What to Expect from Your Minnesota DWI Case

June 20, 2018  |  Adriel B. Villarreal

That moment when you see the police lights appear behind you and you see them in your review mirror can be scary. Whether you have been stopped by the police or involved in an accident, you will be required to come out of your vehicle and complete a sobriety test. This can involve walking in a straight line and the police office using a pen light to look at your eyes. In addition, you may have to blow into a handheld breath tester. Of course, if you fail these tests and have been driving while intoxicated, you will be arrested.
 
If you have never been in trouble with the law before, being arrested on a DWI charge can be a stressful experience, especially since you do not know what to expect. The legal system can be complex and it is natural to be worried about the process and what will happen to you. We understand this and that is why we have detailed the legal process for you so you know what will happen once you have been arrested for DWI.
 
So, once you have been arrested at the scene for DWI, the police officer will bring you down to the police station. At this point it is normal to go through a few routine procedures. This can include being fingerprinted for your file and you may be asked to give a blood or urine test. This is used to corroborate the tests that you were asked to complete at the time of arrest and they will be used to identify the amount of alcohol in your system. Of course, there are strict procedures that the police must follow to make sure they follow the law.
 
At this point you are going to want to think about getting a DWI attorney in Minnesota. A skilled and experienced attorney will help to guide you through the next process of court appearances and make sure that you have a good case. A DWI attorney Minnesota will represent you at the arraignment, which is the first court appearance. This is to let you know that you have been charged with DWI and all of your rights will be explained to you. You will also be asked by the judge whether you plead guilty or not guilty. Your DWI attorney Minnesota will make sure that you know what is happening and what will be best for your case.
 
The next stage will be consistent of multiple hearings. First, there is an arraignment hearing. This is where your DWI attorney Minnesota will meet with the prosecutor to discuss your case. This may mean that a plea deal can be negotiated, which will mean that your punishment is lowered if you plead guilty to DWI. Again, your attorney will make sure you are aware of what is going on. There is also an implied consent hearing that your DWI attorney Minnesota may use to argue you should be able to keep your driver’s license. Every case will be different and it may not be possible depending on the circumstances. If the police have not followed the procedures for proper evidence collection during the investigation, your attorney will also represent you at a suppression hearing. This is used to argue that evidence should not be used against you at your trial.
 
The next big step will be your trial. If you accept a plea deal earlier on, you will not have to go to trial for DWI and you will go to straight to the sentencing phase. With a good DWI attorney in Minnesota, you can receive advice on whether you are better accepting a plea deal or taking your case to court. This will depend on the facts in your case, as well as the strength of evidence and circumstances.