Minnesota DWI DUI Drunk Driving Attorney

If you have been arrested for a DUI or DWI, all is not lost. An arrest is not a conviction and will not result in any long term consequences unless you are convicted in Court and/or fail to request a hearing before the Minnesota Department of Public Safety (formerly known as the Minnesota Department of Motor Vehicles or DMV).

If you have been charged with a DUI or DWI, you need accurate information and a strong legal defense. Don’t enter the courtroom alone. The prosecutor does not represent you. The judge will not fight for your interests. You need an experienced defense lawyer.

Your chances of avoiding a conviction are not good unless you hire an attorney to fight for you. An experienced drunk driving attorney can substantially improve your odds of prevailing in court. Your success in court depends on the quality of your legal defense.

What will a Minnesota DUI/DWI attorney do for me?

A criminal defense attorney experienced in DUI, DWI, and drunk driving defense will fight for your rights, ensure that the burden of proof is on the police, prevent evidence from being used against you if it was wrongfully obtained, negotiate a potential plea bargain with the prosecutor, and counsel you through every step of the process.

What are the consequences of drunk driving?

If you plead guilty or are found guilty of a drunk driving offense, the consequences can be significant.

In general, consequences include incarceration (jail time), fines, driver’s license suspension, loss of the vehicle you were driving, mandatory attendance at alcohol and drug education classes (sometimes called “DUI School”), a criminal record, increased car insurance costs, and more.

The exact consequences will depend on a number of factors including your blood-alcohol level, priors on your criminal record, accidents or injuries, and other circumstances. These factors affect the degree of the charge as well as the judge’s sentencing.

Here are the degrees of DWI charges and the category under the Minnesota Impaired Driving Code:

  • Fourth Degree DWI: Misdemeanor
  • Third Degree DWI: Gross Misdemeanor
  • Second Degree DWI: Gross Misdemeanor
  • First Degree DWI: Felony - A person who commits first-degree driving while impaired is guilty of a felony and may be sentenced to imprisonment for not more than seven years, or to payment of a fine of not more than $14,000, or both.

Is a plea bargain possible?

Yes. You or your attorney can negotiate with the prosecutor for a reduced charge or reduced sentence in exchange for you pleading guilty to a lesser charge. When the prosecutor makes a plea offer, an experienced DUI/DWI attorney can advise you on whether the plea is a good deal for you. An experienced DUI/DWI attorney is knowledgeable regarding the law, knows how to negotiate with the prosecutor, and effective in seeking the best plea bargain.

Can charges get dropped?

Yes. Charges are occasionally dropped when they were based on invalid evidence. Your attorney can evaluate whether evidence was lawfully obtained. Also, charges may be reduced or dropped in exchange for a plea bargain.

For example, DUI (driving under the influence) and DWI (driving while intoxicated) offenses often include other charges. Drivers may be charged with no proof of insurance, reckless driving, careless driving, speeding, improper lane usage, failure to obey traffic signs, or other traffic offenses. We have witnessed prosecutors dropping those charges in exchange for a plea bargain. It pays to hire an experienced Minnesota DUI/DWI attorney.

What is involved with a DUI, DWI, or Drunk Driving Charge?

Here is a list of a number of areas involved in the DUI and DWI legal process:

  • Reasonable suspicion to stop a vehicle
  • Implied consent, vehicle forfeiture, license plate impoundment
  • Blood, breath and urine testing and PBTs
  • Field sobriety testing
  • Pretrial release and bail bonds
  • Driver’s license law and sanctions
  • Controlled substances, drug possession, marijuana charges
  • DWI sentencing considerations and mandatory minimums
  • Insurance and civil actions
  • Offenses involving recreational vehicles including boats and boating under the influence
  • Appeals: appealing an drinking/intoxication conviction

If you want to hire an attorney to fight your case, call us today. We will prepare your legal defense and fight for you in the courtroom.

About Attorney Aaron Hall: Prior to working as a private defense attorney, Aaron Hall assisted prosecutors in the Twin Cities in prosecuting criminal charges in Minnesota. He negotiated pleas with defense attorneys, orated before the court, and worked with lawyers and defendants in the criminal court process. This experience gave him a unique perspective into both sides of the criminal prosecution process. Aaron Hall is an attorney in the Twin Cities Law Firm, LLC, which offers DUI, DWI, and other criminal defense legal representation.

Published on November 25th, 2008 | Filed under this Minnesota lawyer topic: Criminal Defense







Disclaimer: Please read the Terms of Use. This website is advertising, not legal advice. As a lawyer in Minnesota, Aaron Hall and lawyers in his firm are licensed to provide legal services throughout Minnesota (MN), including those in Hennepin County, Ramsey County, Anoka County, Carver County, Dakota County, Scott County, Washington County, Isanti County, and Wright County. The attorneys' service area includes these Minnesota cities: Albert Lea, Albertville, Andover, Anoka, Apple Valley, Arden Hills, Belle Plaine, Big Lake, Blaine, Bloomington, Brooklyn Center, Brooklyn Park, Burnsville, Carver, Castle Rock, Champlin, Chanhassen, Chaska, Circle Pines, Cloquet, Columbia Heights, Concoran, Coon Rapids, Cottage Grove, Crystal, Dayton, Delano, Duluth, Eagan, East Bethel, Eden Prairie, Edina, Elk River, Elko New Market, Excelsior, Falcon Heights, Faribault, Farmington, Forest Lake, Fridley, Glencoe, Golden Valley, Ham Lake, Hamel, Hanover, Hastings, Hibbing, Hopkins, Hugo, Inver Grove Heights, Isanti, Jordan, Lake Elmo, Lakeville, Lilydale, Linden Hills, Lino Lakes, Little Canada, Long Lake, Loretto, Mahtomedi, Mankato, Maple Grove, Maple Plain, Maplewood, Medina, Mendota Heights, Minneapolis, Minnetonka, Minnetrista, Monticello, Moorhead, Mound, Mounds View, Moundsview, New Brighton, New Hope, New Port, New Prague, New Ulm, Newport, North Branch, North St. Paul, Northfield, Oak Grove, Oak Park Heights, Oakdale, Orono, Osseo, Otsego, Owatonna, Plymouth, Prior Lake, Ramsey, Red Wing, Richfield, Robbinsdale, Rochester, Rockford, Rogers, Rosemount, Roseville, Savage, Shakopee, Shoreview, Shorewood, South St. Paul, Spring Lake Park, Spring Park, St. Anthony, St. Bonifacius, St. Cloud, St. Francis, St. Louis Park, St. Michael, St. Paul, St. Paul Park, St. Peter, Stillwater, Twin Cities, Vadnais Heights, Victoria, Waconia, Watertown, Wayzata, West St. Paul, White Bear Lake, Willmar, Winona, Woodbury, and Wyoming, Minnesota (MN).