Penalty Chart

The Law.

 If your alcohol-concentration level is 0.08 or higher (0.04 in a commercial vehicle) and you are in control of a moving or parked vehicle, you can be arrested for DUI. If a law enforcement officer can prove that alcohol caused you to commit driving errors, you can be convicted of DUI at lower alcohol concentrations.

Penalties and Sanctions.

 Each year, over 30,000 people are arrested in Minnesota for DUI. Each person may experience unique criminal penalties in addition to administrative license sanctions, depending on the arrest situation and previous driving violations and criminal record. The following information serves as a guideline for penalties and sanctions you may experience if you are arrested for impaired driving. There are additional laws, penalties, and sanctions for individuals under 21. These guidelines are based on offenses that occur within 10 years. All alcohol-related revocations of a driver's license require a $680 reinstatement fee. DUI knowledge test, a driver's license application with fees, and a chemical assessment.

 

DUI First Offense

 

DUI Second Offense

 

DUI Third Offense

 

Felony DUI.

 If you are arrested for your fourth DUI in a 10-year period, you have previously been convicted of a felony DUI, or have a prior felony conviction for an impaired driving related criminal vehicular homicide/injury, you may be charged with a felony. A fourth offense may result in a loss of license for four years and until rehabilitation and other reinstatement requirements are met. The criminal penalties for felony DUI are up to seven years in prison with a 5-year conditional release to follow and a $14, 000 fine.

 

Criminal Vehicular Operations

 

Loss of Driving Privileges for Commercial Drivers.

 Drivers with a class A, B, or C commercial driver's license (CDL) and/or who operate commercial motor vehicles are also subject to disqualification of commercial driving privileges. A CDL holder or a person required to have a CDL will be disqualified for one year if he or she refuses to be tested for alcohol or drugs or is convicted of DUI while operating any type of motor vehicle. If the driver is transporting hazardous materials at the time, a three-year disqualification is imposed. A subsequent incident will result in lifetime disqualification of commercial driving privileges.

Drivers that have a class A, B, or C license and arrested for a DUI in their passenger vheicle are unable to receive a class A, B, or C work permit for the entire revocation period.