Washington County Criminal Defense and DWI Lawyers

Washington County courts at a glance

Criminal and DWI cases from Washington County are heard at the Washington County Courthouse, 14949 62nd St N in Stillwater, part of Minnesota’s Tenth Judicial District. People arrested in the county are booked into the Washington County Jail next door at 15015 62nd St N. Martine Law’s Lake Elmo office is at 8530 Eagle Point Blvd.

Call (612) 294-0650. Phones and chat are answered 24/7, with AI covering when no staff is free. Criminal consultations are free.

Where your Washington County case will be heard

• Washington County Courthouse, 14949 62nd St N, Stillwater, MN 55082.
• Washington County Jail, 15015 62nd St N, Stillwater, MN 55082.
• License revocation petitions for offenses in Washington County are filed in Washington County District Court.
• Cities include Woodbury, Cottage Grove, Oakdale, Stillwater, Forest Lake, Hugo, Lake Elmo and Mahtomedi. Part of White Bear Lake is also in Washington County.

Use the official Washington County Court Administration page for division contact numbers and the court website. Follow your hearing notice for the courtroom and whether you must appear in person or remotely.

Treatment-focused options in Washington County

Washington County cases can still be resolved with treatment-focused sentences such as a chemical health assessment, treatment and monitoring. We build that plan before sentencing so the judge has a concrete alternative to jail.

DWI in Washington County: the first 60 days

• A DWI incident can lead to separate criminal proceedings and a civil license revocation by the Department of Public Safety. Their timing and deadlines can differ.
• The officer-issued temporary license under Minn. Stat. 169A.52, subdivision 7 lasts 14 days. The temporary license under section 171.177, subdivision 8, for the search-warrant testing process lasts seven days. Check the actual notice and temporary license for dates; do not assume the period starts on the arrest date.
• To challenge the revocation in court, you must file a petition for judicial review within 60 days of receiving the notice and order of revocation, in the district court of the county where the offense happened (Minn. Stat. 169A.53, subd. 2; 171.177, subd. 11).
• Administrative revocation periods depend on age, test result and driving history. With no qualified prior impaired driving incident in the past 20 years, section 171.178, subdivisions 3 and 4, generally requires at least 90 days for test failure, at least 180 days for a driver under 21 with an alcohol result below 0.16, and at least one year for an alcohol result of 0.16 or more or test refusal. These are administrative periods; a later conviction and other statutory provisions can affect the applicable period. Have an attorney review the actual notice and record.
• Vehicle forfeiture and plate impoundment are separate consequences. Section 169A.63 identifies qualifying offenses and license revocations, including first-degree DWI and specified repeat incidents. Seizure does not mean every owner automatically loses the vehicle: ownership defenses, notice requirements and statutory exceptions can matter.
• Section 169A.60 governs plate impoundment. Triggers include specified repeat incidents, an alcohol concentration of 0.16 or more, and certain incidents involving a child passenger. Review the plate order separately from the license revocation notice.

Learn more on our license revocation page and our Minnesota DWI defense page.

What to bring after a Washington County DWI arrest

Keep the citation or complaint, hearing notice, release conditions, temporary license, revocation notice, plate order and any vehicle-seizure paperwork. Record when and how each notice arrived. Bring vehicle ownership or loan records if someone else owns or finances the car.

A forfeiture challenge has its own procedure. Under section 169A.63, subdivision 8, a judicial demand generally requires filing a civil complaint and serving the prosecuting authority within 60 days after service of the seizure and forfeiture notice. A qualifying owner who was not the driver has a separate written-notice procedure under subdivision 7a. Do not assume a criminal appearance or license petition also challenges the vehicle forfeiture.

Charges we defend in Washington County

• DWI, from a first offense to felony DWI
• Assault and domestic assault
• Orders for protection and no contact orders
• Drug charges
• Theft and shoplifting
• Sex crimes
• Felonies, gross misdemeanors and misdemeanors
• Probation violations
• Expungement (sealing an old record)

Our Washington County office

• Lake Elmo: 8530 Eagle Point Blvd, Suite 131, Lake Elmo, MN 55042

Meetings are by appointment, by phone or by video. Call (612) 294-0650. Phones and chat are answered 24/7, with AI covering when no staff is free. Criminal consultations are free.

Talk to us today

Your first conversation may be with a Director of Client Engagement (non-attorney), who helps with intake and scheduling and does not provide legal advice. An attorney can evaluate your charges, license issues and legal options.

Call (612) 294-0650 or request a case review below. Phones and chat are answered 24/7, with AI covering when no staff is free. Criminal consultations are free.

This page is general information, not legal advice for your situation. Contacting Martine Law does not create an attorney-client relationship. Laws, court locations and procedures can change; check your hearing notice.

Criminal defense services are provided by Martine Law PLLC.