|—|—|
| Fourth-degree | First offense, no aggravating factors | 90 days jail, $1,000 fine |
| Third-degree | One aggravating factor (prior DWI, BAC over .16, child in car, test refusal) | 1 year jail, $3,000 fine |
| Second-degree | Two aggravating factors | 1 year jail, $3,000 fine, vehicle forfeiture possible |
| First-degree (felony) | Fourth DWI in 10 years, or prior felony DWI | 7 years prison, $14,000 fine |
Even a first offense can mean whiskey plates, ignition interlock, and insurance costs that triple. What you do in the first two weeks decides most of that.
How We Fight DWI Charges in Minneapolis
Every DWI case has pressure points. We look for all of them:
- The stop itself. The officer needs a specific, articulable reason to pull you over. No valid reason — the whole case can fall.
- Field sobriety tests. These are graded subjectively, on the side of a road, often at night. We’ve seen them administered wrong more times than right.
- The breath test. The machine has to be calibrated, maintained, and operated correctly, and your observation period has to be clean. Records get subpoenaed; errors get found.
- Your implied-consent rights. In Minnesota you have the right to consult an attorney before testing [VERIFY: limited right to counsel under Friedman v. Commissioner]. If police didn’t honor it, that matters.
- The paperwork. Probable-cause statements written hours after the fact contain mistakes. We read every line.
Why Minneapolis Drivers Choose Martine Law
- We only defend people — criminal defense and family law is all we do. [ATTORNEY-BIO-LINK]
- Flat, honest pricing and payment plans, so you know the cost before you commit.
- We answer. A DWI doesn’t happen during business hours. Neither do we.
- Hennepin County experience. We know the prosecutors, the judges’ tendencies, and which arguments actually move cases here. [VERIFY: attorney-specific Hennepin County experience claims]
Minneapolis DWI FAQs
Should I talk to the police about my DWI?
No. Be polite, provide your license and insurance, and say you want a lawyer. Nothing you explain on the roadside has ever talked anyone out of a DWI — it only fills in the report used against you.
Will I lose my license after a Minneapolis DWI arrest?
Minnesota revokes your license administratively — separate from the criminal case — unless you challenge it in time. Act within days, not weeks. We file the challenge and, where possible, get you legal driving through a limited license or ignition interlock.
Is a first-offense DWI in Minnesota really worth fighting?
Yes. A conviction stays on your record for life and counts as an aggravating factor for 10 years. The difference between a DWI conviction and a reduction to careless driving follows you for a decade.
What does a Minneapolis DWI lawyer cost?
Less than the long tail of a conviction — increased insurance alone typically costs thousands over three years. We quote a flat fee at your free case review, with payment plans available.
Can a DWI be dismissed in Hennepin County?
Cases get dismissed or reduced when the stop, the testing, or the procedure breaks down under scrutiny. No honest lawyer promises a dismissal; we promise every pressure point gets tested.
What if I refused the breath test?
Test refusal is its own crime in Minnesota [VERIFY: refusal statute status post-Birchfield], and it complicates the license side. Refusal cases have their own defenses — call us the same day if you can.
Talk to a Minneapolis DWI Attorney Today — Free
The state started building its case the moment the lights came on behind you. Start building yours now. Free, confidential case review — call Martine Law or tell us about your case online. Se habla Español.