| Driving while intoxicated is a serious offense and is | | | | and other necessary appointments is granted. In |
| punished accordingly in Minnesota. Minnesota's DWI | | | | order to reinstate your driving privileges, it will be |
| laws are among the toughest in the country. | | | | necessary to jump through a number of |
| When a person is prosecuted for a DWI in | | | | administrative hoops. There will be even more |
| Minnesota they actually have two completely | | | | fees required in addition to the fines you may |
| separate court cases opened against them. In the | | | | have already had to pay in the criminal portion of |
| criminal case they can face possible jail time and | | | | the case. The other requirements for reinstating |
| fines of up to 7 years in prison and $14,000 in | | | | your Minnesota driver's license are: |
| fines. Even if you win the criminal case you may | | | | * Passing a written DWI related driving test. You |
| still be found guilty in the civil suit. The civil | | | | will want a copy of the driving manual from the |
| penalties for a DWI include having your driver's | | | | state of Minnesota in order to study for the test. |
| license revoked. If the person is found guilty in the | | | | * Paying the reinstatement fee of $680.00 |
| civil case of a DWI with a blood alcohol level of | | | | * You must also fill out a new application to |
| .08 or higher Minnesota laws allow the | | | | reinstate your license and pay the additional |
| Commissioner of Public Safety to revoke the | | | | $18.50 reapplication fee. |
| person's license for the following time periods: | | | | Those persons who have received multiple DWI |
| * 30 to 90 days for a first offense with a blood | | | | convictions might also be required to take |
| alcohol concentration less than .20; | | | | substance abuse classes or seminars, attend AA |
| * Six months for drivers under 21; | | | | meetings and be able to prove that they are |
| * 180 days if there is a prior incident within the | | | | abstaining from alcohol for at least one year prior |
| last 10 years; | | | | to attempting to have their license reinstated. |
| * 180 days for a first offense with a blood alcohol | | | | Drivers who are under the age of 21 will likely be |
| concentration .20 or higher | | | | required to face additional obstacles and possibly |
| * 360 days if the driver had an incident within the | | | | have to wait longer to apply for the license |
| last 10 years and the BAC of the current DWI is | | | | reinstatement until they turn 21. Commercial |
| at or above .20. | | | | endorsements may not be able to be restored |
| The process of having your driver's license | | | | depending on whether the crime was committed |
| reinstated after receiving a DWI is no easy task. | | | | on the job or not. These measures are necessary |
| In some cases it cannot be done at all. In some | | | | to ensure that dangerous drivers are not put |
| other cases a restricted license that allows a | | | | back on the road and given the opportunity to kill |
| person to drive to and from work and to doctors | | | | or injure innocent people. |