Missouri has enacted major updates to its drunk driving laws for drivers who cause fatal crashes. These new rules enforce strict prison sentences and require more ignition interlocks. They also create new financial duties for drivers who cause deadly crashes to support surviving family members.
Mandatory minimums for fatal crashes
The updated statutes fundamentally change how the state penalizes deadly crashes. Drunk drivers who cause more than one death while intoxicated now face a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison before becoming eligible for parole. This same 10-year minimum applies to crashes involving a single death if the driver had a blood alcohol level of 0.15 or higher. Standard crashes involving one death require a minimum of five years. These strict minimums effectively eliminate any opportunity for early release in serious drunk driving cases.
Financial support for surviving children
Beyond prison sentences, the state now enforces long-term financial duties through Bentley and Mason’s Law. This statute requires drunk drivers who cause fatal crashes to pay child support if they kill a parent. These court-ordered payments go directly to the surviving spouse or the relative raising the children to help cover their needs.
The court determines these payments based on several factors:
- The financial needs of the child: The court reviews basic living costs and school costs.
- The surviving caregiver’s money: Judges look at the money available to the relative raising the child.
- The driver’s financial state: The state checks the driver’s ability to pay after prison.
The driver has up to one year after leaving prison to begin making these payments.
Stricter ignition interlock rules
Stricter rules also govern how offenders regain their driving privileges. Previously, Missouri only required an ignition interlock device after a second or subsequent drunk driving offense. Now, any driver with a blood alcohol level of 0.15 or higher must install this device to obtain restricted driving rights. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, drunk driving causes nearly one-third of all traffic deaths nationwide. The state’s goal is to lower this rate by keeping high-risk drivers from starting a car while drunk.
What this means for Missouri roads
These legislative updates alter the aftermath of a fatal DWI. By combining extended prison terms with ongoing financial restitution, the state extends the impact of a conviction far beyond a standard criminal sentence. It ties the at-fault driver to the victim’s family for years through court-ordered support. Missouri’s legal system now strictly punishes high blood alcohol levels while prioritizing the long-term care of surviving children.