An impaired-driving offense in another state can have consequences for a Minnesota driver’s license. The criminal case is generally handled in the state where the offense occurred, but Minnesota can separately take action against the driving privileges of a Minnesota-licensed driver.
That means an out-of-state DWI may involve more than one legal process. Understanding how DWI charges can affect driving privileges is particularly important when another state is involved. For Lake Elmo drivers, the first step is identifying what happened in the other state and how Minnesota law applies to that offense.
How Out-of-State DWI Information Reaches Minnesota
States have systems for exchanging information about driver’s license actions and serious traffic offenses. One is the Driver License Compact, an agreement through which participating states share certain information about traffic convictions and license actions involving drivers licensed elsewhere.
Driver information may also be available through the National Driver Register, a federal system containing information about people whose driving privileges have been revoked, suspended, canceled, or denied, as well as certain serious traffic-related convictions.
The important issue for a Minnesota driver is not simply how the information reaches the state. Once Minnesota receives a qualifying record, the Department of Public Safety may be required to take action against the person’s Minnesota driving privileges.
Minnesota Can Revoke a License for an Out-of-State Conviction
Minnesota law provides for driver’s license revocation when the state receives a record of an out-of-state conviction for an offense that, if committed in Minnesota, would be grounds for revocation. Revocation means the person’s legal driving privileges are withdrawn for a specified period and must later be reinstated after applicable requirements are satisfied.
Minnesota does not necessarily impose the same license consequence that the other state imposed. Instead, Minnesota determines whether the out-of-state offense meets the statutory requirements for a Minnesota license revocation and applies the Minnesota provisions that govern the qualifying offense.
The Other State’s Law Can Matter
The details of the out-of-state offense can therefore be important. Different states may define impaired-driving offenses differently, and the specific conviction or license action reported to Minnesota can affect the analysis.
An attorney may review the other state’s statute, the final disposition of the case, and the information reported to Minnesota to determine how the offense fits within Minnesota’s licensing laws. A disposition is the formal result of a case, such as a conviction, dismissal, or other resolution.
Prior DWIs Can Affect Future Minnesota Consequences
An out-of-state impaired-driving incident can also become relevant if a driver later faces another DWI-related license action in Minnesota. Current Minnesota licensing law considers certain qualified prior impaired-driving incidents within the previous 20 years when determining some revocation and ignition-interlock requirements.
A qualified prior impaired-driving incident is a prior event that Minnesota law identifies as relevant when determining consequences for a later impaired-driving incident. Depending on the circumstances, qualifying events can include prior DWI convictions, impaired-driving-related license revocations, and certain impaired-driving incidents from other states.
This history can affect how long driving privileges are revoked and whether participation in an ignition-interlock program is required. An ignition-interlock device is a breath-testing device installed in a vehicle that generally requires an acceptable breath sample before the vehicle can be started and at specified times while driving.
Current Minnesota law bases ignition-interlock periods on factors that include the type of license action and the number of qualified prior impaired-driving incidents. Because the requirements vary, an out-of-state DWI should not be assumed to produce a particular interlock period without reviewing the driver’s history and the specific Minnesota licensing provisions that apply.
Two States May Mean Separate Proceedings
A Minnesota resident arrested for DWI elsewhere may need to address separate legal issues in two jurisdictions. A jurisdiction is the legal authority of a particular state or court to handle a matter.
- The other state generally handles the criminal case arising from the DWI arrest and any license consequences that state is authorized to impose.
- Minnesota controls the person’s Minnesota driver’s license and may impose its own licensing consequences when the statutory requirements are met.
Resolving the criminal case in the other state does not necessarily resolve every Minnesota driver’s license issue. The final charge, conviction, license action, and information reported to Minnesota can all be relevant to what happens next.
Reviewing an Out-of-State DWI in Lake Elmo
When an out-of-state DWI affects a Minnesota driver, a lawyer may need to review information from both states. Relevant questions can include:
- What offense was charged in the other state?
- What was the final disposition of that case?
- What information or license action was reported to Minnesota?
- Does the out-of-state offense qualify for revocation under Minnesota law?
- Does the driver have qualified prior impaired-driving incidents within the applicable period?
- What Minnesota reinstatement or ignition-interlock requirements apply?
- Are there deadlines for challenging a Minnesota license action?
These issues can be particularly important when a driver has prior impaired-driving incidents or receives a Minnesota license notice after the out-of-state case. An attorney can review the applicable records and explain how the other state’s offense relates to Minnesota law.
Coodin Law Office, LLC is a Minnesota law office that represents drivers in Lake Elmo, Woodbury, Washington County, and surrounding communities. If an out-of-state DWI has affected your Minnesota driver’s license, contact our law office to discuss the situation with an attorney.