I was driving my wife’s/friend’s car and got a DWI DUI, can they make my wife/friend have whiskey plates?
If you were driving someone else’s vehicle and were arrested for a DWI/DUI, the vehicle you are driving may be subject to a plate impoundment. This can make for a very awkward conversation. In these situations, it is possible to get the plate impoundment removed from the innocent owners vehicle.
Assuming that the offender had a valid license at the time they were stopped, the innocent owner can do the following: File a sworn statement with the commissioner of public safety that states they are the registered owner of the vehicle, that they are the current owner and possessor of the vehicle, the date on which the offender obtained the vehicle from the innocent owner, the address of the innocent owner and the offender on the date the offender obtained the vehicle from the innocent owner, that the innocent owner was not a passenger in the vehicle at the time of the violation, that the person knows that the offender may not drive, operate or be in physical control of the vehicle without a valid license.
Once this is complete and processed by the state, the plate impoundment order on the innocent owners vehicle should be lifted.
If the offender did not have a valid license on the date of the offense, the innocent owner can get the plate impoundment off of their vehicle if they made a report to law enforcement prior to the violation happening stating that the vehicle had been taken from them or was being used without their permission.
If your vehicle is required to have whiskey plates due to someone else’s mistake, call the attorneys at Gerald Miller, P.A. today and talk with one of our experienced attorneys.
