Leaving the Scene of an Accident – Hit and Run

Accidents happen. They don’t necessarily result in criminal charges – after all, they are called accidents. But sometimes, an accident can lead to criminal charges for failing to properly obey the traffic laws or if a driver leaves the scene of an accident. In Minnesota, a Leaving the Scene of an Accident criminal charge –

Reckless Driving Attorney

A Minnesota Reckless Driving offense is one of the most serious non-DWI traffic charges. It is a misdemeanor to start with, but could become a gross misdemeanor if there is a certain amount of harm caused by the reckless driving conduct. With such serious criminal consequences in play, it is critical to retain a Reckless

Fine Increase for Passing a School Bus Ticket

In August of this year, an overlooked law change occurred that will meaningfully impact Minnesotans. Most traffic citations include a fine in the $100-300 range. Real money, but it’s at least reasonable. In August, this change for those charged with passing a school bus violation ticket. Prior to August, the ticket could be paid without

Underage Drinking and Driving

Facing DWI charges is a difficult time for every person. This is especially true for persons under the age of 21. An underage drinking and driving offense raises unique issues and potentially more significant collateral consequences. To begin with, any person, regardless of age, is subject to the .08 threshold of the DWI law in

Texting and Driving Crimes

Mr. Gempeler was just published by the Bench & Bar Magazine – a magazine distributed statewide to attorneys and judges – on the range of texting and driving crimes and the various consequences that come with them. The article also explores the personal injury ramifications associated with texting and driving, which was written by Lindsay

Texting and Driving Ticket – Minnesota

In Minnesota, a texting and driving ticket is a petty misdemeanor offense, which means the total fine is less than $300 and it includes no jail. Still, the collateral consequences – such as increased insurance premiums – can have a lasting impact for drivers. And, with how the law is written, a person may have

Plate Impoundment – Spouse’s Vehicle

A DWI in Minnesota brings many collateral consequences, such as a lengthy loss of license, potential vehicle forfeiture, and plate impoundment. If your vehicle is subject to a plate impoundment, that means you will be driving with ‘whiskey plates’ for the duration of your revocation period. While not terribly expensive, it is still a collateral

School Bus Stop Arm Violation in Minnesota

A traffic ticket that carries a heavy penalty is the passing of or failing to stop for a school bus in violation of Minn. Stat. 169.444, which is formerly known as the school bus stop arm violation. Due to the presence of children surrounding a school, it is easy to understand why the law exists and

You Can Avoid Having a Speeding Violation End Up On Your Record

As has been previously discussed in this blog, keeping your driving record clean is extremely important so as to avoid collateral consequences such as an increase in insurance premiums and risking losing your license. There are a number of ways you may be able to accomplish this. Depending on your driving record, you may be eligible

Loss of License From Traffic Violations

If you’ve been cited for a traffic offense, you should reconsider paying the fine right away and instead try to negotiate a more positive resolution. You may be able to even obtain a resolution that ultimately gets the citation dismissed. Such an outcome is important for a couple reasons. First, if you are never convicted