Minneapolis DWI Lawyer | Minnesota DUI Attorney
When You Need a Minnesota DWI Lawyer, Time Matters
A DWI arrest in Minnesota can affect far more than one court date. It can put your driver’s license, your ability to work, your license plates, your vehicle, your insurance, and your future at risk. If you are looking for a Minnesota DWI lawyer or DWI attorney after an arrest in Minneapolis or anywhere else in Minnesota, Lundgren & Johnson is prepared to move quickly and begin protecting your rights.
People usually want clear answers right away: Can I challenge the stop? What happens to my license? Do I need ignition interlock? Can I get my car back? Is there a path to a reduction or dismissal? We help clients answer those questions early and build a defense that addresses both the criminal case and the administrative consequences that come with a DWI arrest.
How a DWI Lawyer Can Help
Minnesota DWI cases are not limited to whether a number came back over .08. A DWI case can involve the legality of the stop, field sobriety testing, the implied consent process, blood, breath, or urine testing, the timing of testing, physical control issues, aggravating factors, and the separate civil process involving your driver’s license.
An experienced DWI attorney can analyze the facts, identify legal and factual weaknesses in the State’s case, challenge the stop and testing when appropriate, address the revocation of your license, and help you take the right steps to protect your ability to drive while the case is pending. Early strategy matters.
Trusted by Clients. Respected by Lawyers.
For more than a decade, Lundgren & Johnson has earned the trust of clients across Minnesota and the confidence of fellow legal professionals. We are proud that people turn to our firm when the deadlines are short, the consequences are immediate, and a serious defense needs to begin right away.
Our firm has also earned recognition from legal organizations and peers, and our DWI/DUI results reflect our willingness to take on difficult cases and pursue favorable outcomes through motions, negotiations, trial, and implied consent litigation.
What Sets Lundgren & Johnson Apart in DWI Defense
Direct Partner Access
When you hire Lundgren & Johnson, you work directly with partners Adam Johnson and David Lundgren. Clients are not handed off and left wondering who is actually handling the case.
More Than 30 Years Combined Experience
Adam Johnson and David Lundgren bring more than 30 years of combined criminal defense experience to DWI cases throughout Minneapolis, the Twin Cities, and Greater Minnesota.
Focused on the Whole Case
A DWI defense is often about more than the criminal charge. We routinely help clients address license revocation, ignition interlock, plate impoundment, and vehicle forfeiture issues alongside the criminal case.
Proven DWI Results
Our firm has achieved dismissals, reductions, implied consent victories, and trial wins in DWI cases ranging from first-time allegations to felony DWI prosecutions.
What a Minnesota DWI Lawyer Can Help You Protect
Your Record
We defend the criminal charge itself and look for opportunities for dismissal, reduction, or another favorable resolution depending on the facts of the case.
Your License
A DWI arrest can trigger an administrative license revocation separate from the criminal case. We help clients understand the deadlines, challenge revocations when appropriate, and pursue ways to get back on the road.
Your Plates and Vehicle
Some DWI cases lead to plate impoundment or even vehicle forfeiture. We evaluate whether those actions can be challenged and whether exceptions or defenses apply.
Your Ability to Keep Working
For many people, the most urgent issue after a DWI is staying mobile enough to keep their job, care for family, and maintain normal life. Early legal advice can make a real difference.
Understanding Minnesota DWI Charges
Minnesota DWI law covers more than one scenario. A case may involve allegations of being under the influence of alcohol, a measured alcohol concentration at or above the legal limit, test refusal, allegations involving drugs or other intoxicating substances, or claims that a person was in “physical control” of a vehicle even when the vehicle was not moving.
Because the legal theories vary, the strongest defense often depends on the precise facts, timing, statements, testing method, and paperwork in the case. A strong DWI defense starts with careful review of what actually happened, not assumptions.
DWI Degrees and Related Minnesota DWI Charges
Minnesota has four degrees of DWI, and the level charged can change the stakes dramatically. Each of the degree pages below goes into more detail.
Fourth Degree DWI Charges
Fourth degree DWI is generally the least serious level of DWI in Minnesota and is usually charged as a misdemeanor. Even so, it can still affect your record, license, insurance, and employment.
Third Degree DWI Charges
Third degree DWI is a gross misdemeanor and commonly involves a test refusal or one aggravating factor. These cases can carry serious mandatory consequences and require immediate attention.
Second Degree DWI Charges
Second degree DWI is also a gross misdemeanor, but it involves more serious circumstances, such as multiple aggravating factors or a refusal combined with an aggravating factor.
First Degree DWI Charges
First degree DWI is a felony offense. These cases often arise when a person has a significant impaired-driving history or a prior felony-level impaired-driving conviction.
Underage DWI / Underage Drinking and Driving
Young drivers can face serious consequences under Minnesota’s zero-tolerance laws, and an underage alcohol-related driving case can have long-term consequences for school, employment, and driving privileges.
DWI and “Physical Control”
A person can be charged with DWI in Minnesota even when the vehicle was not actually being driven. Physical-control cases are highly fact-specific and often misunderstood.
