Minnesota DUI Laws & Statistics
Drunk driving puts innocent lives at risk. According to Minnesota drunk driving statistics, one in every five auto accident fatalities in the state involves a drunk driver. Despite Minnesota’s strict laws against driving while impaired, many drivers still get behind the wheel when they’ve had too much to drink. Every year, drunk driving in Minnesota claims the lives of about 75 people and injures more than 2,200.
If you or a loved one were injured in an accident caused by a drunk driver, you are entitled to compensation. The legal team at Sieben Polk P.A. can help. Our Eagan DUI accident lawyers are committed to fighting for justice on behalf of injury victims throughout the state. Call (651) 437-3148 or reach out online to schedule your free consultation today.
Minnesota Impaired Driving Statistics
Unfortunately, DUI statistics in Minnesota show that impaired driving is very common on our state’s roads. These accidents lead to thousands of injuries, and many are fatal.
- About one in seven Minnesotans have at least one DUI on their record. Forty-two percent of these drivers have more than one DUI on their records.
- On average, 68 people are arrested in Minnesota for DUI every day.
- In a recent year, alcohol-related crashes injured 2,228 people in the state.
- DUI death statistics are also grim. In the same year, 74 people were killed in Minnesota because of impaired driving.
- Twenty percent of all fatalities from traffic crashes involve drunk drivers.
Minnesota vs. the National Average
The National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration reports that every day, “about 37 people in the United States die in drunk-driving crashes—that’s one person every 39 minutes.” In one recent year alone, 13,384 people died in drunk-driving crashes across the country.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the number of adults who report driving after drinking too much is 2 percent in Minnesota, higher than the national average of 1.7 percent.
Minnesota DUI Laws
Minnesota has strict laws against driving under the influence of alcohol:
- The legal limit for blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is 0.08, but drivers may be arrested for DUI even if they are below the limit.
- First-time offenders face potential jail time and may lose their license for 30 days to a year.
- Penalties go up for repeat offenders. For example, a second offense within a 10-year period requires a minimum sentence of 30 days in jail. For a third offense, it’s a minimum of 90 days. For a fourth offense, it jumps up to 180 days. For five or more offenses, the sentence will be at least one year in jail.
- Felony violations of DUI laws carry a three-year mandatory minimum prison sentence.
- Minnesota requires first-time offenders caught with a BAC that’s at least twice the legal limit, along with all repeat offenders, to use an ignition interlock system that prevents drivers from starting their vehicles when their BAC is 0.02 or over.
Injured by a Drunk Driver? Sieben Polk P.A. Can Help
If you were injured in an auto accident caused by a drunk driver, you are legally entitled to compensation for your medical bills, pain, suffering, and more. Our Minnesota DUI accident lawyers are ready to help you understand and exercise your rights.
Do not wait to take legal action. The sooner you get started on your case, the better. If you wait too long, evidence can get lost, witnesses may become harder to locate, and you risk missing the deadline for filing your case.
Call (651) 437-3148 or fill out our online contact form to schedule your free consultation with an experienced Minnesota drunk driving accident attorney today. You pay nothing unless we win your case.
Sources
Minnesota Department of Health. “Driving While Impaired by Alcohol.” Accessed 22 Feb. 2024, https://www.health.state.mn.us/communities/alcohol/basics/impaireddriving.html.
Office of Traffic Safety. “Reports and Statistics.” Minnesota Department of Public Safety, Accessed 22 Feb. 2024, https://dps.mn.gov/divisions/ots/reports-statistics/Pages/default.aspx.
NHTSA. “Drunk Driving.” U.S. Department of Transportation, Accessed 22 Feb. 2024, https://www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/drunk-driving.
Office of Traffic Safety. “Impaired Driving Laws.” Minnesota Department of Public Safety, Accessed 22 Feb. 2024, https://dps.mn.gov/divisions/ots/laws/Pages/impaired-driving.aspx.
“Sobering Facts: Alcohol-Impaired Driving – Minnesota.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Accessed 11 March 2024, https://www.cdc.gov/transportationsafety/pdf/impaired-driving-new/cdc-impaired-driving-fact-sheet-minnesota.pdf.
