A DUI conviction stays on your record for 10 years in Minnesota, and it carries with it a host of serious penalties. Because of this, it is imperative that you seek out legal counsel and challenge the charges. However, if the deck is stacked against you, your best bet may be to pursue a plea option known as a “wet reckless.” Today, we explain what a wet reckless is, and why it might come into play in your Minnesota DUI case.
DUI Plea Deals
Plea deals are often viewed as a win-win for all parties involved if the case against the accused is relatively strong. Since the prosecution has a strong case, it’s likely that they’ll win and the defendant will be convicted on a serious charge. Knowing this, the defense team may negotiate with the prosecution to see if they would be willing to make a deal. The defense may agree to plead guilty to a lesser charge if the prosecution agrees to drop the more serious charge.
You may be thinking, “what’s in it for the prosecution if they have a strong case?” The answer is time, money and reputation. By getting the defendant to plead guilty to a lessor charge, the prosecution can move on to a different case, which allows them to make more money, and they still get a conviction on their professional record. The prosecution is also never in jeopardy of losing the case if a deal is struck. There are sacrifices to a plea deal from both sides, but everyone usually walks away a little happier than had the case played out in a courtroom.
Wet Reckless Plea Deal
A wet reckless is a term for a plea deal in a DUI case. Instead of challenging the case in court, the defendant agrees to plead guilty to a charge of reckless driving in exchange for the prosecution dropping the drunk driving charge. Again, the prosecution gets an easy conviction on their record and can start preparing for the next case, while the defendant avoids a more serious DUI charge. Most reckless driving charges only result in fines, while a DUI can result in jail time, bigger fines and the loss of driving privileges, so it’s easy to see why someone would plead guilty to a wet reckless instead of challenging their case in court.
That being said, you shouldn’t just jump at the plea deal if it is offered by the prosecution. Pleading to a wet reckless is only advised if there is strong evidence against you and your attorney believes it is in your best interest. If the evidence against you is weak, you may be better off challenging the case in court. In fact, sometimes the prosecution offers a plea deal when they know their case is weak in hopes that they don’t have to try and win in court. Always measure all your options before moving forward with a plea deal.
At the end of the day, always consult your attorney when a plea deal is on the table. At Appelman Law Firm, we want to do right by our clients, so if we believe we can win the case, we’ll let you know. We’re not going to push you towards a deal if we feel it’s not in your best interest. We’ll be in your corner every step of the way. To talk about your DUI case or any criminal charges you’re facing, please feel free to set up a free initial consultation with Avery Appelman today.
