Several proposals that received significant debate during the 2001 legislative session did not become law, but remain alive in 2002. Among them are a proposed change in the legal blood-alcohol limit, proposed revisions to the standards for granting a permit to carry a concealed weapon, a victim notification system, and a plan to register beer kegs.

No blood-alcohol limit change

A measure to lower the state legal blood alcohol concentration limit from .10 percent to .08 percent was included in the Senate's omnibus transportation bill but did not make it into the final version of the omnibus transportation law.
And a move in the House to attach the provisions to a separate seatbelt measure advanced the plan no further than the House Ways and Means Committee.
The limit would have existed not only for driving, but also for any other activity over which the state exercises authority, including boating, hunting, handling explosives, and operating military equipment.
The measure, sponsored by Rep. Kevin Goodno (R-Moorhead) and Sen. Leo Foley (DFL-Coon Rapids) did receive bi-partisan support. It would change all references in law of a .10 percent limit to .08.
However, opponents claimed it would target social drinkers, not chronic drunken driving offenders.
HF51/SF118

Concealed carry falls short

A bill that would have required local officials to grant concealed weapon permits to qualified applicants unless there were a compelling reason to deny the request passed the House but died in the Senate.
Under the bill, sponsored by Rep. Lynda Boudreau (R-Faribault) and Sen. Pat Pariseau (R-Farmington), county sheriffs would have been required to issue a concealed weapon permit within 15 days of an application unless the applicant failed a background check or did not pass several other conditions in the bill.
In addition to making Minnesota a "shall issue" state regarding the granting of applications, the bill would clarify requirements for applicants. Under the bill, successful applicants would be at least 21 years old, have successfully completed a training course or demonstrated experience, not have been convicted of a felony, and not be listed in the state criminal gang registry. Sheriffs would be forbidden from considering any other information and would be required to explain in writing a decision to deny a request.
Under existing law, both sheriffs and police chiefs have the discretionary authority to grant concealed weapon permits only to those who demonstrate "an occupation or personal safety hazard" that would necessitate being armed.
HF1360/SF1395

Keg identification

The House passed a measure requiring off-sale alcohol retailers to label all kegs to aid law enforcement officials in identifying adults who provide beer to underage drinkers. But the bill, which would require that all beer kegs be registered to the purchaser, received no action in the Senate.
Sponsored by Rep. Steve Dehler (R-St. Joseph) and Sen. Don Betzold (DFL-Fridley), the bill requires of-sale retailers to record the name, address, and driver's license number or other government-issued number of a keg purchaser. That information, in addition to the date and time of purchase and the keg's individual identification number, would be recorded and kept by the retailer for at least 90 days. A purchaser must also sign for the keg.
Under the bill, the identities of purchasers could be made available upon request by law enforcement officials.
HF58/SF389

Notifying victims

A bill that would require the state to develop an automated program for notifying victims whether a perpetrator is in or out of custody, was considered by both House and Senate committees but did not make it into the final public safety finance measure.
The bill, sponsored by Rep. Wes Skoglund (DFL-Mpls) and Sen. Randy Kelly (DFL-St. Paul), would require the Crime Victim Services Center in the state Department of Public Safety to design the program that would cover state and local correctional facilities and courts statewide.
HF2291/SF1727

Other Crime stories

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