Updated: Jul 22, 2026
Receiving a DWI in Minnesota can be stressful. In addition to dealing with the legal process, you may need to address the loss of driving privileges, fines, court requirements, an alcohol or drug assessment, and DWI education.
Understanding Minnesota’s impaired-driving laws is an important first step. It is also important to complete any education or treatment requirements assigned by the court, probation department, licensing authority, or assessment provider.
Online Alcohol Class offers a convenient Minnesota DWI education program for people who need a flexible alternative to attending classes at a traditional location.
Under Minnesota law, it is illegal to drive, operate, or be in physical control of a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, a controlled substance, an intoxicating substance, cannabis, THC, or a combination of impairing substances.
Minnesota’s standard legal blood alcohol concentration, or BAC, limit is 0.08. However, a driver can still be arrested for DWI with a BAC below 0.08 when law enforcement has evidence that alcohol or another substance impaired the person’s ability to drive safely.
The alcohol concentration limit for someone operating a commercial motor vehicle is 0.04.
Minnesota law also makes refusing certain legally required chemical tests a crime. Depending on the circumstances, chemical testing may involve breath, blood, or urine.
Impaired is impaired, regardless of the substance involved. A person does not need to be impaired by alcohol to receive a DWI in Minnesota.
Minnesota’s impaired-driving law applies to cannabis flower, cannabis products, THC edibles, lower-potency hemp edibles, hemp-derived consumer products, artificially derived cannabinoids, and tetrahydrocannabinols.
Unlike alcohol, Minnesota does not use a general 0.08-style THC concentration limit to determine whether a driver is impaired. Law enforcement officers may instead rely on driving behavior, physical observations, field sobriety testing, statements, chemical testing, and other evidence of impairment.
A driver who is impaired by cannabis, THC edibles, prescription medication, illegal drugs, or another intoxicating substance can face many of the same consequences as someone arrested for an alcohol-related DWI.
The fact that cannabis or a medication was obtained legally does not necessarily make it legal to drive after using it. When a substance affects judgment, coordination, perception, attention, or reaction time, the safest decision is not to drive.
The consequences of a Minnesota DWI depend on the details of the offense. Important factors may include the driver’s BAC, prior impaired-driving incidents, whether a child was in the vehicle, whether the driver refused testing, and whether anyone was injured.
A first DWI without aggravating factors is generally charged as fourth-degree DWI, which is a misdemeanor. More serious circumstances can raise the charge to third-degree, second-degree, or first-degree DWI.
Possible consequences include jail time, fines and court costs, driver’s license revocation, license plate impoundment, vehicle forfeiture, probation, chemical-use assessment, DWI education, treatment, and ignition interlock requirements.
The total financial impact can extend far beyond the original fine. Towing, vehicle storage, legal representation, increased insurance costs, license reinstatement fees, assessment expenses, education, treatment, and ignition interlock costs can add thousands of dollars to the expense of a DWI.
Penalties become more severe when a driver has previous impaired-driving incidents. A BAC of 0.16 or higher can also create additional consequences, even when the arrest is the person’s first DWI.
An ignition interlock device may allow an eligible Minnesota DWI offender to regain legal driving privileges while helping ensure that the person does not drive after drinking.
The device is installed in the vehicle and connected to its starter. Before starting the vehicle, the driver must provide a breath sample. The vehicle will start only when the sample is below the device’s preset alcohol concentration level. Minnesota ignition interlock devices generally require a reading below 0.02.
Ignition interlock requirements vary based on BAC, the number and timing of previous impaired-driving incidents, and other circumstances. First-time offenders arrested with a BAC of 0.16 or higher may need ignition interlock to regain driving privileges sooner rather than remaining without a license.
Repeat offenders can face longer ignition interlock periods. Minnesota may require several years of participation when a driver has multiple qualifying impaired-driving incidents.
Driving With Care is a nationally recognized DWI and DUI education and treatment program developed by Anjali Nandi, Kenneth W. Wanberg, David S. Timken, and Harvey B. Milkman. It is designed for judicial clients whose alcohol or drug use while driving resulted in legal consequences.
The program uses cognitive behavioral principles to help participants understand the connection between their thoughts, attitudes, beliefs, decisions, and behavior. It also encourages participants to take an active role through exercises, worksheets, personal reflection, and group discussion.
Driving With Care includes three primary program levels.
Level I Education is a six-session, 12-hour DWI education program generally designed for first-time offenders.
The program introduces participants to the risks and consequences of impaired driving. It also helps them examine the decisions, attitudes, and substance-use behaviors that contributed to their offense.
Level II Education is a 12-session, 24-hour program for impaired-driving offenders who have at least minimal indicators of previous alcohol or other drug misuse.
This level offers a more detailed examination of substance use, high-risk situations, personal responsibility, and impaired-driving prevention. It may be appropriate for participants whose assessment or arrest circumstances indicate a need for more education than the Level I program provides.
Level II Therapy is a 21-session, 42-hour program designed for clients with more significant alcohol or drug disruption and related psychosocial concerns.
This longer program provides a more intensive intervention. It may address substance-use patterns, emotional regulation, decision-making, relationships, personal responsibility, and strategies for preventing future impaired-driving behavior.
Driving With Care is typically offered in person by participating providers. When an in-person program is not available or practical, an online DWI class may be an appropriate alternative when online education is permitted.
Work schedules, family obligations, transportation problems, health limitations, and distance from a provider can make classroom attendance difficult. An online course allows students to complete their education without traveling to scheduled weekly meetings.
Online Alcohol Class offers a Minnesota DWI education program that can be accessed from a computer, tablet, or smartphone. The course is available online 24 hours a day, allowing students to work according to their own schedules.
Students can log in and out as needed, and their progress is saved automatically. This makes online DWI education a practical option for busy professionals, parents, rural Minnesota residents, and others who cannot easily attend an in-person class.
The safest approach is to make transportation plans before consuming alcohol, cannabis, THC edibles, or any other potentially impairing substance.
Designate a sober driver, use a rideshare or taxi, take public transportation, or stay at the location until you can travel safely. Speak up when someone who appears impaired is preparing to drive, and help arrange a safe ride home.
Prescription and over-the-counter medications can also affect coordination, concentration, and reaction time. Until you know how a medication affects you, avoid driving or arrange for someone else to drive.
A DWI education program can do more than satisfy a legal requirement. It can help participants examine the choices that resulted in their arrest, recognize high-risk situations, improve decision-making, and create a realistic plan for avoiding another impaired-driving offense.
| Class | Price | |
|---|---|---|
| 12 Hour Level I DWI Education Program | $199.00 | Register Now |
| 24 Hour Level II DWI Education Program | $349.00 | Register Now |