Minnesota Statutes 169A.46 – Affirmative Defenses
Subdivision 1.Impairment occurred after driving ceased.
If proven by a preponderance of the evidence, it is an affirmative defense to a violation of section 169A.20, subdivision 1, clause (5) (driving while impaired, alcohol concentration within two hours of driving), or 169A.20 by a person having an alcohol concentration of 0.16 or more as measured at the time, or within two hours of the time, of the offense, that the defendant consumed a sufficient quantity of alcohol after the time of the violation and before the administration of the evidentiary test to cause the defendant’s alcohol concentration to exceed the level specified in the applicable clause. Evidence that the defendant consumed alcohol after the time of the violation may not be admitted in defense to any alleged violation of section 169A.20, unless notice is given to the prosecution prior to the omnibus or pretrial hearing in the matter.
Subd. 2.Impairment from prescription drug.
If proven by a preponderance of the evidence, it is an affirmative defense to a violation of section 169A.20, subdivision 1, clause (7) (presence of Schedule I or II controlled substance), that the defendant used the controlled substance according to the terms of a prescription issued for the defendant in accordance with sections 152.11 and 152.12.
Terms Used In Minnesota Statutes 169A.46
- Alcohol concentration: means :
(1) the number of grams of alcohol per 100 milliliters of blood;
(2) the number of grams of alcohol per 210 liters of breath; or
(3) the number of grams of alcohol per 67 milliliters of urine. See Minnesota Statutes 169A.03
- Controlled substance: has the meaning given in section 152. See Minnesota Statutes 169A.03
- Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
- Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
- Person: may extend and be applied to bodies politic and corporate, and to partnerships and other unincorporated associations. See Minnesota Statutes 645.44