The Missouri House Crime and Public Safety Committee heard testimony for House Bill 1740, also known as Melanie’s Law, which aims to increase the minimum jail time for DWI offenders and require an ignition interlock device for all offenders. The bill is named after Melanie Wankum, who was killed by a drunk driver in Jefferson City in 2022. Melanie’s mother and sister, along with Representative Dave Griffith, have worked to pass the law. If signed by Governor Kehoe, Missouri would become one of 35 states with an all-offender law for DWI offenders.
