Worried about the possibility of a Minnesota DWI? It just means that you’ve got good sensibilities.
After all, a DWI conviction is expensive and can have life-changing consequences – even for a first offense. We understand, though, that avoiding drunk driving is often easier said than done.
Luckily, there are a variety of apps that can help you avoid driving drunk and get you home safely after a night out. Here’s a rundown of some of the best out there.
Best Apps to Avoid a DWI in Minnesota
Knowing how to handle a DWI traffic stop or check point may decrease your risk of being hit with a DWI. Still, the only surefire way to prevent a DWI is to avoid drunk driving altogether.
Planning ahead before you head out to the bars can help you get home safely without putting a damper on your good time.
That said, sometimes nights out are spontaneous. Downloading some of the below apps now can help you avoid driving drunk even when a night out wasn’t planned.
Drink Tracker and Alcodriod
In reality, there’s no way to know how many drinks will put you over the legal limit. Your blood alcohol content (BAC) depends on the strength of the drinks and a number of other factors such as whether you’re drinking on a full stomach, and the rate at which your body metabolizes alcohol.
However, drink tracker estimates your BAC by factoring in your age, body weight, gender, and height. This can at least give you a rough idea of your intoxication level, and how long you need to stop drinking before it’s safe to drive.
The downside? To get an accurate BAC estimate, you must remember to keep logging your drinks as the night goes on.
It’s also for iOS only – Android offers Alcodroid. Similar to Drink Tracker, Alcodroid estimates your BAC by factoring in your variables with how many drinks you’ve consumed.
ENDUI
This app is for both iOS and Android phones. Similar to the above, ENDUI provides an estimate of your BAC. A little more entertaining, ENDUI also has reflex games intended to demonstrate the effects of alcohol on your reaction time.
Breathometer
Breathometer uses an external portable breathalyzer to directly measure your BAC. The app then estimates how long you’ll need to stop drinking before you’re safe to drive.
This app is likely to be more accurate than apps that estimate BAC based on how many drinks you’ve had, giving it a one-up in our opinion.
Best Apps to Get You Home Safely in Minnesota
If you’re having a particularly rowdy night, getting home safely can become a problem even if you don’t intend to drive. Here are some apps that can get you home safely.
Ride-Sharing Apps
Ride sharing apps such as Lyft or Uber are an excellent way to get home safely and easily after a night out. If you haven’t already done so, save your home address and credit card number to one of the apps ahead of time.
This will make the app easier to use when it’s time to head home.
Dryver
Ride sharing apps are a great way to get yourself home, but what about your car? Especially in the city, it may not be possible to leave your car parked where it is overnight.
Luckily, there’s an app for that too.
Enter Dryver. This app allows you to hire a professional driver to drive you home in your own car. To make sure everything goes smoothly, it’s best to select and schedule a driver as early in the evening as possible.
In sum, you know to avoid a DWI definitively, you must avoid driving drunk. Plan ahead before your night out to avoid this situation altogether, and download a few of these apps to help, or as a fail-safe for impromptu nights out on the town.
About the Author:
Christopher Keyser is a Minneapolis-based criminal and DWI defense attorney known for fighting aggressively for his clients and utilizing innovative tactics to get the most positive results. He has been featured in numerous media outlets due to the breadth and depth of his knowledge, and recognized as a Minnesota Super Lawyers Rising Star (2014–2015), a Top 100 Trial Lawyer (2013–2015), and a Top 40 Under 40 Attorney (2013–2015).
