Minneapolis and St. Paul DWI Defense Attorney Thomas A. Wilson

  • Minneapolis and St. Paul DWI defense attorney Thomas A. Wilson represents clients in all types of DWI cases ranging in severity level from misdemeanors to felonies.
  • Minneapolis and St. Paul DWI defense attorney Thomas A. Wilson represents clients in the areas of:
  • Minneapolis and greater Hennepin County;
  • St. Paul and greater Ramsey County;
  • Anoka County;
  • Dakota County;
  • Sherburne County;
  • Washington County;
  • Wright County;
  • Carver County;
  • Greater Minnesota.
  • Minneapolis and St. Paul DWI defense attorney Thomas A. Wilson has defended DWI clients charged with Test Refusal, Fourth-Degree DWI, Third-Degree DWI, Fourth-Degree DWI ("physical control")  in Hennepin County, Ramsey County, Dakota County, and more.
  • Minneapolis and St. Paul DWI defense attorney Thomas A. Wilson provides a free and confidential case consultation for DWI cases.  Feel free to call Mr. Wilson today at 763-222-6915.

I Am Here to Help.  

Call Today for a Free, No-obligation DWI Case Consultation: (763) 222-6915

Overview of Minnesota DWI/DUI Law

Elements of a DWI Crime in Minnesota

DWI/DUI (Minn. Stat. § 169A.20, subd. 1)

It is a crime to drive, operate, or be in physical control of a motor vehicle: 1)    Under the influence of alcohol; 2)    Under the influence of a controlled substance; 3)    Knowingly under the influence of a hazardous substance; 4)    Any combination of 1, 2, and/or 3; 5)    Blood Alcohol Level is 0.08 or more at the time or within two hours of driving, operating, or being in physical control of a motor vehicle; 6)    Under the influence of alcohol with a  blood alcohol level of 0.04 or more if driving, operating, or in physical control of a commercial motor vehicle;  or 7)    Body contains any amount of a controlled substance listed in schedule I or II, or its metabolite (other than marijuana or tetrahydrocannabinols).

Chemical Test Refusal (Minn. Stat. § 169A.20, subd. 2)

It is a crime for any person to refuse to submit to a chemical test of the person’s blood, breath, or urine under Minn. Stat. § 169A.51 (chemical tests for intoxication) or Minn. Stat. § 169A.52 (test refusal or failure; revocation of license).

First-Time DWI Offense Criminal Penalties and Administrative Sanctions Overview

Criminal Penalties

Blood Alcohol Concentration (B.A.C.)
  1. Under 0.20
  2. Under 0.20 and child in vehicle
  3. 0.20 or over
  4. 0.20 or over and child in vehicle
  5. Test Refusal

Criminal Penalties

  1. Misdemeanor: Up to 90 days in jail and/or $1,000.00 fine.
  2. Gross Misdemeanor: Up to 1 year in jail and/or $3,000.00 fine.
  3. Gross Misdemeanor: Up to 1 year in jail and/or $3,000.00 fine.
  4. Gross Misdemeanor: Up to 1 year in jail and/or $3,000.00 fine; Vehicle forfeited (administrative).
  5. Gross Misdemeanor: UP to 1 year in jail and/or $3,000.00 fine.

Administrative Sanctions

Blood Alcohol Concentration (B.A.C.)
  1. Under 0.20
  2. Under 0.16 and child in vehicle
  3. 0.16 or over and/or child in vehicle
  4. Test Refusal
Driver's License Administrative Sanctions
  1. 90 days of no driving privileges; driver has choice of: (a) 15 days of no driving privileges and a limited license for remaining 90-day period; OR (b) full driving privileges for 90-day period with use of ignition interlock
  2. 90 days of no driving privileges; driver has choice of: (a) 15 days of no driving privileges and a limited license for remaining 90-day period; OR (b) full driving privileges for 90-day period with use of ignition interlock
  3. 1 year of no driving privileges OR 1 year of an ignition interlock restricted driver's license; license plates impounded; vehicle forfeited
  4. 1 year of no driving privileges; driver has choice of: (a)  15 days of no driving privileges and a limited license for remainder of the year; OR (b) full driving privileges for teh year with use of ignition interlock

Recent Wilson Law Firm DWI Case Victories

Wilson Law Firm DWI Client Testimonials

Free DWI Case Consultation 

  • Minneapolis and St. Paul DWI Defense attorney Thomas A. Wilson provides a free 30 minute case consultation by phone or at his office by appointment.
  • If you have been arrested, charged, or are under investigation for a DWI, DUI or BWI,  please feel free to contact Mr. Wilson to discuss your situation.
  • During the free consultation Mr. Wilson can analyze the issues in your case, answer questions, and discuss possible options going forward.  Your consultation with Mr. Wilson is absolutely free and what you discuss is kept strictly confidential.

Phone: 763-222-6915

Email: contact@wilsoncriminaldefense.com

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Additional Minnesota DWI/DUI & BWI  Information and Resources 

Wilson Law Firm DWI Blog articles

Minnesota DWI Basics: The Minnesota Implied Consent Law & Test Refusal Crime

The Minnesota Implied Consent Law The Minnesota Implied Consent Law requires that anyone who “drives, operates, or is in physical control” of a motor vehicle in Minnesota consents to be  subject to Minnesota DWI Law and the Implied Consent Law.  The Implied Consent Law further requires a person to submit to a chemical test of their blood, breath, or urine …

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Minnesota DWI Basics: Standard Field Sobriety Tests (SFST)

Standard Field Sobriety Tests (SFST) are typically given when an police officer has reasonable articulable suspicion that a driver has violated Minnesota DWI law.  The failure of one or more of  the SFSTs can be  used by an police officer to establish probable cause to make a valid DWI arrest. So what exactly are the Standard Field Sobriety Tests?  The …

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DWI Traffic Stops in Minnesota: Legal vs. Illegal Police Conduct

DWI arrests in Minnesota frequently begin with a  traffic stop made by a police officer or state patrol trooper.  After the stop there is generally a sequence of actions taken by the officer if they suspect the driver has violated Minnesota DWI law. There are of course, legal and illegal (constitutional and unconstitutional) ways of both initiating a traffic stop and …

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Minnesota DWI/DUI, BWI, and Related Statutes

Minnesota Implied Consent Statute and DWI Administrative Sanctions Statutes

Minnesota DWI Driver's License Statutes

I Am Here to Help.  

Call Today for a Free, No-obligation DWI Case Consultation: (763) 222-6915