Thief River Falls (trfnews.i234.me) – A Thief River Falls woman is facing a second-degree DWI charge after a late-night traffic stop in Pennington County.
According to a criminal complaint, 37-year-old Renae Martinez of Thief River Falls was stopped in the early morning hours of November 23.
The traffic stop happened at about 1:32 a.m. in the 400 block of First Street East.
An officer spoke with Martinez after the vehicle was stopped. The officer reported smelling alcohol coming from the vehicle.
The complaint says the officer also noticed other signs of possible impairment while talking with Martinez at the driver’s window.
Those indicators allegedly included issues with balance and speech, along with general driving concerns observed before the stop.
Martinez was asked to perform standard field sobriety tests on the roadside. These tests help officers look for signs of impairment.
According to the complaint, Martinez failed those field sobriety tests, and the officer believed she was impaired by alcohol.
A preliminary breath test was then given at the scene. The reported result was a 0.16 Blood Alcohol Content.
Minnesota’s legal limit for most drivers is 0.08 BAC. That limit is set in Minnesota Statute 169A.20.
After the roadside test, Martinez was arrested and taken to jail for further testing and booking.
At the jail, she provided two breath samples on a DMT testing machine. The complaint reports that both tests showed a 0.16 BAC.
Because the tests were at or above 0.16, the case is treated as a high-test DWI. That level is an aggravating factor under state law.
The complaint also notes that Martinez had a prior implied consent revocation only five days earlier. That earlier action is another aggravating factor.
With two or more aggravating factors, the charge rises to second-degree DWI under
Minnesota Statute 169A.25.
Second-degree DWI is a serious gross misdemeanor offense. It can bring stronger penalties than a basic first-time DWI.
Possible outcomes can include higher fines, longer license loss, and potential jail time. Vehicle-related penalties may also apply in some cases.
General information on impaired driving laws, crashes, and enforcement is posted by the state’s Office of Traffic Safety.
Court hearings for Martinez will be held in Pennington County District Court. Case details and future dates are listed on the Minnesota Judicial Branch website.
At this stage, the charge against Renae Martinez is an allegation. She is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
Officials continue to remind drivers to plan a sober ride and avoid driving after drinking. Impaired driving remains a key safety concern on Minnesota roads.
I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News.
