Minneapolis Forfeiture Attorneys & Lawyers

vehicle forfeitureMinnesota has no tolerance for individuals who drive while intoxicated. If you have been charged with DWI in Minnesota, there is a list of penalties and sanctions that you may face. These sanctions and penalties include:

• Large penalties including fines and over $700 for the driver’s license reinstatement fee
• Significant jail time
• License plate impoundment
• Driver’s license revocation
• Vehicle forfeiture

Out of all of these, vehicle forfeiture is the only penalty in which you lose your personal property and will not be able to retrieve it. In DWI forfeiture cases and in the case of your criminal DWI charge, you need an experienced forfeiture lawyer by your side to help you challenge the vehicle forfeiture so that you can get your vehicle back. In the meantime, your defense lawyer can aid you in your criminal DWI case to ensure a proper outcome.

Vehicle & Property Forfeiture

The forfeiture of property is nothing new to the legal system. While you may understand some of the basics of Minnesota law regarding DWI, you may not know about vehicle forfeiture and how it can happen to you. If a piece of property is associated with a crime that was committed, in this case DWI, then that piece of property can be forfeited. Even If you are not committed of the underlying crime! When DWI is the crime, the car is the property forfeited. For those who are charged with drug offenses, they may have firearms that are possessed by law enforcement. If their car was involved in the crime, they can encounter vehicle forfeiture as well.

According to Minnesota state law, the arresting officer has the ability to take possession of the vehicle or other property subject to forfeiture at the time of the arrest. You can’t have your vehicle and then wait for the tow truck to come get it. The time of your arrest could possibly be the last time you see your car. Following this vehicle seizure, the prosecutor will then serve a notice of intent to seek forfeiture, although the vehicle has already been seized.

Judicial Determination of Forfeiture

If you have been served with a notice of intent to seek forfeiture, you need to contact a vehicle forfeiture attorney as soon as possible. You have the right to “Judicial Determination” by a district court judge. This judge will determine whether or not your vehicle should have been forfeited. A Minnesota attorney can help you to submit your written request for Judicial Determination.

If you fail to submit this request within 30 days of the seizure of your property, you will not be allowed such a hearing. That means you lose the right to contest the forfeiture and you lose your property forever! That is why it is very important that you seek the Immediate assistance of a qualified attorney. Max A. Keller has gotten many vehicle back for the rightful owners in DWI vehicle forfeiture cases and in drug vehicle forfeiture cases.

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Only a professional and highly skilled DWI defense lawyer can make sure your case is properly addressed and handled efficiently. Our DWI attorneys will thoroughly investigate the circumstances of your arrest, the arresting officer, interview any important eye witnesses, handle all court appearances and documents, and guide you through the criminal justice system to your freedom and peace of mind. If you have questions regarding your DWI charges, potential penalties and risks, or strategies for defending your rights, call our law office at 952-913-1421 or use our online contact form. You have rights – we protect them.

Our Minneapolis DWI defense lawyers represent clients charged in criminal matters throughout the Twin Cities Metro Area and throughout the entire state of Minnesota including such counties as Hennepin County, Ramsey County, Scott County, Dakota County, Washington Counrt, and Sherburne County. We also represent clients throughout Anoka, Andover, Apple Valley, Blaine, Bloomington, Burnsville, Champlin, Chaska, Coon Rapids, Eagan, Edina, Eden Prairie, Lino Lakes, Lakeville, Maple Grove, Maplewood, Minnetonka, Minneapolis, Plymouth, Richfield, Robbinsdale, Roseville, Woodbury and White Bear Lake.