If you’ve ever noticed a Minnesota license plate that starts with the letter “W,” you may have seen what’s known as a whiskey plate. These special plates are not a novelty—they’re a mark that the vehicle has been impounded due to a DWI (Driving While Intoxicated) offense.
Whiskey plates are one of the most visible and stigmatizing consequences of a DWI conviction in Minnesota. They can affect your privacy, reputation, and daily life long after your case is resolved. At Martine Law, we help drivers understand what whiskey plates mean, when they’re required, and what you can do to avoid or remove them.
What Are Whiskey Plates?
“Whiskey plates” are special license plates issued by the Minnesota Department of Public Safety (DPS) that begin with the letter “W.”
These plates are assigned when a person’s regular license plates are impounded following certain DWI-related offenses. They are required for any vehicle that is subject to plate impoundment, meaning the driver or the vehicle’s owner was involved in a qualifying DWI incident.
Whiskey plates are designed to make it easier for law enforcement to identify vehicles associated with DWI offenses, allowing officers to monitor them for potential future violations.
While they are legal and functional plates, they serve as a public indicator that someone connected to the vehicle has been involved in a DWI case.
When Are Whiskey Plates Required?
Under Minn. Stat. §169A.60, plate impoundment (and therefore whiskey plates) can be ordered in several situations, including:
- Second DWI within 10 years
If you’re arrested for DWI and have a prior conviction or license revocation within the last 10 years, your plates can be impounded. - High blood alcohol concentration (BAC)
A BAC of 0.16% or higher—twice the legal limit—can trigger plate impoundment, even for a first-time offense. - DWI with a minor in the vehicle
Driving under the influence with a child under 16 years old in the car can result in plate impoundment. - Driving without a valid license
If you’re arrested for DWI while your license is canceled, suspended, or revoked, you may be required to use whiskey plates. - Vehicle owner not the driver
Even if you weren’t driving, if your car was involved in one of these situations, your plates can still be impounded, and whiskey plates may be required.
In short, these plates are not just for repeat offenders—they can be imposed after a single incident if the case meets any of these conditions.
How Long Do You Have to Use Whiskey Plates?
Once issued, whiskey plates must be used for a minimum of one year, according to Minnesota law.
That period begins on the date of your license reinstatement—not the date of your arrest or conviction. If it takes several months to regain your driving privileges, the one-year clock starts after that.
During that year:
- All vehicles registered in your name are subject to whiskey plates.
- You must display them both on the front and rear of the vehicle.
- You may not remove or replace them until the DPS authorizes it.
Failing to properly display whiskey plates or attempting to remove them early can result in additional fines and penalties.
Can You Avoid or Remove Whiskey Plates?
Yes—under certain circumstances.
If you were not the driver at the time of the DWI, you can file a petition for administrative review or request a judicial review under Minn. Stat. §169A.60, Subd. 12 to challenge the plate impoundment order.
The court may remove or cancel the requirement if you can prove:
- You were not involved in the offense;
- You did not consent to the vehicle’s use; and
- You could not have reasonably prevented the offense.
Additionally, if your DWI charges are dismissed, reduced, or you win your implied consent hearing, your attorney can request that the whiskey plate order be rescinded.
An experienced DWI lawyer can also help file the necessary paperwork and negotiate with the Department of Public Safety for early reinstatement when possible.
How Whiskey Plates Affect Daily Life
While whiskey plates allow you to keep driving during a DWI-related suspension, they come with social and personal consequences:
- Public stigma: Anyone who sees your plates knows your car is tied to a DWI case.
- Increased police attention: Officers may run your plates more often or monitor you closely.
- Employment and privacy concerns: If you use your car for work, clients or coworkers might notice the plates.
- Emotional impact: Many clients feel embarrassed or judged simply for driving with these plates.
For these reasons, it’s often worth fighting the underlying DWI or appealing the impoundment order to avoid them altogether.
How Martine Law Can Help
At Martine Law, we understand that a DWI arrest doesn’t define you. Mistakes happen—but they shouldn’t follow you for life.
Our attorneys can help by:
- Challenging the legality of your DWI stop or arrest;
- Filing appeals against plate impoundment orders;
- Negotiating reduced charges to avoid whiskey plate requirements;
- Petitioning for removal of whiskey plates when you’re eligible.
We’ll review your entire case to identify errors, inconsistencies, or grounds to challenge the evidence against you.
If your vehicle has been impounded or you’re facing a DWI charge in Minnesota, you don’t have to face it alone.
Contact Martine Law today for a confidential consultation. We’ll explain your options, fight for your license, and work to protect your future.