Understanding Minnesota First Offense DWI Laws

There are a few good things we can say about being charged for a DWI for the first time. First, your charges and sentence don’t hinge on a previous DWI conviction. In second, third, and subsequent DWI cases, the defendant’s charges may be upgraded to a higher degree because of their previous DWI conviction. Since we don’t need to worry about any DWIs in the past, your DWI attorney may have more options for getting you the best possible outcome to your case. 

Unless there are aggravating factors, most people charged with a first time DWI won’t have to worry about getting whiskey plates or being forced to use an ignition interlock device before they can drive their car. Minnesota’s levels of DWI charges go from fourth-degree to first-degree DWI. The possible consequences of a fourth-degree DWI conviction, which is what most first time offenders will be facing, include up to 90 days in jail and/or a $1,000 fine. However, Minnesota’s first offense DWI penalties vary greatly depending on the degree of your charge and aggravating factors. This can be very confusing for defendants, so it’s important to work with an attorney to understand Minnesota’s impaired driving laws and penalties.