Duluth, MN (Northland's NewsCenter) - A proposed bill on its way to the Minnesota House would toughen the penalties for thieves who break into your car.
Representative Kerry Gauthier (DFL - Duluth) is the sponsor of the bill which establishes a gross misdemeanor penalty for people who have been previously convicted at least twice in the past for vehicle tampering, theft or criminal damage to property.
Duluth Police Chief Gordon Ramsay told the House Judiciary Policy and Finance Committee today that current laws are too weak.
Currently offenders only walk away with a ticket each time they they commit a crime.
"We have had individuals do auto burglaries up to 40 times and face the same misdemeanor consequences," said Ramsay. "The problem is the penalties are worth the risk."
Chief Gordon Ramsay is also pushing for GPS electronic monitoring of these types of offenders.
At this point the effort is just in the exploratory stages.
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