It’s a story that repeats itself far too often: A drunk driver seriously injures or kills one or more people. Often the impaired driver has one or more DWI arrests on their record.
Now some state lawmakers are proposing legislation to beef up drunken-driving penalties for repeat offenders.
The legislation is in response to last year’s deadly crash at Park Tavern in St. Louis Park.
A drunken driver with five previous DWI offenses in Minnesota drove his SUV into the restaurant’s busy outdoor patio on Labor Day weekend, killing two people and injuring nine others.
Rep. Larry Kraft and Sen. Ron Latz, both Democrats from St. Louis Park, would require that repeat offenders have ignition interlocks installed in their vehicles. The so-called “car Breathalyzer” device prevents people from starting their vehicle if they’ve been drinking.
The bill calls for offenders with one DWI over a 20-year period to use the interlock device for two years; to use one for six years for two lifetime drunken-driving offenses; and to use the device for 10 years for three or more lifetime offenses.
Under current Minnesota law, repeat drunk-driving offenders are required to install an ignition interlock device for a maximum of six years for four or more offenses.
Requiring the interlock device is a more effective way to deter drunk drivers from driving than license suspension alone. People who have their license suspended often drive anyway and too often drive impaired.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found ignition interlock devices can reduce repeat DWI offenses by about 70%.
The number of DWIs in the state — first time or repeat — remains far too high.
Last year there were 28,000 Minnesota drivers arrested for drunk driving, even more than the 27,000 arrests made in 2023.
Lawmakers should look for ways to reform legislation to reduce the overall number of DWIs. Legislation to reduce those with repeat DWIs from driving drunk is a good place to start.