Criminal Vehicular Operation Defense for clients in Plymouth and Hennepin County.
Local criminal defense
Plymouth cases often involve busy professionals and families looking to resolve matters efficiently and protect their records. Early legal guidance can help reduce disruption and avoid long-term consequences.
Criminal Vehicular Operation, or CVO, applies to qualifying motor-vehicle cases in which another person suffers bodily harm, substantial bodily harm, or great bodily harm. The charge can be based on several statutory theories, including gross negligence, specified impaired-driving conduct, an alcohol concentration of .08 or more, leaving the scene, or certain known vehicle defects. Andrew Davis examines both the driving allegation and whether the evidence proves the required level and cause of injury.
Read the complete Minnesota Criminal Vehicular Operation guide →Verified local information
Plymouth is located in Hennepin County and served by the Minnesota Fourth Judicial District for state district-court matters. These are general contacts, not a hearing assignment. Confirm the court, location, and appearance instructions on your notice before attending.
Court information
300 South 6th Street, C-11, Minneapolis, MN 55487
(612) 348-6000
General Criminal and Traffic Division contact. This address is not a confirmation of your assigned hearing location; follow your court notice.
Visit the official court website →Local agency
3400 Plymouth Boulevard, Plymouth, MN 55447
(763) 509-5160
Visit the official agency website →Official court information for Hennepin County, including court programs, policies, and contacts.
Official information and resources from the prosecutor’s office serving Hennepin County.
Official City of Plymouth information about requesting police reports and records.
Minnesota law and defense
Minnesota criminal law applies statewide, but the court process, local agency records, and practical details of a case depend on where it is filed. The information below explains important issues Andrew reviews when defending criminal vehicular operation cases.
Minnesota's Criminal Vehicular Operation statute addresses injury cases rather than fatal crashes. The seriousness of the offense depends in part on whether the alleged injury is bodily harm, substantial bodily harm, or great bodily harm. The state must also prove one of the statutory forms of vehicle operation and that the conduct caused the injury. A serious accident by itself does not establish every element of CVO.
Prosecutors often rely on:
Minnesota's CVO statute identifies specific theories that can support a charge when the required injury is caused. Depending on the case, allegations may involve:
Common questions
Criminal Vehicular Operation is Minnesota's offense for causing bodily harm, substantial bodily harm, or great bodily harm through one of the forms of motor-vehicle operation listed in the statute, such as gross negligence, specified impaired-driving conduct, leaving the scene, or certain known vehicle-defect circumstances. Fatal cases are addressed separately under criminal vehicular homicide.
No. The degree depends on the injury and the statutory circumstances. CVO involving substantial or great bodily harm can be a felony, while qualifying bodily-harm cases can be gross misdemeanors. A death is addressed under the separate criminal vehicular homicide statute.
The statutory maximum depends on the injury level: up to 5 years for great bodily harm, up to 3 years for substantial bodily harm, and up to 364 days for bodily harm, with fines also authorized. The actual sentence depends on the facts, criminal history, and sentencing rules.
Do not speak to law enforcement or insurance investigators without a lawyer. Contact a criminal defense attorney immediately so evidence can be preserved and your rights protected.
CVO addresses cases in which another person suffers bodily harm, substantial bodily harm, or great bodily harm. Criminal vehicular homicide is the separate offense used when the alleged vehicle conduct causes a death.
Free and confidential
If you need help with criminal vehicular operation in Plymouthor Hennepin County, contact Andrew Davis to discuss what happened and what comes next.