Minnesota Traffic Ticket Defense Lawyer

Minnesota law prohibits many types of improper driving conduct.  Many such violations of the law are considered to be payable offenses, meaning you need only pay a fine without any further consequences.   However, a number of driving violations can carry serious consequences beyond simply paying fine.  Below is a brief list of driving offenses that commonly bring a person into court:
 

·         DAR (Driving After Revocation):  It is illegal to drive a motor vehicle after one’s driver’s license has been revoked.  Actions causing revocation of one’s driver’s license include, but are not limited to:  DWI/DUI arrest and/or conviction, criminal vehicular operation conviction, driving in excess of 100 mph, and leaving the scene of a motor vehicle accident with injury.

·         DAS (Driving After Suspension):  It is illegal to drive a motor vehicle after one’s driver’s license has been suspended.  Common reasons for license suspension include: unpaid child support, unpaid parking tickets, and being convicted of certain traffic and criminal offenses.

·         No Proof of Insurance/No Insurance:  It is illegal to drive a motor vehicle without carrying motor vehicle insurance on the vehicle.  Furthermore, it is illegal to not carry in the vehicle proof of valid vehicle insurance.

Traffic crimes in Minnesota can include careless and reckless driving, driving after consuming alcohol if the driver is under 21, driving while license or registration has been suspended or revoked, driving under the influence (DUI), driving while impaired (DWI), driving with expired registration, felony death by vehicle, hit and run, manslaughter or negligent homicide involving a motor vehicle, speeding tickets, speeding to avoid arrest, speeding in a construction zone, speeding in a school zone, racing, failure to yield to emergency vehicle, failure to yield to right of way, failure to have liability insurance, failure to stop for a siren, passing a stopped school bus, running a red light, or running a stop sign.
 

Penalties

Many traffic ticket offenses and speeding ticket offenses in Minnesota are considered petty misdemeanors, punishable by a maximum fine of $300.  Jail is not an option for petty misdemeanor offenses.  The offenses listed above are generally treated as misdemeanor offenses for first time offenders.  That is, if convicted, a person is facing a maximum penalty of 90 days in jail, a $1,000 fine, or both.  Subsequent convictions can be treated as gross misdemeanor convictions, which can carry penalties of up to 1 year in jail, a $3,000 fine, or both. Some traffic offenses are very serious and can result in felony charges carrying possible prison terms.

Civil Implications

Beyond jail and fines, a person convicted of the offenses listed above, or similar offenses, can face increased insurance premiums, further loss of driving privileges, and reinstatement fees.