St. Paul, MN – The Minnesota House of Representatives passed legislation strengthening the state's ignition interlock program with overwhelming bipartisan support, voting 123-5, in favor of the bill co-authored by State Representative Lucy Rehm (DFL-Chanhassen). Representative Rehm serves as the DFL Co-Vice Chair on the House Transportation Finance and Policy Committee.
"This legislation represents what we can accomplish when we work across the aisle to solve real problems," said Rep. Rehm, who helped craft the bill alongside colleagues from both parties. "By strengthening accountability measures and getting Minnesotans the treatment and substance abuse help they need, we're creating a system that better protects Minnesotans."
The legislation specifies clear timelines for participation in the ignition interlock program based on offense history, requiring offenders with one DWI over a 20-year period to use the device for two years, increased participation to six years for those with two DWI offenses, and 10 years of interlock ignition use for three or more more offenses. It extends the lookback period for prior offenses from 10 to 20 years, ensuring repeat offenders face appropriate consequences.
The bill was prompted by the tragic incident last September when an intoxicated driver with a blood alcohol level more than four times the legal limit and six previous DWI convictions drove onto a St. Louis Park restaurant patio, killing two people and injuring nine others.
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Representative Lucy Rehm represents District 48B, which includes Chanhassen and portions of Chaska in Carver County, in the Minnesota House of Representatives.