Are you looking for a DWI lawyer in Plymouth, MN?
At Archambault Criminal Defense, we bring over 15 years of criminal law experience to Plymouth DWI cases.
If you have been arrested for a DWI in Plymouth, you are facing two separate cases at once: the criminal charge and a challenge to your driver’s license that carries its own short deadline. At Archambault Criminal Defense, we defend both. Our Plymouth, MN DWI lawyer examines the traffic stop, the chemical testing, and how the arrest was handled on both the criminal and license sides. A DWI can range from a misdemeanor to a felony, and the level depends on factors like prior offenses and the alcohol concentration involved. With more than 15 years of experience in Minnesota criminal law, including time as a prosecutor, we understand how these cases are built and how they are defended. To review your situation, schedule a consultation at no cost.
DWI Lawyer Plymouth, MN
A DWI, or driving while impaired, is Minnesota’s term for what many people call drunk driving or a DUI. The offense is not limited to alcohol; a driver can be charged for impairment by controlled substances or other intoxicating substances, and the law applies to anyone in physical control of a vehicle, even one that is not moving.
The consequences reach well beyond the courtroom. Beyond fines and possible jail, a DWI can mean the loss of your license and steep financial costs, and the Minnesota Department of Public Safety estimates that a DWI costs a driver about $10,000. A DWI attorney in Plymouth can explain which degree applies to a charge and what the state must prove to obtain a conviction.
Types of DWI Cases We Handle in Plymouth
Impaired driving charges come in more forms than most people expect, and the right defense depends on the specifics of the case. We defend the full range of DWI cases in Plymouth, from a first citation to serious felony exposure. The matters below are among those we handle most often.
- First-time and misdemeanor DWI. A first offense is often a misdemeanor, though it still threatens your license, your record, and your insurance rates.
- Repeat and felony DWI. Prior offenses raise the stakes quickly, and enough of them can elevate a charge to a felony.
- Test refusal. Refusing a required chemical test is a separate crime, and these cases often depend on whether the request was lawful.
- Aggravated and high-test DWI. A very high alcohol concentration or another aggravating factor can push a case into a higher degree.
- DWI marijuana. Impairment does not have to involve alcohol, and cannabis cases carry their own proof problems, since there is no numeric limit for marijuana.
- Commercial driver DWI. For a driver with a CDL, even an off-duty arrest can put a livelihood at risk, so we work to protect the license as well as the charge.
- Underage DWI. Drivers under 21 face consequences for any measurable alcohol under the state’s not-a-drop rule.
- License revocation and implied consent. The loss of your license runs on a separate track from the criminal charge, with its own short deadline to respond.
Why Choose Archambault Criminal Defense as my DWI Lawyer in Plymouth, MN?
A Former Prosecutor Who Handled These Cases
DWIs were among the most common files on Mr. Archambault’s desk during his years as a prosecutor, and that experience shows him where these cases are vulnerable. Derek Archambault has practiced criminal law in Minnesota since 2009, is admitted to the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota, and earned his law degree at the University of St. Thomas School of Law. He has also been recognized by the National Trial Lawyers Top 100.
Case Results and Straightforward Fees
Our results include a fourth-degree DWI that the state agreed to dismiss after we raised the lack of evidence, a gross misdemeanor test refusal and DWI in which the state sought 180 days of jail and the client received 30 days of house arrest, and a case where the state declined to file DWI charges after we identified errors in the officer’s investigation. When a DWI arrives alongside other charges, our criminal defense lawyer in Plymouth, MN can handle the full case. We handle DWI cases on a flat fee, so the cost is set before any work begins.
Understanding DWI Cases
Charges, Penalties, and Defense Strategies for DWI Cases
Minnesota sorts impaired driving into degrees, from fourth-degree up to first-degree, and the degree depends on the facts of the arrest. Under Minnesota’s DWI statute, it is a crime to drive with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 or more, though the state can also prove impairment without a test result. Penalties rise with aggravating factors and prior offenses, and the consequences of a conviction can reach your license, your insurance, and your record. When a controlled substance is involved, a DWI can also bring separate drug crime charges. A defense is built on the facts, and depending on the case we may focus on:
- The stop. Whether the officer had a lawful reason to pull the vehicle over.
- The testing. Whether the breath, blood, or urine test was properly administered and reliable.
- The procedure. Whether the officer followed each required step during the arrest.
- The evidence of impairment. Whether the observations and testing actually show impairment, which is often where we fight a DWI charge.
What Are Important Aspects of a DWI Case?
A few features of a DWI set it apart from other charges.
- The traffic stop, and whether the officer had a lawful basis for it
- The breath test machines and other testing, which can be challenged
- The separate license case, tied to license revocation and its short deadline
- Whether refusing a test added a separate charge
What Is The DWI Case Timeline?
While every case differs, most follow a familiar sequence. The license matter often moves faster than the criminal charge, which catches people off guard.
- Arrest and, in many cases, an immediate notice about your license
- Formal charges and a first court appearance
- Pretrial hearings, where we file and argue motions
- Negotiation over a resolution, or a decision to try the case
- Trial or a plea, followed by sentencing
Some clients qualify for outcomes that soften the result, and a plea agreement is sometimes the wiser course. Others are better served by challenging the charge.
What Should You Bring to Your DWI Consultation?
Providing relevant materials early allows us to evaluate the case more thoroughly during the initial consultation. If you have them, please bring:
- Your citation and any charging or court documents
- Any notice regarding your license revocation or ignition interlock
- A written account of the stop, the arrest, and any testing
- A list of your questions and any deadlines you are facing
The consultation is provided at no cost and carries no obligation. You will leave with a clear understanding of the charge and how we would respond to it.
What Are Important Minnesota Legal Resources for DWI Cases?
Understanding how Minnesota treats a DWI can help you prepare for what lies ahead. The public resources below offer reliable information as you consider your options.
- The Driver and Vehicle Services division explains the ignition interlock program and how to regain driving privileges.
- The Minnesota Judicial Branch describes the DWI and treatment courts that some counties offer.
- The Minnesota Revisor of Statutes publishes the full impaired driving code for anyone who wants the exact text.
Reach Out to Archambault Criminal Defense to Schedule a Consultation
A DWI charge moves quickly, and the sooner someone reviews the stop and the testing, the more options tend to remain. Our Plymouth, MN DWI lawyer has worked on both sides of the courtroom, giving us unique insight into how the state builds DWI cases. Your consultation is free, and our firm handles these cases on a flat fee. Contact Archambault Criminal Defense to discuss what happened.
