Minnesota House of Representatives passed a bipartisan bill to reform the state’s DWI polices

During a late summer evening at the Park Tavern, a man plowed through the restaurant patio, killing two people and injuring nine others.

At the time of the accident, the driver had a lengthy record of five prior DWI convictions.

The new bill proposes changes that will strengthen state laws that are currently in place, including lengthening the amount of time repeat offenders are required to use an ignition interlock device.

If a person has three DWIs in a decade, they must use an interlock device for four years under current law. If a person has three or more convictions in their lifetime, the new changes make it ten years.

According to the records, the driver had an interlock device in his vehicle from 2015 to 2020 in the wake of his most recent conviction before the accident at Park Tavern.

The man would still have had the device in his vehicle until 2025, according to supporters of the new bill, had these modifications been in place at the time.

The author of the bill, Rep. Larry Kraft, pointed to data from the Center for Disease and Prevention Control that shows having an interlock device reduces repeat offenses by 70% while they are installed.

“Since the tragedy which impacted our community last year, it has been a top priority of mine to try and stop people who have a recurring problem with drinking and driving from killing or injuring Minnesotans,” said Kraft.

“This bipartisan legislation is focused on improving public safety and is a critical step toward prevention and safer roads for everyone.”