Football season is back! From Friday night high school games and Saturday college football to NFL Sundays, tailgates, sports bars, and watch parties, fall weekends give fans plenty of reasons to get together. For many adults, those gatherings also include alcohol. Whether you’re having a few drinks before a high school game, tailgating outside a college or NFL stadium, or meeting friends at a bar to watch the game, it’s important to decide how you’re getting home before kickoff.
A little planning can help keep a fun football weekend from ending with a DWI arrest in Minnesota. AAA Bail Bonds is here to help you make your game plan.
DWI Laws Apply on Game Day, Too
When people think about football and drinking, tailgating may be the first thing that comes to mind. But alcohol can be part of football season in plenty of other settings. Parents may meet friends for drinks before or after a Friday night high school game. College students and alumni may spend Saturday tailgating or watching their team at a bar. NFL fans might spend Sunday afternoon at a stadium, restaurant, friend’s house, or neighborhood watch party.
The location may change, but the same rule applies: if you’re going to drink, have a safe ride home planned.
You don’t necessarily have to be “falling-down drunk” to face a DWI charge. Minnesota state law prohibits driving while impaired by alcohol, controlled substances, cannabis and certain other intoxicating substances, and Minnesota’s implied-consent law provides for chemical testing under specified circumstances when an officer has probable cause to believe someone was driving while impaired.
A DWI can also bring consequences beyond the criminal case. Minnesota law provides for driver’s license revocation following DWI convictions, with the length and other consequences depending on circumstances such as prior impaired-driving incidents and alcohol concentration.
For drivers under 21, Minnesota also has an underage drinking-and-driving law. It is a misdemeanor for someone under 21 to drive, operate, or be in physical control of a motor vehicle after consuming alcohol while there is physical evidence of that consumption in their body.
What Happens After a DWI Arrest in Minnesota?
A DWI arrest can quickly turn an enjoyable football weekend into a stressful situation. Depending on the circumstances, a person may face criminal charges, driver’s license consequences, court appearances, fines, and other requirements. More serious or repeat DWI cases can carry substantially greater penalties. For example, Minnesota law classifies first-degree DWI as a felony in specified repeat-offense circumstances.
After an arrest, the individual may also need to navigate the booking and bail process. The exact process and whether bail is required will depend on the circumstances of the case.
That’s where having someone who understands the Minnesota bail bond process can help.
Make Your Transportation Part of the Game Plan
The easiest way to avoid a football-related DWI is to make your transportation decision before the first drink.
Choose a designated driver, arrange a rideshare or taxi, get a ride from a sober friend or family member, use available public transportation, or make plans to stay overnight. If your original ride starts drinking, change the plan rather than taking a chance.
And remember that the person who drove everyone to the game doesn’t automatically have to be the person who drives everyone home.
If Game Day Ends With an Arrest, AAA Bail Bonds Is Available 24/7
Football season should be about cheering on your team, spending time with friends and family, and enjoying everything that comes with fall in Minnesota. Before heading to a high school game, college tailgate, NFL stadium, sports bar, or watch party, make sure getting home safely is part of your plan.
If you or someone you know is arrested for a DWI or any other offense in Minnesota, AAA Bail Bonds has agents located all over the state, available day or night, to help you understand the bail process and take the next steps. Contact us at 612-900-3400 to learn more.
Enjoy the game. Make a plan. And never let getting home safely come down to a last-minute decision.
Don’t Fall For Bail Scams!
A growing and highly deceptive scam is impacting families across Minnesota, with criminals impersonating bail bond agents, law enforcement, and court officials in an effort to steal money from unsuspecting victims. These scams are increasingly sophisticated, often using real jail records and targeting vulnerable individuals, especially the elderly.
AAA Bail Bonds has been doing our part to spread the word and keep you from becoming a victim. Scammers often impersonate law enforcement officers, jail staff, or even bail bond agents, claiming a loved one has been arrested and demanding immediate payment.
Remember this: Law enforcement will never call you and ask you to pay bail over the phone. They will never request payment through Venmo, Cash App, Zelle, gift cards, cryptocurrency, or wire transfers. If someone pressures you to send money immediately or tells you not to contact the jail, it’s almost certainly a scam.
If you receive a suspicious call, hang up and contact the jail or a trusted, licensed bail bond agency directly to verify the situation before sending any money. Learn more about these scams here.
