It's a misdemeanor offense in Minnesota for a driver to possess more than 1.4 grams of marijuana in the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle. It's only a petty misdemeanor offense for the same driver to possess 42.5 grams of marijuana or less in the trunk of a motor vehicle. A petty misdemeanor is considered [...]

In Minnesota, a third party can consent to a warrantless police search of your apartment only if the person has the right to mutual use and joint access to the premises. A roomate, for example, would have the authority to consent to a warrantless police search of your apartment.A landlord, on the other hand, does [...]

If you are a minor and are suspected of having taken a controlled substance, you have no legal obligation to submit to drug testing at the request of a police officer. The police are only interested in gathering evidence to use against you in a minor consumption criminal case.

If you have been convicted of a misdemeanor or felony offense in Minnesota, a judge will place you on probation for a certain period of time. If the offense was for a first time DWI, probation is typically for one to two years. Felony probation can last much longer. A judge may impose some executed [...]

A subpoena is a court order to appear and testify in court. You are obligated to remain in court until such time as you are excused by either the prosecutor or the Court. If you fail to obey a validly served subpoena, you may be subject to penalties for contempt of court. A subpoena can [...]

What should you do if you think a warrant may have been issued in Minnesota for your arrest? The first step is to call the warrant office of the sheriff’s department in the county where the offense occurred and make the necessary inquiries. You will need to provide your full name and date of birth [...]

The sentencing range for a misdemeanor hit and run conviction is between 0 and 90 days in jail. A person who has prior convictions is more likely to receive a longer jail sentence than someone with a clean record, especially if the prior convictions are for same or similar traffic offenses. There is also a [...]

If you have been accused of child abuse in Minnesota, the first thing to do is to exercise your right to remain silent. Do not discuss the facts of the child abuse allegations with the police or any other person. Whether you are a suspect in a child abuse investigation or a defendant facing a [...]