If you are charged with a crime in which a vehicle was used in the commission of that crime, your vehicle may be subject to forfeiture. The vast majority of forfeiture actions pertain to vehicles that have been used in the commission of high level DWI cases or in drug related cases. The attorneys at Sieben Edmunds are experienced Minnesota Forfeiture Lawyers.
The State can seize your vehicle in a DWI case if they allege that you have committed a second degree DWI or felony DWI. If the State wishes to seize your vehicle due to a DWI they will give you a document entitled “notice of intent to forfeit vehicle pursuant to Minn. Stat. 169A.20”. If you wish to prevent the forfeiture you must file a petition for judicial review of the forfeiture within 30 days of this notice.
If your vehicle was seized for a reason other than a DWI, it was most likely done under Minnesota Statute 609.5314. This statute is generally used by the state when they wish to forfeit your vehicle as a result of a drug or firearm violations. If you wish to prevent the forfeiture of your vehicle as a result of this statute, you must file a petition for judicial review within 60 days of receiving notice of the states intent to forfeit the vehicle.
There are many different legal intricacies involved with vehicle forfeitures in Minnesota. Simply because the State gives notice that they intend to forfeit a vehicle does not mean that they will get to keep the vehicle. It is important to have an experienced criminal defense lawyer examine your case immediately upon receiving notice of the State’s intent to forfeit your vehicle.
The attorneys at Sieben Edmunds have been able to litigate and negotiate the return of countless vehicles to their owners. Whether your vehicle was taken as a result of a DWI, a DUI, a drug case, a fleeing the police charge, or anything else, rest assured that Sieben Edmunds Law, PLLC can help you navigate through an often difficult situation. The attorneys at Sieben Edmunds will use their experience with vehicle forfeitures to help you in your attempt to get your vehicle returned.
Click here to check out our recent blog post on the subject of vehicle forfeitures – https://siebenedmunds.com/dwi-vehicle-forfeitures-2/.