Minnesota DWI Arrest: Bail and License Steps | GPS Bail Bonds

Nel-Son, The GPS Bail Bond Viking

1 day ago

2 min read

After a Minnesota DWI Arrest:

The Bail and License Clocks

When someone is arrested for a Minnesota DWI, the family often focuses on getting that person out of jail. That makes sense. But a bond, a court order, and a driver's license notice do different jobs. Check all three before anyone drives or assumes the case is on hold until the next hearing.

1. Find the charge and the next court date

Get the citation or complaint and write down the court file number. Ask the jail whether a release amount is available now or a judge must set it first. Minnesota law requires custody in certain DWI situations, so you can't assume an immediate bond amount.

The complaint tells you the actual allegation. Do not guess the charge from a reported roadside number or a friend's account. Minnesota's DWI law covers several kinds of impaired-driving allegations. A defense attorney can explain the charge and the next hearing. Put the hearing's date, time, and format on a calendar.

2. Read the signed release order

If the person is eligible for release, read the specific option (Conditions and Bail Amount) the court authorized. Some options involve secured bail; others have conditions. Certain DWI cases may require abstinence and electronic alcohol monitoring when available, subject to the rules and exceptions in Minn. Stat. § 169A.44. That law also addresses an ignition interlock exception in specified circumstances.

The details matter. Don't assume every DWI arrest requires a monitor (though most do), or that paying bond automatically removes one. Ask counsel to compare the signed order with the release route the family is considering. Only the court can set or change its conditions. A bail agency can explain the bond's price and paperwork if a bond is authorized.

3. Look for a separate license notice

Jail release does not restore driving privileges. A notice and order of revocation can follow a test failure or refusal under § 169A.52, or a warrant-based test under § 171.177. Read the notice's effective date and driving instructions. Arrange a ride if there is any doubt.

There may be a short deadline to challenge the revocation. Under § 169A.53, subdivision 2, you generally must file a petition concerning a § 169A.52 notice within 60 days of receipt. § 171.177, subdivision 11 has a similar 60-day period for notices under that section. Filing does not automatically pause the revocation. Have a DWI lawyer identify which notice and deadline apply.