What is a DWI?

DWI stands for Driving While Intoxicated, which is a very serious crime. If the police pull you over suspecting you are driving while intoxicated, they are allowed to test your BAC, or Blood Alcohol Content level. This is performed with a device known as a breathalizer. If your BAC is found to be .08 or higher, you can be arrested for a DWI.

What are my rights when I am arrested?

The police officers should read you your Miranda Rights, which allows you the right to remain silent as well as the right to an attorney. This is so that you know that you do not have to incriminate yourself, and that you are allowed to have an attorney present during any questioning you are put through. If you are arrested for a DWI, seek the legal counsel of a local DWI specialist lawyer or attorney as quickly as possible.

What are the possible penalties of a DWI?

There are four degrees of a DWI in the state of Minnesota, the fourth being the least serious and the first degree being the worst. A fourth degree DWI is commonly your first offense, you agreed to take the tests, and had a Blood Alcohol Content level of less than 0.20. You usually face a sentence of up to 90 days in jail, a $1000 fine and 90 day suspension of your driver's license.

The third, second, and first degree DWI offenses are punishable by much larger penalties than the fourth degree. You can have your driver's license revoked for over a year, as well as have your license plates and your vehicle taken away from you. You can also face fines upwards of ten thousand dollars. If that were not enough, you may even face jail time of a length between one and five years.