Group Asks Minnesota Lawmakers to Up DWI Penalties

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - A DWI task force has a range of proposals for state lawmakers to consider in trying to reduce the number of drunken driving incidents in Minnesota.

Proposals from the Minnesota DWI Task Force include seizing the license plates of offenders in all drunken-driving cases and lowering the blood alcohol concentration level required to impose stronger criminal penalties.

The task force hopes to impose harsher penalties that will encourage offenders to install ignition interlock devices. They say the breathalyzer-type devices installed on a vehicle's dashboard reduce the likelihood that a drunken driver will reoffend.

The device requires the driver to submit a breath test before the vehicle will start. Although it's more effective in curbing drunken driving, the cost of the ignition interlock device seems to deter some from choosing that option.