Pennington County, MN (trfnews.i234.me)—On December 7, a police investigator conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle traveling west on Eighth Street. The driver, identified as 38-year-old Tina Lou Klasen, was arrested and charged with third-degree driving while impaired (DWI) with one aggravating factor, no proof of insurance, and possession of an open bottle. Third-degree DWI in Minnesota is classified as a gross misdemeanor, punishable by up to one year in jail and a $3,000 fine
During the stop, Klasen exhibited signs of impairment, including shakiness and dilated eyes. She denied drug use but mentioned a recent prescription. A blood test was administered, with results pending confirmation by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. Driving under the influence of a Schedule I or II controlled substance, or their metabolites, is prohibited under Minnesota law
A search of the vehicle, conducted under a warrant, revealed an open bottle of Barton Vodka. Possession of an open alcohol container in a vehicle is a violation of Minnesota’s open container laws, which prohibit open bottles in the passenger area of a motor vehicle
I’m Chris Harper, reporting for trfnews.i234.me
