According to the Minnesota Department of Health, nearly one in every seven Minnesotans has a DUI conviction. DUIs, or DWIs as Minnesota calls them, are a significant public health hazard, and the state punishes them accordingly, with harsh criminal sentences and license penalties. If you get arrested for a DWI in Minnesota, you will likely immediately lose your license. However, you may retain restricted driving privileges for a short period after the arrest.
License Revocation After a DWI in Minnesota
Minnesota’s drunk driving laws allow arresting officers to immediately impose administrative sanctions on people they arrest for drunk driving, one of them being license revocation. When the police revoke your license, they will issue you a temporary license that is good for seven days.
The exact length of the license suspension depends on the amount of alcohol and the number of previous offenses
- A first-offense DWI with a BAC under 0.16 percent carries a 90-day revocation period. Further offenses carry a one-year, two-year, three-year, four-year, and six-year suspension.
- A first-offense DWI with a BAC over 0.16 percent carries a one-year revocation. Subsequent offenses carry a two-year, three-year, four-year, and six-year revocation period.
- For a DWI causing bodily injury, a first offense carries a two-year suspension. Subsequent offenses carry a four-year and six-year suspension.
- For a DWI causing great injury or death, a first offense carries a six-year suspension, with further offenses carrying an eight-year and 10-year suspension.
Will My License Be Suspended If I Refuse a Breathalyzer Test?
Yes, refusing to take a breathalyzer test can result in a license revocation. Minnesota is an implied consent state, meaning that those who operate a motor vehicle implicitly consent to submit to a breathalyzer, blood, or urine test when law enforcement requests one. Minnesota police can require you to take such a test without a warrant, but they must have probable cause for pulling you over.
The state will impose a one-year suspension the first time you refuse a test and a two-year, three-year, four-year, and six-year suspension for each further refusal.
How Can I Get My License Back After a DWI?
You can appeal a license revocation with the state DPS by filing a petition for judicial review, but you must file it within 60 days of receiving your administrative revocation. If you wait too long, you will waive your right to appeal the revocation. You may also be able to obtain a restricted license that allows you to drive at You can appeal a license revocation with the state DPS, but you must file it within 60 days of receiving your administrative revocation. If you wait too long, you will waive your right to appeal the revocation. You may also be able to obtain a limited license that allows you to drive at certain times or only drive with an ignition interlock device. Unfortunately, there is no way to lift a license revocation in Minnesota until the period expires unless you successfully challenge the revocation in court (judicial review).
Coodin Law Office, LLC: DWI Defense Attorney in Minnesota
A DWI is a serious criminal infraction that can affect your ability to seek housing and employment. If you are currently facing a DWI conviction in Minnesota, a criminal defense attorney from Coodin Law Office, LLC can work to minimize your liability and penalties. Contact us online or call today to arrange a case consultation with a Minnesota DWI defense attorney.