As well as criminal charges, you can face civil consequences in the State of Minnesota for driving while intoxicated or impaired (DWI) and driving under the influence (DUI). If you are convicted of a DWI or DUI you could have your driver's license revoked or cancelled, your license plates impounded, be forced to forfeit your vehicle, or gain a mark on your driving record, which could increase your insurance rates.

The civil DWI / DUI consequences:

• Driver's license record and potentially increased automobile insurance rates (i.e., risk insurance)
• Driver's License Revocation or Cancellation
• License plate impoundment
• Vehicle Forfeiture

Marks on your driver's license record. Auto insurance costs.
When you are arrested for drunk driving and convicted of a DUI / DWI, two notations are entered into your driver's license record.

The first notation states the date of the arrest and blood alcohol concentration (BAC), or will state that the driver refused to submit to a lawfully requested chemical test.
The second notation documents that the person's driver's license is revoked or cancelled for a period of time. This notation is entered seven (7) days after the incident.

Automobile insurance companies can use these notations to cancel your current insurance and charge you risk rates (potentially an increase of $2,000.00 or more per year).

Should your automobile insurance companies learn of their existence (or specifically learn that your driver's license has been revoked or cancelled due to an alcohol-related traffic offense), they can immediately cancel any current insurance and require any driver with these alcohol-related notations to be placed on risk insurance, which will often cost $2,500 to $5,000 more per year than what the driver is currently paying. In Minnesota, high risk insurance rates can last up to five (5) years from the date of the incident.

Revoked or cancelled driver's license.
If you submit to a chemical test and your BAC is above the legal limit of 0.08 or if you have refused to take a chemical test after being lawfully arrested for a DWI, you will have your driver's license revoked (or cancelled) for a legally defined period.

Contact Olson Defense if you've been charged with a DWI.