Fatal St. Louis Park bar crash prompts new DWI legislation
The Labor Day crash into the crowded Park Tavern patio in St. Louis Park last year could prompt tougher DWI laws aimed at repeat offenders.
“His horrific decision has left a gaping hole in our community, in the lives of so many people,” says Rep. Larry Kraft, DFL-St. Louis Park. He’s the author of a House bill that would, in some cases, double the amount of time a repeat offender has to use ignition interlock devices.
An interlock is a type of breathalyzer installed onto a car, which requires the driver to blow a 0.0 on a breathalyzer before the car is started.
“The bill itself will lengthen the required time to use the interlock for all repeat offenders,” says Sen. Ron Latz, DFL-St. Louis Park, author of the Senate version of the bill. The two lawmakers held a news conference at Park Tavern Friday afternoon to announce details of their bills.
Under current law, there’s a complicated formula for repeat offenders who’ve had one to three offenses that can require one to four years of having to use an ignition interlock. Under the proposed legislation, it would be simplified. There would be requirements of six years of ignition interlock for two offenses and 10 years for anyone with three or more offenses.
“Nobody in the restaurant bar industry wants these people on the road. Period,” says Phil Weber, owner of Park Tavern. “They are the bane of our existence.”
The man charged in the Park Tavern crash, 56-year-old Steven Bailey, had five previous DWIs in Minnesota and one in Wisconsin. He is charged with two counts of third-degree murder, as well as two counts of criminal vehicular homicide and nine counts of criminal vehicular operation.
Bailey is currently in a residential treatment facility for alcohol addiction after posting on a $500,000 conditional bail. He has pleaded not guilty, and a jury trial is scheduled to begin on May 12.
Prosecutors say his blood-alcohol level was 0.325%, four times the legal limit of 0.08%.
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The crash killed Methodist Hospital employee Gabe Harvey and Park Tavern Employee Kristina Folkerts. Nine other people were injured, including other employees of nearby Methodist Hospital. Park Tavern has often provided meals to health care workers at Methodist since the COVID pandemic.
“We appreciate the work that has gone into this bill in the hopes that others will be spared from the tragedy and the grief that impacted our Methodist colleagues,” said Methodist Hospital President Jennifer Myster. ”Gabe and his family and loved ones and Kristina. This can’t happen again.”
The bills will get hearings in the House and Senate in the next couple of weeks.