Brought to you by Colorado DUI Drunk Driving Defense

Search for Minnesota DWI Attorneys by County.

Woodbury DWI Lawyers

• Coodin & Overson: A DWI or DUI is, for many people, their first and only encounter with the criminal justice system. The stakes are high in every drunk driving case, and it's not just because of the threat of jail time or harsh fines. In Minnesota, your driver's license will likely be revoked after a DWI arrest, severely limiting your mobility. This can spill over into every aspect of your life, from employment to relationships with friends and family. Under certain circumstances, the State may even take your vehicle. Driver's License Revocation: You only have 30 days from the Notice of Revocation to challenge the revocation of your driver's license. This is called an Implied Consent Hearing and is a separate case from your criminal DWI case. If this is your first DWI, your driver's license is suspended for 90 days if your test result was greater than .08 and lower than .20. If this is your first DWI and the test result was greater than .20 or you had a minor child under 16 years of age in your car, your license will be suspended for 180 days. If you refused the test, your license will be suspended for 1 year. If you have a prior DWI within 10 years, or there are other aggravating factors, your driver's license may be suspended even longer. Penalties: If this is your first DWI and the test result was greater than .08 and lower than .20, it is usually charged as a misdemeanor. This is punishable by up to 90 days in jail and a $1,000.00 fine. A gross misdemeanor would be charged if this is your second offense within 10 years and is punishable by up to 1 year in jail and a $3,000.00 fine. The minimum sentence under the law for this case is 30 days in jail. A gross misdemeanor can also be charged if your test result was greater than .20 or if you refused the test. If this is your third offense within 10 years, although this is still a gross misdemeanor, it has a minimum sentence of at least 90 days in jail. A fourth offense in 10 years is a felony and has a maximum penalty of 7 years and a $14,000.00 fine with a minimum sentence of 180 days. Whether this is your first DWI charge or you have received a prior conviction, it is extremely important to contact an experienced and qualified DWI defense attorney as soon as possible. DWI is an enhanceable offense, meaning the penalties increase exponentially for subsequent arrests. The penalties are harsh enough after a first offense, but if you have a prior DWI or DUI conviction within ten years, you could be facing a mandatory jail sentence. At Coodin & Overson Law Offices, we treat every case as if our clients' lives depend on it. Contact a qualified DUI attorney for a free consultation. We will give you an honest and realistic assessment of your case and help you decide how to proceed.
• Thomas Jakway: My philosophy in criminal and DUI defense is to do everything possible to protect my clients.Ê In DUI this involves fighting the implied consent driver's license revocation.Ê This is extremely important because the continued loss of driving privileges may impact employment and normal everyday life.Ê Beyond these initial effects, if the revocation stays on your driving record, it may make any future DUIs have more serious penalties.Ê This is called enhancement or use as an aggravating factor.Ê Even if the criminal charge of DUI is dismissed, the license revocation may be used against you in the future.ÊÊ Proper preparation and discovery of evidence is important in DUI cases.Ê For example, one of the most useful tools in defending against both the civil and criminal aspects of DUI charges is the audio and videotape taken of your arrest and initial interview by the police themselves. But it is important that you hire an attorney as soon as possible after your arrest to make sure that any potential evidence on those tapes is preserved. Time limits on challenging a notice of revocation or a notice of forfeiture also make it important to hire a lawyer very soon after your arrest in order to begin protecting your rights.Ê You may waive your opportunity to fight your license revocation or your forfeiture if you do not act promptly.Ê Convictions for driving under the influence can cost you future employment and financial opportunities and can also be used to make any future charges against you more serious. These and other facts about DUI make one thing clear: Experienced and aggressive criminal defense is not an option. It's essential.