Q= What is a license revocation?

Q= What is a license revocation?

A= The loss of your driver’s license or privilege to drive for a certain period of time until full reinstatement conditions are met. In a DWI case, one of the first Civil penalties is the up front license revocation of your driver's license or privilege to drive (assuming you do not have a license or you do not have a Minnesota driver's license).

Practically speaking, what this means is that a police officer has filled out some paperwork (a/k/a "Peace Officer's Certificate") alleging that you either refused or failed (i.e., tested 0.08% or more) a chemical test, which results in the automatic or up front license revocation--even before you ever get a Civil hearing (a/k/a "Implied Consent Hearing" via filing an Implied Consent (IC) Petition) or criminal DWI hearing.

*Note, however, that the IC Petition must be filed with the court and served upon the government within thirty (30) days of the date of the Notice and Order of Revocation (i.e., within 30 days of the date that your license revocation initially starts) that either the officer or the State of Minnesota served upon you; otherwise:

you waive all rights and issues that could or

should have been raised—even if you have a winner!

That is, failure to properly serve and file the IC Petition results in the automatic (and likely permanent) designation of an alcohol/controlled substance-related license revocation on your permanent driving record, which can be used against you in the future to "Enhance" (i.e., make more serious) a subsequent DWI charge.

Depending on the county of your DWI, I will also file a motion requesting that your license revocation be “stayed” (i.e., your license be reinstated fully as if there was no DWI) pending the outcome of your criminal case.

Call Me, Matthew L. Thornton, Esq.: (651) 699-2007