Whiskey Plates Minnesota: Rules, Duration, and How to Remove Them Early

What Are Whiskey Plates?

Whiskey plates are special Minnesota registration plates with a white background and a sequential number beginning with the letter "W." They're formally called special registration plates, but everyone — including law enforcement — calls them whiskey plates. They signal to officers that the vehicle's owner has a DWI-related plate impoundment order.

Under Minnesota Statute § 169A.60, the plates are required when a DWI arrest involves specific aggravating circumstances. For a first-offense DWI, they are not automatic — they only apply in certain situations.

What Triggers Plate Impoundment for a First Offense

Two scenarios trigger mandatory plate impoundment on a first-offense DWI:

1. BAC of 0.16 or higher — the administrative plate impoundment order is issued at the time of arrest
2. Child passenger under age 16 — present in the vehicle at the time of the offense (driver must be at least 36 months older than the child)

A standard first offense with a BAC between 0.08 and 0.15 and no other aggravating factors does not trigger plate impoundment. A first-offense chemical test refusal, standing alone, does not trigger plate impoundment either.

What Happens to Your Plates at the Arrest

The arresting officer physically seizes and destroys your license plates on the spot. You receive a temporary vehicle permit:

• 14 days if the vehicle is registered in your name
• 45 days if the vehicle is registered to someone else (spouse, parent, fleet owner)

After the temporary permit expires, you cannot legally drive the vehicle with standard plates. You must either purchase whiskey plates from a deputy registrar or have the vehicle towed to private property.

How Long You Must Display Them

Whiskey plates must remain on the vehicle for a minimum of one year or until your driver's license is fully reinstated — whichever is longer. They apply not just to the vehicle you were driving at the time of arrest, but to every vehicle currently registered in your name or subsequently registered to you during the impoundment period.

The $100 Early Removal Option

Minnesota law allows you to bypass whiskey plates entirely or remove them early by meeting two conditions:

1. Enroll in the ignition interlock program — you must be validly enrolled with a certified device installed
2. Pay a $100 early reinstatement fee per vehicle — this applies to each vehicle registered in your name

Once both conditions are met, you can replace the whiskey plates with standard registration plates. This option exists specifically to incentivize interlock enrollment over plate display.

Practical Realities of Driving on Whiskey Plates

Whiskey plates are visible to every other driver, every police officer, and every parking lot security camera. For many people, the social stigma is the most difficult part of the impoundment order. Some practical considerations:

Traffic stops: Officers can and do use whiskey plates as a reason to conduct closer observation. While the plates alone don't constitute probable cause for a stop, they do increase the likelihood that an officer will note your driving behavior more carefully.

Insurance: Your auto insurer will be aware of the plate impoundment through the DVS record. Expect increased premiums independent of the whiskey plates themselves — the underlying DWI conviction is what drives the rate increase.

Other drivers of your vehicles: If your spouse, partner, or family member drives a vehicle registered in your name, they will be driving on whiskey plates too. This applies even though they have no DWI on their own record. The impoundment follows the vehicle registration, not the driver.

What If the Vehicle Isn't Yours?

If you were driving a vehicle registered to someone else (a spouse, parent, or employer), the vehicle owner has 45 days on the temporary permit. The owner can submit a written request to DVS demonstrating that they were unaware the driver's license was revoked, and that they will not allow the offender to drive the vehicle in the future. If approved, the owner can retain standard plates.

Steps After Receiving a Plate Impoundment Order

1. Retrieve the vehicle from the impound lot as quickly as possible — daily storage fees add up fast
2. Purchase whiskey plates from a deputy registrar (or arrange private tow if the vehicle will be parked)
3. Decide whether to enroll in the ignition interlock program — if yes, you can bypass whiskey plates with the $100 fee per vehicle
4. Mark your calendar for the one-year minimum display period

The Minnesota First-Offense DUI Guide includes a detailed plate impoundment timeline tracker and walks through the interlock bypass process step by step, including the specific DVS forms required.

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