Effective August 1, 2018, Minnesota’s DWI laws have changed significantly with respect to boating, snowmobiling, and operating ATVs.  First, any person convicted of DWI in Minnesota for a DWI offense occurring on or after August 1, 2018, will also lose the privilege to operate a motorboat for 90 days between May 1 and October 31 and one year for test refusal.  The person will simultaneously lose the privilege to operate a snowmobile and ATV for one year.

Second, a person charged with a first-time offense of boating, snowmobiling, or operating an ATV while impaired will trigger revocation of his driver’s license for the same period of time applicable to an incident occurring in a motor vehicle on the roadways.  The laws used to grant an exception for a first-time incident occurring in a motorboat, snowmobile, or ATV.

The new laws mean that people charged with DWI and who operate recreational vehicles need to consider how the case affects their ability to a drive a car, boat, snowmobile, and ATV.