A Minnesota state senator was again arrested on suspicion of driving while intoxicated.
Sen. Tou Xiong, DFL – Maplewood, was pulled over by police early Thursday morning. Specifics about the traffic stop are sparse, but police felt they had enough evidence to book Xiong on suspicion of driving while intoxicated. Xiong mentioned in a statement that he was stopped by police after driving home from a family gathering.
“I take full responsibility for my actions, and sincerely apologize to my constituents and the people I’ve let down,” Xiong said. “I want to thank law enforcement for doing their job to keep the roads safe. Today, I have begun the work of talking to my family and to my Senate colleagues about the situation.”
Xiong was booked into Ramsey County Jail shortly before 4 a.m. Thursday and was released a few hours later. Xiong has yet to be formally charged with a crime, but charges are expected in the near future.
Second DWI Arrest
This is the second time that Xiong has been arrested on suspicion of DWI. Back in 2022, he was pulled over after attending a community gathering. His blood alcohol concentration in that incident was measured at 0.11, just over the 0.08 limit. He eventually pleaded guilty to driving under the influence. He received a 90-day stayed sentenced and was ordered to pay court fees.
There’s a very high probability that Xiong will not get off as easily this time around. A second DUI charge within 10 years of the original offense carries more severe penalties and some mandatory minimums. For example, a second offense is typically charged as a third-degree DWI, which is a gross misdemeanor punishable by:
- Up to a year in jail
- Fines up to $3,000
- One-year loss of driver’s license
Additionally, the mandatory minimum sentence is 30 days in jail, of which 48 hours needs to be served in a local correctional facility. Instead of spending the other 28 days in jail, the defendant may request to serve eight hours of community service to remove one day from their mandatory sentence, meaning 40 hours of community service would wipe five days off of a person’s jail sentence. If he opts to serve community service for all 28 days, he’ll need to perform 224 hours of community service.
Needless to say, the penalties associated with a second DWI tend to be much more severe, so it’s in your best interests to avoid a second DWI or fight the charges with the help of a professional. Avery and the team at Appelman Law Firm have helped countless individuals avoid a worst case scenario after a first or subsequent DWI charge, and we can do the same for you. For more information, or for help with a different criminal matter, reach out to our firm today at (952) 224-2277.
