Work Vehicle Exception
Arrested in a Company Vehicle?
Prevent plate impoundment and protect your job.
Need to Drive for Work?
How to drive a company car without an Interlock device.
Will My Employer Find Out? The "Whiskey Plate" Threat.
If you have been charged with a DWI in Minnesota, particularly if it involves an aggravating factor (like a BAC over 0.16) or a prior offense, the State typically issues a License Plate Impoundment Order. This means you must surrender your regular license plates and replace them with special registration plates—commonly known as “Whiskey Plates.”
For many of our clients, the biggest fear isn’t the court date—it’s the work vehicle.
If you drive a company truck, fleet car, or sales vehicle, the thought of putting Whiskey Plates on your employer’s property is a nightmare. It signals your private legal trouble to your boss, your coworkers, and your clients.
The Law is on Your Side. The "Innocent Owner" Defense
Fortunately, Minnesota law provides a specific protection for this exact scenario. Under Minnesota Statutes, plate impoundment applies to vehicles owned or leased by the offender.
If you were driving a vehicle owned by your employer, or if you are required to drive a company vehicle for your job, that vehicle should be exempt from Whiskey Plates.
However, the police do not always get this right. We frequently see officers issue impoundment orders for every vehicle associated with a driver, regardless of ownership. If you simply accept the order, you risk your job unnecessarily.
The “Work Vehicle” Exception
If you drive a company-owned vehicle for your job (e.g., sales, service, or delivery), you may be terrified of telling your employer you need an interlock device installed in their fleet car.
You may not have to.
Minnesota law allows for a “Company Vehicle Exception.” If you participate in the Interlock Program for your personal car, you may be allowed to drive your employer’s vehicle without an interlock device installed, provided you have your employer’s written consent.
We can help you navigate this sensitive conversation and handle the necessary paperwork to protect your employment status.
Protecting Your Job and Your Privacy
We intervene immediately to ensure the State recognizes the “Company Vehicle Exception.”
Stoppping the Impoundment: We can contact the impounding authority to prove you are not the registered owner of the work vehicle, preventing the physical removal of the plates.
Consent Orders: If the State has already issued the order, we can file a request for judicial review to rescind the impoundment order on vehicles you do not own.
Ignition Interlock Option: Even if the exception applies, you still need a valid license to drive the company car. We help you enroll in the Ignition Interlock Program, which allows you to drive any vehicle legally—even for work—provided you are compliant.
Do Not Let a DWI Cost You Your Career
If you are worried about driving a company car after a DWI arrest, you need to act fast before the paperwork is processed. We can often handle this quietly and effectively, minimizing the impact on your employment.
