Under what condition can a first-time DWI offense be reduced to a petty misdemeanor?

The first-time DWI offense can be reduced to a petty misdemeanor when the blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is below 0.08 and no aggravating factors are present. In Minnesota, a BAC of 0.08 or higher is considered legally impaired for driving. Therefore, a driver whose BAC is below that limit may not meet the criteria for a standard DWI offense, particularly if their driving behavior did not pose a danger or if no aggravating circumstances—such as previous offenses, having minors in the vehicle, or being involved in an accident—are present.

This option acknowledges the legal framework within Minnesota that allows for leniency in cases where the impairment is not significant enough to warrant a more severe punishment, in the absence of factors that would elevate the seriousness of the offense. Other choices do not align with Minnesota's DWI laws, as merely completing a program or the time of day the offense occurred does not directly affect the classification of the charge regarding the measured BAC.