One of the most severe and surprising consequences of a DWI arrest in Minnesota is the potential loss of your vehicle through forfeiture. Vehicle forfeiture means the government seizes and permanently takes ownership of your car—and it can happen even if you are not...
If you have been charged with driving while impaired (DWI) in Minnesota, you are facing a legal system that has grown significantly tougher in recent years. Minnesota uses the term DWI rather than DUI, and while both terms refer to impaired driving, understanding the...
The Minnesota State Bar Association (MSBA) has announced that Samuel J. Edmunds has been named a MSBA Board Certified Criminal Law Specialist. This certification program is administered by the MSBA and approved by the State Board of Legal Certification. To become a...
The current law requires that you file a lengthy petition which includes all your previous addresses, a statement about why you are requesting an expungement, and many more details about the offense or offenses you are trying to expunge. (For the complete list of...
NFL running back Adrian Peterson was recently indicted on child abuse charges in the state of Texas. Much of the surrounding conversation has centered on the morality of corporal punishment and the amount of discretion parents should or should not have in disciplining...
In 2012, the Minnesota Legislature increased the length of license revocations that accompany DWI charges. A few different factors can lead to an increased revocation period. They include: prior offenses, testing .16 or higher, child in the car, and refusal. A first...
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – Lawyers for Byron Smith, the Little Falls man accused of killing two teenagers in his home on Thanksgiving 2012, have now asked for a mistrial twice. On Tuesday, the attorneys argued statements made by the prosecutor before the trial began were...
Even those we would least expect can pick up a DWI charge. Here, a local police chief faces DWI charges after recently undergoing a domestic violence prosecution. Apparently he planned to stay on the job after being convicted of a disorderly conduct, but now the DWI...
Minnesota statutes allow the government to forfeit, or take title to, your vehicle if you commit particular types of DWI offenses. Minnesota Statutes Chapter 169A.63 sets out the types of offenses that qualify for vehicle forfeiture. Contrary to popular belief, your...
Minnesota Statute mandates immediate driver’s license revocation in many DWI cases. When a person submits to and fails a Datamaster breath test, or refuses testing, the license revocation is virtually immediate. (a) Upon certification by the peace officer that...
The Minnesota legislature has enacted laws that call for minimum DWI sentences in certain circumstances. Many prosecutors and judges take the viewpoint that the statutory minimum sentences are mandatory. It is the job of the DWI defense attorney to convince the...
Welcome to the first installment of the Sieben Edmunds DWI Blog Series. This series will provide a basic overview of DWI law in Minnesota and then later we’ll get into some of the more specific and complicated aspects of DWI criminal defense. Minnesota’s DWI...
We just received an order from the Dakota County court dismissing all charges against our client in a First Degree Burglary case. Our client was charged with aiding and abetting an alleged burglary despite the fact that he didn’t participate in the crime in any...
MEDINA, Minn. (WCCO) – A Medina man pulled over for driving a Segway under the influence has beat those charges – again. In fact, the Minnesota Court of Appeals ruled Segways are exempt from DWI laws. Last February, police in Medina pulled over Mark Greenman on his...
Most people enjoy being record holders, but this record is not one to brag about. Danny Bettcher holds the record for the most DWI’s in Minnesota; 27. A little over one month after Bettcher had been released from prison, he went to a bar and drank. Both conditions...
After the initial shock of an arrest wears off, many questions begin running through your head. One question you might have is, “Do I have to tell my work about my arrest?” Generally the answer is no. However, if you have signed an employment contract with your work,...
DUI’s are never a good thing but can be even worse for those under the age of 21. If you are under the age of 21 and are caught driving after drinking, you could be charged with two different types of offenses. If you are .07 or less, you most likely will be charged...
St. Paul Drug Kingpin Jesus Mendoza Sentenced Drug charges can have severe consequences. One case that's been in the news recently is the case of Jesus Mendoza, a drug kingpin from St. Paul, MN. According to a recent Star Tribune article, Mendoza pled guilty last...