Minnesota Legal Blog

Many people in Minnesota expect that breath tests will produce an accurate result that shows whether or not a person was driving while intoxicated. However, some of the more popular diet options can actually produce a false result on this type of test, potentially leading to serious penalties for people falsely accused. The keto diet is based on low carbohydrate consumption that pushes the body into ketosis, where the liver breaks down fat for fuel. When this happens, acetone emerges as a byproduct, and some of that is released as isopropyl alcohol.

This does not lead to symptoms of drunk driving, but it can still register on some breathalyzer tests as alcohol content, without distinguishing it from ethanol, the alcohol found in drinks. This is especially true if a person has had one or two drinks but is still below the legal limit; the isopropyl alcohol can lead them to blow a false positive on the breath test. Police breath test machines carried in their cars are more vulnerable to this kind of error. There is little evidence to show that these machines can differentiate between types of alcohol, especially if both are present in some quantity.

A multistate narcotics investigation was concluded in Minnesota on April 4 when two men were taken into custody by federal agents on drug trafficking charges. The investigation began when a vehicle was pulled over in Colorado on April 3 for a minor traffic violation. Troopers from the Colorado State Patrol teamed up with Drug Enforcement Administration agents during the two-day operation.

The series of events began when the CSP trooper who made the traffic stop on the eastbound lanes of Interstate 70 said they noticed that the man behind the wheel was extremely nervous. When pressed about his behavior, the man is alleged to have given the trooper permission to search his vehicle. During the ensuing search, the trooper says that they discovered a sophisticated hidden compartment containing 55 pounds of a substance thought to be methamphetamine. According to media reports, the compartment was located between the trunk and back seat and opened with a switch.

Minnesota residents may be surprised to learn that a recent study showed that at least one immediate family member of 45 percent of adults in the United States have been incarcerated either in jail or in prison. This figure is a lot higher than what was previously estimated. The survey classified immediate family member as either a parent, sibling, spouse, grandparent or child.

This study reveals that family member incarceration is a more common problem than most people, including experts in the field, had believed. Of all the family members locked up, it is more common for a person to have a sibling who is incarcerated or has been incarcerated. The figures were higher for those with little education and for African-Americans. Both groups had figures that were around 60 percent.

A 58-year-old Minnesota man may be regretting his decision to go out for some fast food on the afternoon of Feb. 13. The Clearwater resident was taken into custody by Stearns County police on drunk driving and felony fleeing charges after allegedly attempting to elude officers in a chase that reached speeds of up to 85 mph. The man is said to have told the officers that he fled in order to reach his house so that his pickup truck would not be towed.

The series of events began at about 3:30 p.m. when police received a call from a concerned motorist. The caller told emergency dispatchers that a black pickup truck had run a red light after leaving a fast food restaurant drive-thru and was being driven erratically on State Road 75 in St. Cloud. When officers signaled the pickup truck to pull over, they say the vehicle sped up and even crossed the center line to avoid being stopped.