For years, Minnesota’s DWI lookback was ten years. That window decided who counted as a repeat driver. In 2025, lawmakers doubled the lookback for driver’s licenses. Here is what happened, what changed, and what stayed the same.

The Crash That Pushed the Change

In 2024, a driver crashed onto the patio of Park Tavern in St. Louis Park. Two people died and others were badly hurt. News reports said the driver had five prior DWI convictions. He did not have an ignition interlock device at the time.

Lawmakers from St. Louis Park led the push for new rules. The bill passed the House 123 to 5 and cleared the Senate without a single no vote. Supporters said the new rules would have put an interlock in that driver’s car.

What Changed: A 20-Year Lookback for Your License

The new law is in section 171.178. It deals with your driver’s license, not the criminal charge.

When a DWI leads to a license revocation, the state now asks two questions:

• Do you have a past DWI incident in the last 20 years?
• Do you have two or more past incidents at any time?

If the answer to either one is yes, you cannot get your full license back until you use an ignition interlock device for a set time.

What Did Not Change: The Criminal Charge

The 20-year clock does not decide how serious the new criminal charge is. That still uses a ten-year window under section 169A.03. A past DWI incident within ten years raises the level of the charge. One from 15 years ago does not, unless it was a felony DWI.

So one old DWI can matter in two very different ways. It may not touch the criminal case at all. But it can still add years of interlock to your license.

For a closer look at how each clock is counted, see this guide on how Minnesota’s DWI lookback period works and what counts as a prior.

How Long the Interlock Lasts

The law sets minimum interlock periods based on your record. They run from two years for one past incident in the last 20 years to ten years for three or more. Before full driving privileges return, the person must also finish a licensed substance use treatment or rehab program. For drivers with two or more past incidents, a new conviction also means the state cancels the license outright.

You can read the full text of Minnesota Statutes section 171.178 on the Revisor of Statutes website.

Slip-Ups Can Add Time

Few people talk about what happens once the interlock is in the car. The law is strict here too.

• A failed breath test on the device. Say a person has finished treatment and then blows 0.02 or higher on the device. The state must extend the interlock time. The person gets credit for only half of the time already served.
• A new drinking offense. The same extension applies to a new alcohol offense, even one that did not involve driving.
• A new revocation. If a person in the program has their license revoked again, the state removes them from the program. If they come back, the clock starts over. They get no credit for the time before.

So the minimum period is only a floor. One bad reading can push the finish line back.

Why This Matters Now

If you have an old DWI, do not assume it has aged out. Pull your full driving record. Check every past revocation, not just convictions. The dates can decide both your charge and how long you drive with an interlock.