If you have received a DWI conviction within the past 10 years in Minnesota, a new offense will be taken much more seriously and subject to harsher penalties.
Prior DWI offenses include:
- A previous DWI
- Losses related to a prior DWI conviction, including the loss of driving privileges or revocation of your license as a result of another conviction in the last ten years.
By having a prior DWI conviction, you may obtain what is known as an “enhancing” charge. It is treated much more seriously by the court system. Additionally, in Minnesota, being arrested for a previous DWI that was reduced to a lesser charge – such as careless driving – will still count as an enhancing charge.
Reducing the Impact of a Prior Conviction
There are strategies to mitigate the consequences of a previous DWI conviction on your current charge. Experienced DWI attorneys will often address the prior conviction first. By working to reduce the initial charge, its impact on your current DWI conviction will be lessened.
In some cases, your prior conviction can be blocked entirely. If your attorney is able to demonstrate that the past charge was unconstitutional, it may be dropped. In order to use your prior charge against you, the state must issue a valid waiver. If a defendant had counsel during the time of the prior charge and the waiver is not found, the past charge will be inadmissible.
Other Strategies
Consulting with an experienced criminal defense attorney who specializes in Minnesota DWI cases will give you the best change of successfully fighting the charges against you. An attorney will have access to resources and strategies that will enable them to work at reducing the impact of a prior conviction on your charge. In some cases, an attorney may be able to reduce your charge or even have it dismissed entirely.
If you received a DWI conviction or penalties related to a case that meets the criteria for implied consent, the impact on your current charge can be serious. The best way to avoid the significantly harsher penalties for multiple DWIs is to work at reducing your first conviction.
Learn More About DWI Cases:
- Bail Bonds and DWI Cases
- Breath and Blood Tests
- Commercial DWI Information
- Civil Penalties for DWI Cases
- DWI Court Procedures
- DWI Jail Alternatives
- Getting Arrested for DWI Without a Driver’s License
- DWI Work Permit Information
- Implied Consent Laws
- How Does Minnesota Establish DWI Bail?
- Multiple Arrests for DWI in Minnesota? What Now?
- DWI Cases for Non-Citizens
- What is Reasonable Suspicion?
- DWI Cases and Vehicle Forfeitures
