Minnesota’s new, tougher law for repeat drunk drivers is now in effect.
The new law increases penalties and the amount of time required to use an ignition interlock system. The law was passed following a tragic crash at Park Tavern in St. Louis Park when a repeat drunk driver slammed his car into a crowd of people, killing two, and injuring a dozen more over the Labor Day weekend in 2024.
DFL Senator Ron Latz of St. Louis Park says the new law puts more teeth into trying to prevent repeat drunk driving offenses…
“Someone has an older prior even 18 years old, if they get a new DWI they’re going to be required to install the interlock. And then the other thing it does is lengthens the duration, the amount of time that someone has to be on interlock in order to drive validly.”
Latz says had the new law already been in effect, it may have prevented the tragedy, but since it wasn’t the new law could stop similar events in the future…
“We can’t put a Guardian Angel on everyone’s shoulder that makes sure they don’t drink of if they do, they don’t drive. But we can at least shape the laws to try and create the incentives for people to drive safely and that’s what we’ve done here.”
The criminal complaint against 56-year-old Steven Bailey of St. Louis Park indicated he was operating his vehicle at more than four times the legal blood alcohol limit at the time of the crash. Bailey also has multiple previous DWI convictions.
Last week he was sentenced to 30 years in prison for the incident at Park Tavern that claimed the lives of Park Tavern employee Kristina Folkerts, and Methodist Hospital employee and nursing student, Gabe Harvey.
Kristina Folkerts was a student in Maple Lake for a period of time in 2010 and 2011 according to a Commuity Group Facebook page.
(content: in part, courtesy MNN)
