| Minnesota laws for DUI are among the toughest | | | | Under Minnesota DUI law, the criminal court |
| in the country, made even tougher by the recent | | | | punishment for driving under the influence could |
| lowering of the legal limit from .10 to .08. | | | | involve a jail sentence of up to 90 days plus fines, |
| Similar to drunk-driving laws that exist in other | | | | mandatory alcohol education courses that includes |
| states, a Minnesota DUI arrest involves two | | | | the effects of DUI and mandatory education on |
| separate cases: one is a criminal court case | | | | the consequences of DUI on the driver's license. |
| wherein the appropriate drunk driving punishment | | | | Minnesota DUI law considers a first-offense |
| is meted and the second is a case sought by the | | | | conviction a gross misdemeanor caused by |
| Minnesota Department of Public safety, which | | | | aggravating factors. The penalties and punishment |
| affects the drunk driver's Minnesota driving | | | | for first-offense DUI could include a jail term of |
| privileges. | | | | up to one year plus a fine of up to $3,000. |
| Under Minnesota DUI law, the driver arrested for | | | | Second-offense conviction for DUI is harsher |
| violating the law has the right to speak to or | | | | especially if it occurs within ten years of the |
| consult a DUI defense attorney prior to taking the | | | | previous DUI offense and could include a jail term |
| necessary test for determining level of alcohol. If | | | | of up to one year plus a fine of up to $3,000. |
| the driver does not know of any DUI defense | | | | The punishment is significantly higher for |
| layer, the police will furnish the driver with a | | | | third-offense DUI conviction within 10 years. The |
| directory of DUI lawyers to choose from. | | | | car is impounded immediately and a significantly |
| However if the driver refuses to undergo the | | | | higher jail term is sought. An alcohol abuse |
| chemical test after being arrested for drunk | | | | evaluation is necessarily obtained and the driver |
| driving, it constitutes a separate and different | | | | will have to prove that he is not an alcoholic. |
| criminal offense. | | | | |