DWI Lawyer in Hennepin County, MN
Get a DWI Lawyer in Hennepin County
Jay Carey has defended over 700 DWI cases in Hennepin County over the past 20 years. He is highly experienced with the criminal justice system in Hennepin County, including extensive interaction with its judges, prosecutors, and probation agency.
Approximately 5,800 DWI incidents occur each year in Hennepin County. That’s about 20% of the total DWI incidents occurring each year in Minnesota. However, Hennepin County is home to about 22% of the population of Minnesota. Thus, the total number of DWIs in Hennepin County is roughly proportionate to its large population.
The most common types of DWI offenses in Hennepin County are misdemeanors and gross misdemeanor offenses. Fourth Degree DWI is a misdemeanor offense punishable by up to 90 days in jail and a $1,000 fine. Gross misdemeanor offenses include charges of Third Degree Test Refusal, Third Degree DWI, Second Degree Test Refusal, and Second Degree DWI, which are punishable by up to a year in jail and $3,000 fine. Gross misdemeanor offenses can trigger mandatory minimum sentences to serve, ignition interlock, whiskey license plates, and even vehicle forfeiture. It’s important to speak with an attorney to learn which criminal and civil penalties you are facing in a gross misdemeanor DWI offense.
Misdemeanor and gross misdemeanor DWI cases in Hennepin County are prosecuted almost exclusively by city attorneys retained by each of the 45 cities in Hennepin County. Conversely, felony DWI cases are prosecuted exclusively by the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office, which handles all felony prosecutions in the county. Felony DWI is punishable by up to 7 years in prison and a $14,000 fine. A felony DWI offense arises when a person commits a fourth DWI incident within a 10-year period. Felony DWI charges also arise if a person previously has been convicted of a felony level DWI offense and commits a subsequent DWI — no matter how many years later.
The Hennepin County Attorney’s Office also prosecutes a small subset of misdemeanor and gross misdemeanor DWI incidents that occur outside of the cities and townships within the county. These DWI matters occur within the jurisdictions of Fort Snelling, the Three Rivers Park District, and the Minnesota DNR.
Misdemeanor and gross misdemeanor DWI cases occurring within the county’s cities are prosecuted by attorneys retained by each city. These prosecutions are venued in three court locations within the county’s jurisdiction, i.e., the Fourth Judicial District. The venues are divided roughly by geographic region. Cases occurring in the west and southwest areas of the county are venued at the Ridgedale Regional Service Center in Minnetonka. Cases occurring within the north and northwest areas of the county are venued at the Brookdale Regional Service Center in Brooklyn Center. Cases occurring within the south and southeast areas of the county are venued in downtown Minneapolis at the Public Safety Facility and Government Center. Cases occurring in Minneapolis and St. Anthony Village are venued in downtown Minneapolis at the Public Safety Facility and Government Center.
The 45 cities in Hennepin County with retained prosecutors for misdemeanor and gross misdemeanor cases of DWI and other crimes are as follows:
- Bloomington
- Brooklyn Center
- Brooklyn Park
- Champlin
- Chanhassen
- Corcoran
- Crystal
- Dayton
- Deephaven
- Eden Prairie
- Edina
- Excelsior
- Golden Valley
- Greenfield
- Greenwood
- Hanover
- Hopkins
- Independence
- Long Lake
- Loretto
- Maple Grove
- Maple Plain
- Medicine Lake
- Medina
- Minneapolis
- Minnetonka
- Minnetonka Beach
- Minnetrista
- Mound
- New Hope
- Orono
- Osseo
- Plymouth
- Richfield
- Robbinsdale
- Rockford
- Rogers
- St. Anthony Village
- St. Bonifacius
- St. Louis Park
- Shorewood
- Spring Park
- Tonka Bay
- Wayzata
- Woodland
- Fort Snelling
- Minnesota DNR
- Lake Minnetonka Conservation District
- Metropolitan Airports Commission
- Three Rivers Park District
There are notably differences among the various city attorneys who prosecute misdemeanors and gross misdemeanor DWI offenses in Hennepin County. Some of these prosecutors work on behalf of multiple cities within the county. By defending more than 700 DWI cases in the county, Jay Carey has worked diligently to develop a professional rapport with prosecutors and judges. He has learned their tendencies in court, which can help Jay obtain a better outcome for his clients.
If you have been charged with DWI in Hennepin County, please call Jay at 612-548-2988 (or contact him through the site) for a free consultation. Don’t wait until it’s too late to get sound advice about your case.