License, Interlock, Plates, and Vehicle Issues After DWI
One of the most important things to understand is that a DWI arrest can trigger consequences outside the criminal prosecution. Waiting for the first court appearance can be a costly mistake if a challenge to your license revocation or another administrative action needs to be filed quickly.
A DWI case may also involve ignition interlock requirements, plate impoundment, and vehicle forfeiture issues. Early legal advice can make a meaningful difference in how those issues are handled.
License Revocation
The implied consent side of a DWI case can affect your ability to drive before the criminal case is resolved. In many cases, there is a short deadline to challenge the revocation in court.
Ignition Interlock
Ignition interlock can become the fastest path back to legal driving, but it also comes with strict rules and consequences if it is mishandled.
Plate Impoundment
Some DWI arrests trigger plate impoundment and special registration requirements. Those issues should be addressed promptly and strategically.
Vehicle Forfeiture
When the State moves to keep a vehicle after a DWI-related event, the deadlines and procedure matter. Owners should not assume that nothing can be done.
Representative DWI Results
Below are a few examples of the kinds of DWI outcomes our firm has achieved. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes, but they do show the seriousness with which we approach these cases.
Charges Dismissed in Alcohol and Drug DWI Case in Scott County
After challenging the legality of the stop, the evidence was suppressed and the case was dismissed.
Dismissal and Implied Consent Victory
In a Ramsey County case, the DWI and refusal charges were resolved favorably and the client’s administrative license revocation was rescinded.
Fourth Degree DWI Reduced with Implied Consent Victory
After resolving the criminal case to careless driving, the firm also secured rescission of the client’s driver’s license revocation.
Client Found Not Guilty After Felony DWI Jury Trial
After a hard-fought felony DWI jury trial, the client was acquitted.
Vehicle Returned to Innocent Owner in DWI Case
When a vehicle owner faced forfeiture because of another person’s alleged DWI conduct, the vehicle was returned.
View More DWI/DUI Results
Explore additional DWI results from Lundgren & Johnson, including dismissals, reductions, implied consent wins, and felony-level defense outcomes.
DWI Resources and Answers
The current page already contains useful DWI content. We recommend keeping that educational focus, but organizing it as a cleaner resource center.
2025 DWI Law Changes in Minnesota
A practical guide to recent Minnesota DWI law changes and the issues that matter most to drivers facing DWI-related consequences.
Seven Essential Steps After a DWI Arrest
A practical checklist for protecting your license, your mobility, and your next steps immediately after a DWI arrest.
DWI Testing in Minnesota
A closer look at testing issues, including blood and urine testing and the right-to-counsel issues that can arise in DWI cases.
Facts About Field Sobriety Tests
A resource for understanding how field sobriety tests work, where they go wrong, and why details matter in DWI defense.
Physical Control in Minnesota DWI Cases
For people accused of DWI when they were not actually driving, this article explains how Minnesota’s physical-control doctrine works.
Frequently Asked Questions About Minnesota DWI Cases
Can a DWI lawyer help even if I tested over the legal limit?
Yes. A DWI case can involve much more than a chemical test result, including the legality of the stop, the testing process, field sobriety testing, timing, statements, and the separate administrative consequences tied to your license.
Why did I lose my license right away after a DWI arrest?
Because the license consequences in a DWI case are often handled through a separate administrative process. That is one reason it is important to speak with a DWI attorney as early as possible.
Can I be charged with DWI if I was not actually driving?
Yes. Minnesota law can allow a DWI charge based on “physical control” even when the vehicle was not moving. These cases are often highly fact-specific.
Can a DWI arrest affect my license plates or my vehicle?
Yes. Depending on the circumstances, a DWI arrest can lead to plate impoundment, ignition interlock requirements, or even vehicle forfeiture. Those issues should be reviewed quickly.
Do you handle felony DWI cases?
Yes. Lundgren & Johnson represents clients facing serious DWI allegations, including gross misdemeanor and felony DWI prosecutions throughout Minnesota.
Do you represent clients outside Minneapolis?
Yes. Our firm represents people charged with DWI throughout Minneapolis, St. Paul, the Twin Cities metro, and Greater Minnesota.
We Defend DWI Cases Throughout Minnesota
Lundgren & Johnson represents people charged with DWI throughout Minneapolis, St. Paul, the Twin Cities metro, and Greater Minnesota. Whether your case is in Hennepin County, Ramsey County, Dakota County, Washington County, Scott County, Carver County, Wright County, Anoka County, or beyond, our firm is prepared to help.
If you are looking for a Minnesota DWI lawyer who is accessible, experienced, and prepared to move quickly, contact our office today.
Charged With DWI in Minnesota? Speak With a DWI Lawyer Today.
The sooner the defense begins, the more opportunities there may be to protect your license, your record, and your future. Whether you are facing a first-time DWI, a gross misdemeanor DWI, a felony DWI, a test refusal allegation, or a license revocation issue, contact Lundgren & Johnson for a no-cost consultation.
Call (612) 767-9643 to speak directly with Adam Johnson or David Lundgren. We are available 24/7.