While there are small modifications made each year to our laws here in Minnesota, this year comes with some more impactful changes. The changes themselves might appear small, but their impact on individuals charged with DWI are huge. While this blog specifically addresses the changes made regarding vehicle forfeitures, you can read about other impactful DWI law changes on our...
What is Delta-8 THC? Delta-8 THC has grown rapidly in popularity over the last few years. Perhaps you have seen Delta-8 on the shelves at a local CBD shop and have wondered what it is exactly. Delta-8 is a cannabis compound very similar in chemical structure to its “cousin” Delta-9 THC, which is usually what people think of when they...
Whiskey plates are the scarlet letters of DWIs. Minnesota is one of only two states that require special registration plates (whiskey plates) after a DWI—the other state is Ohio. The Minnesota legislature passed a new law on July 1, 2021, that says you can remove whiskey plates IF you get ignition interlock in your vehicle. Ignition interlock is a machine...
Have you ever wondered if you could pursue public employment after a criminal conviction? The idea of working for the State of Minnesota after a conviction may seem like an unlikely proposition. However, it may not be as unlikely as you think, thanks in part to Minnesota Statute § 364.01. First, it is necessary to define “public employment.” Public employment...
The “freedom of speech” is something Americans value and often turn to as a defense when their statements are questioned. The First Amendment of the United States Constitution states “Congress shall make no law…abridging the freedom of speech…” Many people may interpret this as giving them the right to say whatever they desire, without consequence. The United States Supreme Court,...
What is a Pardon? A pardon allows a person to be relieved of some, or all, of the legal consequences resulting from a criminal conviction. Pardons grant clemency and mercy to those that have demonstrated their subsequent rehabilitation. In Minnesota, fewer than a third of the pardon applications the Board of Pardons considers each year is granted, largely because unanimous...
Disorderly conduct is a misdemeanor offence frequently charged alongside many other offences, such as assault, unlawful assembly, or domestic assault. But what exactly is disorderly conduct? Minnesota Statue 609.72 criminalizes and defines disorderly conduct: “Whoever does any of the following in a public or private place, including on a school bus, knowing or having reasonable grounds to know that it...
In order to obtain a search warrant there are certain procedures the police must follow. This protection is outlined in the Fourth Amendment of both the Minnesota and United States Constitutions. It protects citizens by ensuring police do not have the power to invade someone’s home or property without probable cause. Specifically, a warrant must meet certain requirements for...
Let’s start with theft. Minnesota Statute 609.52 details various types of theft. One of the most common “thefts” is laid out in Subdivision 2(a)(1) which states: whoever “intentionally and without claim of right takes, uses, transfers, conceals, or retains possession of movable property of another without the other’s consent and with intent to deprive the owner permanently of possession of the property” has committed a theft.
Every year the Minnesota Fire Marshal reports dozens of firework injuries from all age groups. While injury is always a risk with using fireworks, many people may not realize they are also risking criminal penalties when they light off fireworks at their annual block party. If you purchase, possess, or use fireworks illegally, you could be subject to up to...