Minneapolis SWI Cases Require Lawyer With Special Knowledge

Minnesota is a winter wonderland that draws vacationers to outdoor activities such as skiing and snowmobiling. One favorite snowmobiling trend is to take long treks with frequent stops between bars and restaurants. When not done safely, this practice can result in a snowmobiling DWI for the driver, or worse, a serious injury or fatality.

At the law firm of Jeffrey B. Ring & Associates, I have the resources and knowledge to defend SWI cases in Minnesota. We apply unique strategies based on our considerable experience in drunk driving defense across the state. These strategies attack the validity of the stop, the testing, the arrest and the court procedures.

Laws Governing SWI

Just as when you are driving a motor vehicle, you are considered impaired if you drive a snowmobile with an alcohol level of .08 or above. The same blood, breath or urine tests that determine DWI are used to assess the alcohol level for SWI. Refusing to take such a test is a crime, punishable by the loss of your driver's license and snowmobiling privileges for a year. It is OK to refuse the roadside/trailside tests administered by law enforcement, but once you have been arrested and taken to the police station, the tests are mandatory.

If you drive a snowmobile while intoxicated, you can be charged with a misdemeanor, a gross misdemeanor or a felony.

SWI penalties are similar to DWI penalties and include:

  • If you are convicted of a misdemeanor, you are subject to up to a $1,000 fine and 90 days in jail, and you can lose your snowmobiling privileges for up to a year.
  • A gross misdemeanor is charged if you have previous drunk driving offenses or your blood alcohol content was .16 or more at the time of your arrest or up to two hours later, or you refused testing. A gross misdemeanor may also be charged if a child under the age of 16 was on the snowmobile with you at the time of the offense. Penalties include a fine up to $3,000, a maximum sentence of a year in jail, submission to long-term alcohol monitoring programs, loss of driving privileges, forfeiture of the snowmobile and impoundment of the motor vehicle plate.
  • If you have three or more DWI convictions within the past 10 years or a single prior felony DWI conviction, you may receive up to a seven-year prison sentence and be ordered to pay a fine up to $14,000.

If you are convicted of SWI or you refuse an alcohol test and you have a prior alcohol-related offense, then the violation will be listed on your driving record, and your regular driver's license will be revoked.

A DWI Lawyer Protecting The Rights Of Snowmobile Enthusiasts

Contact my Minneapolis firm for help following your SWI arrest. Your initial consultation is free, and I will stand by you through the conclusion of your case.