Opinion ID: 1621431
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: State v. Melde

Text: In the early morning hours of November 14, 2004, appellant Daniel Joseph Melde was arrested in Hennepin County on probable cause for driving while impaired. He was a repeat DWI offender. Melde was transported to the Crystal Police Department where the arresting officer read to Melde the implied consent advisory that contained the standard warning that refusal to take a test is a crime, and Melde understood it. He was given the opportunity and sufficient time to contact an attorney. He contacted his high school hockey coach because he did not have the wherewithal to retain an attorney; but due to the time of day, the coach could not find an attorney and advised Melde to refuse testing. Melde refused testing. He was subsequently charged by complaint in Hennepin County District Court with gross-misdemeanor second-degree DWI for test-refusal, in violation of Minn.Stat. § 169A.20, subd. 2 (2004), and Minn.Stat. § 169A.25 (2004), and with gross-misdemeanor third-degree DWI for driving while impaired, in violation of Minn.Stat. § 169A.20, subd. 1(1) (2004), and Minn.Stat. § 169A.26 (2004). The district court granted Melde's motion to dismiss the gross-misdemeanor test-refusal charge, concluding that by failing to advise arrestees of the enhanced criminality and penalties that result from refusal, the implied consent advisory violates the due process requirements of both the United States and Minnesota State Constitutions.