Minnesota Plate Impoundment Attorneys & Lawyers
Except for individuals who are charged with a DWI offense for the first time in the past ten years with a low level test, all other DWI offenders are subject to license plate impoundment. If a License Plate Impoundment Order is issued in your case, the order requires that you turn in the license plates for the vehicle you were driving, as well as the license plates from all vehicles that are jointly or solely registered in your name, and display special serialized license plates (a.k.a. “whiskey plates”).
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Here is the list of DWI offenses that are subject to license plate impoundment:
- Individuals who have a DWI conviction or license revocation within ten years of the current offense.
- Presence of enhancing factors like blood alcohol concentration above .20 percent and/or the presence of a child in the vehicle at the time of offense.
- Driving while serving a license suspension period.
- Driving in violation of an alcohol restricted driver’s license.
What are Whiskey Plates (WX Plates)?
To enable the drivers of a designated offense to legally drive, the State of Minnesota issues special plates termed as Whiskey plates after seizing the original plates. These whiskey plates are special plates with letters WX, WY, WV, XW etc. in blue color printed over silver colored plates. If your vehicle bears a whiskey plate then it is a sign that the vehicle was involved in a DWI case. This will enable the policemen to pull over your vehicle very frequently as you will be under higher scrutiny. To avoid the imposition of whiskey plates and save your original plates call your DWI attorney as soon as you are charged with a DWI offense.
Contact the Caplan & Tamburino Law Firm, P.A. by calling 612-208-8DWI (8394) to schedule a free consultation with an experienced criminal defense lawyer.
Right to Challenge the License Plate Cancellation
Unlike vehicle forfeiture, all the vehicle plates owned by the offender are subject to cancellation. This includes vehicles that are solely or jointly titled in the offender’s name, regardless of who actually drives that vehicle.
All the cancelled license plates must to be returned to the concerned authorities within a period of time designated by law enforcement, often seven days. If you have a valid license, then you will be issued whiskey plates. If the offender does not possess a valid license, a licensed driver must accompany the offender to the Department of Public Safety to obtain the whiskey plates. However, the offender has a limited time period to challendge the imposition of the whiskey plates. Failure to act quickly will preclude the ability to challenge the whiskey plates on all vehicles.
Professional Lawyers at the Caplan & Tamburino Law Firm will let you know all of your rights and will take the requisite steps to fight the imposition of whiskey plates.
Whiskey Plate Lawyers & Defense Attorneys Minneapolis
The offender has to display the whiskey plates for one year even if the vehicle is disposed of or sold. The offender must also obtain permission from the Department of Public Safety before transferring the title or selling a vehicle which is subject to a plate impoundment order. Given the importance of original license plates, it is essential to approach a professional DWI lawyer who acts fast on your behalf.
Our Minnesota DWI Defense Lawyers represent clients throughout Minnesota and Wisconin, including the Twin Cities areas of Minneapolis and St. Paul, Anoka, Andover, Apple Valley, Blaine, Bloomington, Brooklyn Park, Burnsville, Coon Rapids, Chanhassen, Chaska, Columbia Heights, Eagan, Eden Prairie, Edina, Elk River, Hudson, Lakeville, Lino Lakes, Maple Grove, Maplewood, Minnetonka, Moundsview, Plymouth, Richfield, Roseville, White Bear Lake and Woodbury. We also represent clients in other parts of the state including Duluth, Rochester, Mankato, St. Cloud, Brainerd, Moorhead and beyond.
Serving statewide in Minnesota and Wisconsin, including Hennepin County, Ramsey County, Dakota County, Washington County, Anoka County, Wright County, Sherburne County, Scott County and Carver County.
Contact the Caplan & Tamburino Law Firm, P.A. by calling 612-208-8DWI (8394) to schedule a free consultation with an experienced Minneapolis, St Paul, Twin Cities, Minnesota, DWI Lawyer.