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DWI / DUI


A Minneapolis Minnesota DWI Attorney Who Cares About Your Rights

 

 

Choosing how to handle a drunk driving charge is a critical decision. Far from being minor traffic offenses, DWIs in Minnesota carry severe administrative and criminal penalties, including probation, loss of your driver’s license, vehicle forfeiture, heavy fines, and potential jail time.

 

You should never simply assume the state has an airtight case against you. Even if a breath, blood, or urine test registered above the legal limit, there are numerous ways to challenge the stop, the testing equipment, and the arrest procedures. Law enforcement must adhere to strict legal standards, and any procedural errors can weaken the prosecution’s case.

 

Christopher Keyser focuses exclusively on criminal defense and DWI defense law. Recognized as a Super Lawyers Rising Star and a Top 100 Trial Lawyer, he uses an in-depth knowledge of Minnesota statutes to ensure your constitutional rights are protected at every stage of the process.

 

Understanding Minnesota’s Strict DWI Laws and Implied Consent

 

Minnesota enforces strict, zero-tolerance roadside laws that carry severe immediate penalties. If you are operating a standard motor vehicle, a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08% or higher constitutes driving under the influence. However, these limits are even lower for commercial drivers (.04%) and underage drivers under 21, who can face charges for any measurable amount of alcohol in their system.

 

Under Minnesota’s “implied consent” law, simply driving a vehicle means you automatically agree to submit to chemical breath, blood, or urine testing if an officer suspects impairment. If your test results exceed the legal limit, your driving privileges are automatically suspended. Refusing to take the test triggers an automatic one-year license revocation and can lead to gross misdemeanor charges, bringing up to a year in jail and $3,000 in fines.

 

Minnesota DWI Charges and Penalties. Minnesota has four different DWI charges, in addition to a few related charges. In Minnesota, you can be charged with a Fourth Degree DWI, a Third Degree DWI, a Second Degree DWI, or a First Degree DWI—also known as a felony DWI. You may also be charged with Careless Driving, Criminal Vehicular Operation, Criminal Vehicular Homicide, or DWI Test Refusal.

 



Civil Penalties for DWIs in Minnesota. Most, if not all DWI charges carry civil penalties in Minnesota. Civil penalties are tacked on to criminal penalties, and may include revocation of your license and license plates. You may also face vehicle forfeiture.

 

Civil penalties can make it extremely difficult for you if you use your vehicle to get to work—not to mention maintain your social life and personal obligations. You may also be required to pay a great deal of money to recover your license, plates, and vehicle.

 

Other Consequences for DWI Conviction. Many individuals convicted of DWIs find that the highest expense ultimately is not their court fees. Instead, their increased insurance rate costs far more over time. Most insurance companies will increase your annual rate by $1,000 to $3,000.

 

Having a criminal record will also severely damage your ability to get a job, find housing, or apply for college.


Challenge Your Charge With an Experienced Minneapolis DWI Attorney

 

Though the charges and penalties for a DWI can be intimidating, you should not assume a DWI is an open-and-shut case for the prosecution. A DWI can be challenged, and penalties can be reduced or even dropped. Our law office has of 18 years of combined experience crafting effective DWI defense strategies, and we can make sure that you have the best possible chance of a successful outcome.

 

To plan the defense strategy that best fits your situation, you owe it to yourself to consult with a knowledgeable Minnesota DUI attorney. How does it work?




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Free Initial Consultation


The first step is to get in touch with us. During the initial consultation, we will listen to your side of the story. We can advise you on the good (and bad) aspects of your case, in addition to educating you on the legal specifics surrounding your unique situation.


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Reviewing the Evidence


If you decide to use our services, the next step is to review the evidence against you. This is a team effort between you and our firm. We collect copies of any documentation the state has. Any drafts of DWI defense motions will be copied and available to you.


