Thief River Falls (trfnews.i234.me) – A Thief River Falls man is facing serious DWI charges after a routine traffic stop uncovered alcohol, marijuana, and signs of extreme impairment near Second Street and Barzen Avenue on March 30 at 3:09 p.m.
Nicholas Dane Kalinoski, age 32, has been charged with second-degree DWI – with two aggravating factors. He was arrested at the scene after failing multiple field sobriety tests and recording a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.24, nearly three times the legal limit.
According to the complaint:
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A sergeant noted the smell of marijuana upon speaking with Kalinoski and an unnamed female passenger.
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The passenger voluntarily handed over marijuana joints from her pocket.
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A search of the vehicle led to the discovery of an open Keystone Light beer can in the passenger door and an empty can in the back seat.
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Kalinoski allegedly showed clear signs of impairment, failed field sobriety tests, and blew 0.280 on a preliminary breath test.
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A later DMT (DataMaster) test confirmed a BAC of 0.24.
The complaint also cited a previous third-degree DWI conviction from 2021, qualifying as one of the aggravating factors, with the high BAC being the second.
Kalinoski now faces felony-level consequences under Minnesota law due to repeat offenses and extreme intoxication levels.
I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News
🔍 Did you know?
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In Minnesota, a BAC of 0.16 or higher is considered an aggravating factor in DWI cases.
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A prior DWI within 10 years automatically escalates a new charge to a higher-degree offense.
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A second-degree DWI can carry up to one year in jail, thousands in fines, and long-term license revocation.
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The DMT test is the state’s official evidentiary breath test used in DUI/DWI cases.
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Open container violations can add to the severity of charges, especially when combined with drug or alcohol use.