Find Minnesota DWI Records

Violation of Minnesota DWI laws account for most of the accidents that occur on the roads of Minnesota. According to the latest statistics, almost 240 deaths are attributed to alcohol related accidents throughout the state every year. More than 33,000 vehicle operators fail to pass the sobriety test that is considered to be a  benchmark for ascertaining the instances of Minnesota DWI.  Drunk driving or DWI offenses are taken seriously as they jeopardize the lives of innocent citizens as well as result in a loss of reputation for the community and state.

The Driver and Vehicle Services Department of Minnesota is directly responsible for maintaining safety on the roads of the State. Any incidence of Minnesota DWI violation is treated harshly with the offender being subjected to severe penalties both criminal and administrative in nature. DWI is also known as driving under influence (DUI) in Minnesota. Operating a vehicle while intoxicated with alcohol or drugs is illegal in the state of Minnesota. The DVS also helps the general public of the state to learn about the various rules and regulations pertaining to traffic safety throughout Minnesota. Details of Minnesota DWI laws can be viewed by accessing  http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/hrd/pubs/dwiover.pdf.

Although the legal limit for the blood alcohol concentration level is set at 0.08 percent in Minnesota, law enforcement agencies are authorized to arrest you if they can prove that your driving skills were impaired even if your BAC level did not exceed the limit of 0.08 percent. DWI penalties are differentiated according to the exact nature of the offense committed. The severity of the penalty also depends on the number of similar offenses found in the past records of the individual convicted of DWI in Minnesota.

Penalties for DWI

DWI offenses are categorized into various degrees for administrative purposes and committing a DWI offense of the first degree is considered to be a felony instead of a simple misdemeanor. This is punishable by imprisoning the offender for a maximum period of seven years and a monetary fine of $14,000.

A person convicted of first degree DWI is normally found to be guilty of committing a similar kind of offense for the fourth time within the last ten years.

The second degree DWI, on the other hand, is considered to be a gross misdemeanor when the offender is convicted for the third time in ten years or for the second time if found to violate the DWI laws of the state along with an instance of refusal to be tested.

A third degree DWI is treated as gross misdemeanor with the offender being penalized with up to a year in jail and a fine amount of $3,000.

Fourth degree DWI amounts to a misdemeanor with the convicted person having to spend three months in jail along with fines of $1,000 if he/she is found to be guilty of violating the DWI laws for the first time in ten years.

The presence of a child passenger in the vehicle when the driver is intoxicated is considered to be aggravating factor for all DWI offenses. A person found to be operating the vehicle with unusually high alcohol content (over 0.20 percent) is treated likewise as well.

DWI Records

All DWI convictions as well as incidents of implied consent violations are retained within the driving records maintained by the Driver and vehicle services of Minnesota. Persons with a history of DWI convictions usually have a no alcohol restriction stated on their license.

DWI records are permanent in nature and cannot be sealed or expunged under any circumstances whatsoever. The State of Minnesota provides DMV records searches to employees and individuals keen on doing a background search. The form must be accompanied by the document of entitlement or a letter of consent from the record holder himself/herself. The request form can be obtained online at http://www.dps.state.mn.us/dvs/PDFForms/Records/Record%20Request05.pdf. You are also free to ask about the entire procedure by calling the department at (651) 296-2940.

The Minnesota Department of Public Safety address is Central Office, Town Square Building, 444 Cedar Street, Saint Paul, Minnesota 55101 and can be contacted in person for additional information on traffic safety and DWI records.