Minnesota has among the strictest DWI/DUI laws in the country. From steep criminal sanctions to administrative penalties, motorists in the state should familiarize themselves with the laws, especially those related to motor vehicle forfeitures due to drunk driving. In some Minnesota DWI cases, the arresting agency has the legal authority to seize and forfeit the vehicle… Read more »
Understanding Domestic Violence Defense: Can Someone Be Prosecuted if The Victim Refuses to Testify at Trial?
Domestic violence charges are taken very seriously in Minnesota. If the police are called in, and the law has to get involved in settling a dispute between family members or domestic partners, then matters are no longer in the hands of the individuals. If arrests are made, then the state might file charges regardless of… Read more »
Changes in Drug Crimes Defense: Survey Shows More Police Want Looser Marijuana Laws
The war on drugs has been going on for decades, and it doesn’t seem to be gaining any ground. Huge swaths of the prison population are there for non-violent drug offenses, and all of these arrests are not reducing the popularity of marijuana. Legalization efforts have shown that the doomsayers claims that legalizing the substance… Read more »
US Supreme Court Rules that Warrantless Breath Tests are Constitutional: Warrantless Blood Tests are Not
In June 2016, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down part of Minnesota’s DWI/DUI law criminalizing refusal to submit to a chemical blood alcohol concentration (BAC) test if suspected of driving while intoxicated. At issue was the disproportionality between the actual DWI penalties and the refusal penalties. In other words, the state’s criminal penalty for refusal… Read more »
Life Sentences for Repeat DWI Offenders: Too Harsh?
In Round Rock, TX, a repeat DWI offender received a life sentence after his most recent DWI arrest and conviction that occurred in July of 2016. Police stopped 54-year-old Bobby Stovall who was weaving dangerously and erratically through several lanes of traffic in his pickup truck before striking another vehicle and injuring the driver. At the time… Read more »
Ways To Challenge A Minnesota DWI: A Guide
Unlike some other types of traffic infractions, you can’t just show up to court and hope the officer doesn’t. The case will proceed even if the officer can’t make it that day. That doesn’t mean it’s impossible to beat a DWI in court, however. If you believe you were improperly charged with a DWI, an… Read more »
Minnesota Criminal Vehicular Operation Laws
The state of Minnesota does not criminalize any occurrence of bodily injury which is caused by typical negligent driving that leads to a vehicle accident. The state does, however, criminalize certain driving behaviors that lead to the bodily harm of others. More specifically, actions are considered criminal offenses when proof of heightened negligence is present…. Read more »
Attorney Arrested in Porn Copyright Infringement Scheme
Paul Hansmeier was arrested last week, along with his college buddy, James Steele. Both men were indicted in a porn fraud scheme that netted them more than $6 million dollars from their victims. Here’s how their little scheme worked – Hansmeier and Steele gobbled up a bunch of copyrights for porn films and videos using… Read more »
Social Host Liability in Minneapolis Explained
What is Social Host Liability? If you frequently entertain guests or plan large gatherings, you might be wondering what is the social host liability in my area? Social host liability generally is a law created either by statute or case-law that imposes liability on business owners or residential hosts that serve alcohol to customers or… Read more »
Top Things You Need to Know about Your Minnesota DWI Case
An arrest for DWI should never be taken lightly. A conviction can result in a license suspension or revocation, a blemished criminal record, job loss, or even family strife. Therefore, the accused should understand his or her case before accepting any plea offer. Below are the top things you need to know about your Minnesota… Read more »
