DWI Convictions and Insurance Rates - A Negative Relationship

We all know that when we are given a speeding ticket or get into a car accident our insurance rates will go up. A DWI or DUI conviction works in the same way except has a larger effect on the rates a person is charged. An individual that is convicted of a DWI or DUI can expect their pocketbook to take a hard hit from insurance rates, on top of the fines and penalties imposed by the state.
Before an individual that has been convicted of a DWI can get his or her license back, the driver is required to show an SR-22 form. This is not a type of insurance as much as proof that a driver has the various types of insurance required by the state. The SR-22 is filed by an insurance company and states that the driver in question has auto liability insurance and it is in effect. This procedure is frequently required when insurance is provided to an individual who was in an accident or was convicted of a traffic offense and was unable to show financial responsibility at the time of the offense.
The majority of auto insurance carriers will be able to provide an SR-22 form and may be able to insure your vehicle(s) as well. Unfortunately, the minute a person requests an SR-22 form, he or she is considered a high-risk driver by the insurance companies. Considering that this form is required after a traffic offense conviction, this might not be completely off the mark.
Once an individual is a high-risk driver, he or she can expect the insurance premiums paid to possibly double, maybe even triple. If a person had previous discounts for a safe driving record and no claims on their insurance, the increase in insurance premiums can be even worse.
An individual who has been convicted of a DWI or DUI (the term depends on the state) may find it quite beneficial to shop around for the best rates possible. There are a variety of insurance companies that specialize in providing high-risk policies. Another option is to insure one vehicle on a high-risk policy and put all other vehicles and drivers on a different policy.
It is important to remember that not all insurance companies will provide insurance after a DWI conviction and they will not provide the SR-22 form. When a driver is convicted of a DWI, if the insurance company does not provide SR-22 forms, there is a good chance that the company will cancel or not renew the convicted driver's current policy. A cancellation on a person's claims history will drive up the price of future premiums.

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MINNESOTA DWI Forms Packet

PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION

Research shows that one of the biggest deterrents for an officer to arrest a person for DWI (Driving While Intoxicated) is the quantity of forms required to complete a DWI arrest. Often an officer does not have the DWI enforcement experience and may be concerned about completing the paperwork correctly or may view the arrest as burdensome due to the amount of paperwork required.

Prior to the Minnesota DWI Forms Packet Program, forms for a DWI arrest were not standardized. Much of the arrest information was provided in a narrative format, so the quality varied depending on the officer. Court personnel found it difficult to locate the necessary information on the forms since the forms were not uniform. In addition, the information provided on the forms may not have been sufficient to bring cases to trial.

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

The overall goal of the DWI Forms Packet program is to increase DWI arrests and increase the ability of the courts to successfully try DWI cases by creating a standardized, user-friendly, stream-lined DWI forms process.

The program objectives are to:

• Standardize DWI forms to make it easier to find information and make the quality of reporting more consistent;
• Reduce the number of redundant forms and redundant information contained in forms;
• Ensure that all information required to try the case can be collected on the forms included in the forms packet;
• Ensure that the forms packet meets the needs of all of the stakeholders in a DWI arrest.

STRATEGIES AND ACTIVITIES

After numerous complaints about the process, the Minnesota State Patrol established a working group. The working group consisted of representatives of all levels in the Minnesota State Patrol, County Prosecutor Representative, Attorney General's Office, and the Office of Traffic Safety (OTS). The working group was responsible for:

• Reviewing all current forms as well as forms used by other states,
• Analyzing each form for missing and repeated information.
• Ensuring that the packet included information to assure a successful DWI conviction in court and "best practices".

RESULTS

The DWI Forms Packet program achieved the following results as of June 2002:

• Created a standardized DWI forms packet. The forms contain checkboxes, and required information is clearly marked. 
• Created a "user friendly" forms packet. The packet assists officers that do not conduct DWI arrests often by walking them through the grueling arrest procedure.
• Improved the packet that was piloted with the Minnesota State Patrol.
• Incorporated suggestions to improve the form into the next printing.
• Increased the rate of successful prosecution of DWI cases. Law enforcement is not the only beneficiary of a standardized form. The courts are able to obtain needed information as a result of this effort.
• Initiated efforts to standardize all DWI arrest forms throughout the entire state. Local law enforcement has shown interest in the packets and requested to use them.

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