cases you will not be forced to permanently forfeit your vehicle unless you failed to appear for trial or failed to seek timely review of your license revocation.
Your Minnesota DWI defense lawyer can help you to deal with, minimize, or fight any of the above administrative penalties. Minnesota DWI convictions can have serious long term consequences. Deal with your charges properly as soon as possible.
