The Star Tribune reports today that the number of Minnesotans convicted of Felony Domestic Assault has risen dramatically in the past 10 years.  The number of convictions has gone from 299 in 2003 to almost 1500 in 2013.  And 315 of the defendants convicted in 2013 went to prison compared to only 44 individuals in 2003.  The average… Read more »

According to WCCO, twelve law enforcement agencies have received grants, financed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, designated for DWI enforcement.  The amounts range between $160,000 and $200,000. The agencies receiving the money under the DWI program are the: Anoka County Sheriff’s Department; Lino Lakes Police Department; Coon Rapids Police Department, Duluth Police Department,… Read more »

The Minnesota Legislature has passed a law, going into effect on August 1, 2015, that will lower the alcohol concentration level at which a first-time DWI driver may be charged with a gross misdemeanor DWI. Under the current law, if a Minnesota driver tests .08%-1.9% alcohol concentration level, the offense is a misdemeanor with a maximum penalty… Read more »

Col. Matt Langer of the Minnesota State Patrol stated in today’s Star Tribune that one in four crashes are caused by texting, eating, entering GPS data or any activity that takes the driver’s eyes off of the road.  “Driving 55 miles per hour translates to 90 feet per second, he said, so if you look… Read more »

On April 21, 2015, the United States Supreme Court in  United States v. Rodriguez, outlawed the use of a dog to sniff the outside of a vehicle stopped for a minor traffic offense but only because the citation for the traffic offense had already been completed.  A subsequent search of the vehicle by the police revealed… Read more »

On May 25, 2012, the Minnesota River Valley Drug Task Force searched the bedroom of Ryan M. Drown and seized several items including two water bongs. A field test of the water indicated the presence of methamphetamine in both bongs. Mr. Drown  was subsequently charged by an amended complaint with second-and third-degree possession of a controlled substance…. Read more »

The Washington Post reports today that, “distractions – especially talking with passengers and using cellphones – play a far greater role in car crashes involving  teen drivers than has been previously understood, according to compelling new evidence cited by safety researchers.” The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety analyzed approximately 1,770 videos of teen drivers that… Read more »

According to the February 3, 2015 StarTribune, police officers arrested 65 people for DWI, before, during and after the Super Bowl.  Maybe some people were disappointed at Seattle’s last-minute loss. Or maybe some fans were just celebrating New England’s victory a bit too much.  In any event, the Minnesota State Patrol reports that law enforcement from… Read more »

Effective January 1, 2015, all non-felony Minnesota DWI offenses are subject to expungement. The Minnesota Expungement Statute waiting periods before the DWI conviction is eligible are as follows: 1.  If the individual was convicted of a misdemeanor DWI, expungement may be granted 2 years after the completion of the sentence; 2.  If the individual was… Read more »

In my previous article, I discussed the 2015 statutory changes to the Minnesota Expungement Law and explained the eligibility requirements to get your criminal records sealed.  In this article, I will discuss the factors the court must consider once a petition for expungement has been filed. Pursuant to Minnesota Expungement Statute § 609A.03, the Court… Read more »