Whiskey plates serve to alert everyone to the fact that the driver has one or more DWI convictions. These restricted plates are called whiskey plates because they begin with the letter “W” and in the NATO/military phonetic alphabet, the letter “W” stands for “whiskey.” After the initial “W”, these silver plates with blue lettering have another letter and four (4) numbers. Other reasons deemed appropriate by the court.Driving after having one’s driver’s license canceled as inimical to public safety (IPS).Any DWI or test refusal when a child under the age of 16 is in the vehicle at the time of the alleged offense.
Any DWI or test refusal within ten (10) years of a prior DWI conviction or driver’s license revocation.Refusal to submit to a breath sobriety test.Any DWI in which the driver has a blood alcohol content (BAC) of.Situations that can trigger impoundment include: What Can Trigger License Plate Impoundment? These unique “whiskey plates” are a type of restricted license plates found only on vehicles that are subject to license plate impoundment and that are owned or co-owned by a DWI offender who legally retained his/her driving privileges during the impoundment period. Following plate impoundment, the officer(s) will also issue a permit for temporary vehicle licensing-whiskey plates-so the vehicle is operable while under the impound order. Called impoundment, this process occurs if a motorist is caught driving a motor vehicle after revocation, cancellation, or suspension of his/her driver’s license and/or driving privileges.ĭuring an arrest, the arresting officer(s), acting on behalf of the Commissioner of the Department of Public Safety (DPS), may directly issue an impound order. Under Minnesota Statute section 168.041, the state may seize, retain, and destroy a motorist’s license plates for repeated DWIs, sobriety test refusals, or other DWI-related offenses.