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Executing Your DWI Defense Strategy


After determining the best course of action, the next step is to execute your defense strategy. If the evidence against you is strong, it may be in your best interest to work with the prosecutors to come up with a plea for a reduced sentence that helps you to avoid jail time and lessen probation conditions. If the evidence against you is weak, it may be better to aggressively push your case to trial.


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Crafting a DWI Defense Strategy


A good defense strategy is tailor fit to each client’s specific situation. Should we go to trial, or attempt to negotiate a plea bargain? This will depend on your past criminal record, the evidence against you, and the circumstances of your arrest. It may benefit your case to hire a private investigator, obtain expert witnesses, or consult other professionals. We will thoroughly explore all potential options for your defense strategy.


Challenge Your Charge With an Experienced Minneapolis DWI Attorney

 

Though the penalties for a drunk driving conviction can be intimidating, an arrest is not an automatic conviction. Our law office relies on over 18 years of combined experience crafting strategic defense options to help you protect your driver’s license, your commercial driving privileges, and your clean record.

 

Regardless of your unique circumstances, Christopher Keyser will be there to advise you and fight for your rights every step of the way. For a free, completely confidential DWI case evaluation, contact us today by filling out our simple online case evaluation form, emailing chris@keyserdefense.com, or calling our office directly:

 



If You Need a Top Minnesota Criminal Lawyer Call 312-338-5007

MINNEAPOLIS & ST. PAUL CRIMINAL DEFENSE & DWI LAW FIRM SERVING

 

With offices in Minneapolis and Stillwater, Minnesota, Keyser Law, P.A. handles cases throughout the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area including:

 

HENNEPIN COUNTY

 

Bloomington, Brooklyn Center, Brooklyn Park, Champlin, Chanhassen, Corcoran, Crystal, Dayton, Deephaven, Eden Prairie, Edina, Excelsior, Golden Valley, Greenfield, Greenwood, Hanover, Hopkins, Independence, Long Lake, Loretto, Maple Grove, Maple Plain, Medicine Lake, Medina, Minneapolis, Minnetonka, Minnetrista, Mound, New Hope, Orono, Osseo, Plymouth, Richfield, Robbinsdale, Rockford, Rogers, Shorewood, Spring Park, St. Anthony Village, St. Bonifacius, St. Louis Park, Wayzata, Woodland and Hassan Township.

WASHINGTON COUNTY

 

Afton, Bayport, Birchwood Village, Cottage Grove, Dellwood, Forest Lake, Grant, Hugo, Lake Elmo, Lake St. Croix Beach, Lakeland Shores, Lakeland, Landfall, Mahtomedi, Marine on St. Croix, Newport, Oak Park Heights, Oakdale, Pine Springs, Scandia, St. Marys Point, St. Paul Park, Stillwater, Willernie, White Bear Lake, Woodbury, Baytown, Denmark, Grey Cloud Island, May, West Lakeland, Garen and Point Douglas.

RAMSEY COUNTY

Arden Hills, Blaine, Falcon Heights, Gem Lake, Lauderdale, Little Canada, Maplewood, Mounds View, New Brighton, North Oaks, North St. Paul, Roseville, Shoreview, St. Anthony, St. Paul, Spring Lake Park, Vadnais Heights, White Bear Lake and White Bear Lake Township.

ANOKA COUNTY

Andover, Anoka, Bethel, Blaine, Centerville, Circle Pines, Columbia Heights, Columbus, Coon Rapids, East Bethel, Fridley, Ham Lake, Hilltop, Lexington, Lino Lakes, Nowthen, Oak Grove, Ramsey and St. Francis.

DAKOTA COUNTY

Apple Valley, Burnsville, Coates, Eagan, Farmington, Hampton, Hastings, Inver Grove Heights, Lakeville, Lilydale, Mendota, Mendota Heights, Miesville, New Trier, Northfield, Randolph, Rosemount, South St. Paul, Sunfish Lake, Vermillion and West St. Paul.

MINNEAPOLIS

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