Information on Installing the Ignition Interlock Device in the Land of 10,000 Lakes MN
When it comes to the laws governing DUI and DWI offense charges, the state of Minnesota enforces the same MN Ignition Interlock laws across all its cities and towns including Rochester, Saint Paul, Minneapolis, St. Cloud, and Duluth. Those who are driving with a Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) of 0.08 percent or more will be arrested and charged with Driving Under the Influence (DUI). The penalties for being convicted of this crime include spending time in jail, having to pay monetary fines, submitting to a driver’s license suspension, and even possibly having to use an Ignition Interlock Device (IID) on any car a person drives.
Like a few other states in the country, the state of Minnesota enforces a “zero tolerance” policy when it comes to underage DUI charges. This means that any minor, or someone under the age of 21, driving with a BAC of above 0.0 percent will be charged with DUI or DWI offense. Additionally, Minnesota does not have a designation for commercial vehicle drivers – individuals over the age of 21 generally have to have a BAC of 0.08 percent in order to be charged. This threshold is based on government research that shows that all individuals’ ability to drive is impaired when their BAC reaches 0.08 percent. In order to find the best ways for how to possibly avoid the Ignition Interlock device requirement in MN, a person will need to have their arrest circumstances reviewed as soon as possible to find defense options based upon what happened. This is also a crucial way to help prevent a driver’s license from getting suspended for DUI and DWI charges as well.
What are the Penalties for Driving Under the Influence in Minnesota?
Drivers who are arrested, charged, and convicted of DUI arrests in the state of Minnesota face a number of different penalties as punishment for their crime, which will likely include having to get an Ignition Interlock device installed on any car a convicted person will drive. These penalties are a means of discouraging offenders and others from taking part in drinking and driving habits in the future. First time DUI offenders in the state of Minnesota face penalties including:
- Jail Time Sentence of Up to 90 Days
- Monetary Fines of $1,000
- Driver’s License Suspension of Up to 90 Days
- Ignition Interlock Device Requirement for MN Driver’s License Reinstatement
2nd DUI/DWI offense or repeat offenders are those who have had a previous MN DUI conviction within the last 10 years. These individuals often face harsher penalties than those of first time offenders. Second time DUI offenders in the state of Minnesota face penalties including:
- Jail Sentence of Up to One Year
- Monetary Fines of $3,000
- MN Driver’s License Suspension Period of 180 Days
- DUI Interlock Requirement for License Reinstatement
Third time DUI offenders in the state of Minnesota face penalties including:
- Jail Sentence of Up to One Year
- Monetary Fines of $3,000
- Minimum Driver’s License Suspension of One Year
- Ignition Interlock Requirement for Getting a Driver’s License Back
The state of Minnesota has also outlined the penalties for those offenders on their fourth conviction. Fourth time DUI offenders in the state of Minnesota face penalties including:
- Jail Sentence of Up to Seven Years
- Monetary Fines of $14,000
- Driver’s License Suspension of Up to Four Years
- Interlock Requirement for Minnesota Driver’s License Reinstatement
Implied Consent Law for DUI & DWI Arrests in Minnesota
The state of Minnesota implements an “implied consent” law for DUI and DWI arrests, which outlines that those drivers issued a license in the state automatically consent to chemical testing to prove their blood alcohol content level. The DUI tests can include urine, blood, or a Breathalyzer testing. Drivers do have the right to refuse having this testing conducted, but should they refuse, they face a fine and automatic MN driver’s license suspension. DUI/DWI offenders in this MN who refuse chemical testing, regardless of the number of previous offenses they have, will have a suspended driver’s license for one year on average.
What is the Minnesota Ignition Interlock Device and How Does It Work?
A Breath Alcohol Ignition Interlock Device (BAIID), most commonly called an IID, is a smaller car Breathalyzer that is installed in offender vehicles and potentially any vehicles registered to them. The Minnesota interlock device requires drivers to blow into the device’s mouthpiece before they are able to start the vehicle. If the outcome of the breath sample shows a BAC greater than the programmed threshold, the device prevents the engine from starting. It is important to note the programmed threshold varies – Minnesota generally uses a threshold of 0.02 percent.
The Ignition Interlock device interrupts the signal from the vehicle’s ignition to its starter – this signal remains blocked until the device receives an acceptable breath sample below the programmed threshold, at which time the vehicle starts as it normally would. During random times after the vehicle has been started, the device requires an additional breath sample – this is meant to prevent someone other than the offender/driver from providing the sample in order to start the vehicle. Should the additional sample exceed the threshold, the event is logged and an alarm sounds until the car is turned off.
When Will a Driver Have to Use an Ignition Interlock Device Required in the State of Minnesota?
Courts and judges in the state of Minnesota authorize the installation and use of an Ignition Interlock as a condition of offenders getting their driver’s license back. Some of the 3 most common circumstances where having to get an Ignition Interlock installed can include:
1. First time DUI offenders with a BAC of 0.16 percent or more
2. Repeat DUI offenders with a BAC of 0.16 percent or more
3. DUI offenders whose driver’s licenses were cancelled or privileges denied as “inimical to public safety” – in these cases, the IID is required for between three and six years
Who is Responsible for Paying for All of the Costs of the Ignition Interlock Device in MN?
In almost all cases where the Minnesota court system authorizes the installation and use of an Ignition Interlock, offenders are responsible for paying all costs associated with the device. In general, a convicted DUI/DWI driver should expect to pay a cost of about $100 for the Ignition Interlock installation as well as between $70 and $125 a month to lease the device. It is important to note, however, that these interlock costs are just a rough estimate – some IID providers offer free installation, and the cost to lease the device also varies between providers as well as the state’s geographical areas.
What is the Process of Installing an Ignition Interlock Device in Minnesota?
When a MN DUI or DWI offender has been authorized to use an Ignition Interlock, they often have a window of time in which they need to have the device installed in their vehicle or company car. First, DUI offenders need to get in contact with a state approved IID provider – a full list of these approved providers can be found on the Minnesota Driver & Vehicle Services website, and there are providers throughout the state. Once the interlock device has been leased from a state approved provider, it is also important for offenders to have the device professionally installed.
Once the device has been leased and professionally installed, Minnesota DUI and DWI offenders will also likely have to report that the installation of the Ignition Interlock device has been completed. Depending on the circumstances surrounding the case, it is possible offenders need to report the IID’s installation to their probation officer, court judge, and/or the local DMV office. As a part of this reporting, convicted DUI drivers will need to provide a copy of their lease agreement as well as a copy of the receipt of installation in order to prove the device was installed professionally. After a local MN Ignition Interlock attorney reviews a person’s own circumstances for how the DUI or DWI happened online with us, they can then be able to discuss with a driver any possible ways for how to avoid having to get and install an Ignition Interlock device in:
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