Driving while impaired (DWI), sometimes called "DUI," results in criminal and administrative penalties. Generally, the severity of these penalties increases when the offender has prior DWI convictions (The penalties for a first, second, third, and underage DWI are all different.) In Minnesota, a "felony DWI" (also called "first-degree DWI") carries the most serious consequences. This article discusses some of the consequences of felony DWI.
Minnesota defines DWI as driving, operating, or being in physical control of a motor vehicle while:
Upon a lawful arrest for DWI, Minnesota law also makes it a crime to refuse to take a breath alcohol test. This offense is called an implied consent or test refusal crime and is treated like a DWI conviction.
A DWI becomes a felony-level offense if the motorist has:
A person who's arrested for a felony DWI must stay in jail until the first court date. It's typically not until then that the judge sets bail and specifies conditions of release. Conditions of release will likely include:
"Administrative penalties"—which are imposed by the Minnesota Department of Public Safety—are meant to provide a swift consequence. These penalties can be imposed upon or soon after a DWI arrest and may apply even if the offender is never convicted of a DWI in criminal court.
For a felony DWI, administrative penalties include:
License cancelation. Offenders who have their driver's license canceled (as opposed to revoked for first and second offenses), must install ignition interlock devices (IIDs) on their vehicles. IIDs are required not only to drive during the cancelation period, but also to reinstate driving privileges once the cancelation period is done.
Plate impoundment. Plate impoundment refers to the removal and surrender of a vehicle's license plates. The plate impoundment order applies to all vehicles registered in the offender's name, whether alone or jointly. To drive those vehicle(s) again, the offender must apply for special registration plates—commonly known as "whiskey plates."
Forfeiture. At the time of arrest for a felony DWI, the police officer may seize the offender's vehicle. Generally, a prosecutor has 60 days to send the offender notice of intent to forfeit the vehicle. If the offender doesn't challenge or succeed in challenging the forfeiture, the arresting agency may keep the vehicle for its own use or sell the vehicle and keep the proceeds.
"Criminal penalties" are imposed by a criminal court following a DWI conviction. For a non-felony DWI, the maximum term of imprisonment is one year, which is served in the county jail. Felony DWIs, in contrast, carry the possibility of three to seven years in state prison. A felony offender is also looking at up to $14,000 in fines.
Prison sentences. Felony offenders who receive prison sentences are not eligible for early release until successfully completing chemical dependency treatment. After release from prison, the offender will be on "conditional release" for five years. The commissioner of corrections sets the terms of conditional release, which may include intensive probation. Failing to comply with conditional release terms can land the offender back in prison.
Stayed sentences. Technically, the minimum prison sentence for a felony DWI is three years. But the court has the option to "stay" the prison sentence and instead impose a jail sentence or intensive probation. If the court chooses to do so, the offender must—as part of the sentence—complete chemical dependency treatment and long-term alcohol monitoring. If the offender violates any probation conditions, the court can revoke the stay and send the offender to prison.
The costs of criminal and administrative penalties are considerable, and include:
To regain driving privileges, the offender must pay:
Minnesota DWI law is complex, and the facts of every case are different. If you've been arrested for driving under the influence, talk to an experienced DWI attorney in your area. A qualified DWI lawyer can tell you how the law applies to the facts of your case and help you decide on the best course of action.