OutdoorMN News - New DWI law goes into effect Aug. 1

[Rick]

Little Alan’s Law provides consistent application of DWI law

A new law that goes into effect Aug. 1 means people convicted of driving while intoxicated – regardless of the vehicle they’re driving – will lose their driver’s license and be prohibited from operating motor vehicles, including all-terrain vehicles, motorboats and snowmobiles. The state Legislature passed the law following the death of 8-year-old Alan Geisenkoetter Jr., who died in January after being struck by a snowmobile driven by a man whose driver’s license was revoked after multiple DWI offenses. 

Before the law change, people convicted of DWI in a highway-licensed vehicle still could legally operate ATVs, motorboats and snowmobiles. The changes apply to violations that occur on or after Aug. 1.

“We have zero tolerance for people who endanger themselves and other people by operating a motor vehicle or recreational vehicle while they’re intoxicated,” said Col. Rodmen Smith, director of the Minnesota DNR Enforcement Division. “This new law should send the message that drinking and driving – no matter what the vehicle – isn’t acceptable and the consequences are severe.”

As an example, a person convicted of DWI in a motorboat, or who refuses testing for a motorboat DWI, would have their driver’s license suspended and be prohibited from operating ATVs, motorboats and snowmobiles for one year. Additionally, first-time DWI offenders operating off-road recreational vehicles or motorboats also will be subject to chemical use assessments, conditional release and plate impoundment – the same as a DWI in a highway-licensed vehicle.

The Minnesota DNR and other law enforcement agencies in the state, along with ATV and snowmobile groups, supported the law change, which passed the Legislature with bipartisan support and was signed into law in May by Gov. Mark Dayton.

Discuss below - to view set the hook here.

[fins_n'_feathers]

I was reading some more about this new law on another website and it stated that regardless of what type of vehicle one gets a Dwi, you automatically loose your boating privelidges for 90 days the following summer. I don't condone drinking and driving and not saying it's right but how is that possibly fair? I 100% agree that nobody should drive anything motorized for the time they have lost their drivers license. You do the crime you do the time. I don't get where the automatic loss of boating privelidges comes from for the following year? Another thing about this that rubs me the wrong way is it says nothing about non residents. Will they be given a free pass or upheld to the same standards as a Minnesota resident? 

[h8go4s]

11 hours ago, fins_n'_feathers said:

 you automatically loose your boating privelidges for 90 days the following summer. I don't condone drinking and driving and not saying it's right but how is that possibly fair?

 

Fair? This ain't grade school. The law is the law; don't violate it. If someone got a DWI in October and had his boating privileges yanked for 90 days over the winter, he would effectively receive no punishment cuz most yahoo drunks don't boat in winter in Minnesota. I haven't read the law itself, but seems to me snowmobile offenses should also apply to the next season for the same reason.

[fins_n'_feathers]

The article I read said nothing about loosing snowmobile privileges the following winter or ATV privileges the following season for receiving a DWI in a car. It only specified loosing boating privileges for 90 days during the following season from May-October. I totally 100% agree with parts of this law but it just seems like it wasn't very well thought out. So it's ok for one convicted of Dwi to use a boat as long as they get their drivers license back just not between May and October? And the law only applies to people from Minnesota? Am I missing something here? Seems really vague and prejudice to me.

[h8go4s]

As I wrote in my previous post, I haven't read the law. It appears you haven't either. Maybe you should do so since you're so concerned about it.