Legal Question in DUI Law in Minnesota

License suspended

I did not drive my veh while under

the influ of alcohol but was accused

of it because the female I was with

did and she told the officer I drove. I

was 20 ft away and not in the veh

when the officer drove up. He asked

who drove the veh and she said I did.

They took her word and arrested me.

I took the test and was over the limit

but I did not drive while drinking.

Went to court and the judge threw it

out of court. My lic still got pulled

even after the appeal. What is the

law on this matter?


Asked on 10/30/07, 3:47 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys

Thomas C. Gallagher Gallagher Criminal Defense

Re: License suspended

I am not sure of the complete picture of your situation. It seems possible that you may not have been aware that in Minnesota a DWI arrest results in at least two legal actions, one criminal and the other "civil" administratively revoking your drivers license under the "implied consent law." Under the implied consent statute, you have only 30 days from the Notice of Revocation to serve and file in court a challenge to the "civil" license revocation. Most people are unaware of this, unless they hire a good DWI defense lawyer to help them.

To put it another way, to keep your drivers license free of an alcohol-related negative action, you must not only avoid an alcohol-related conviction, but must also file a court action against the "civil" administrative drivers license revocation within 30 days and then win the hearing in court on that case as well.

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Answered on 10/31/07, 4:18 pm


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