(image: Minnesota Historical Society)
The State Senate has joined the House in passing a tougher DWI bill.
The legislation would extend the lookback period for previous offenses from 10 years to 20 years for requiring the driver to use the ignition interlock system on their vehicle.
DFL Senator Ron Latz of St. Louis Park says this would have prevented the tragedy at Park Tavern in his district….
“Extending the lookback period will capture more cases and would have required this driver also to be on interlock had this law been in effect at the time.”
The bill also includes harsher fines for a convicted drunk driver who doesn’t use the interlock system. The Senate bill passed unanimously. It now heads to committee to clear up a few minor differences with the House bill.
You may remember that one of the two people killed in the incident, Kristina Folkerts, a server at Park Tavern, spent time in Wright County when she was a student in Maple Lake in 2010 and 2011. Gabriel Harvey, a Methodist Hospital employee was also killed, and numerous other patrons in the outdoor area were injured in the 2024 Labor Day weekend tragedy.
(content: in part, courtesy MNN)
