'Well Known' Minnesota Man Arrested For 28th DWI

FERGUS FALLS, MN — After 27 drunk driving arrests, a 64-year-old Minnesota man with a valid drivers license has reached number 28. Danny Lee Bettcher, of New York Mills, was charged with a felony-level DWI last week. Bettcher, who is "well known to the law enforcement community," was arrested after an off-duty sheriff’s deputy spotted him drinking in the VFW and gave law enforcement a heads up, according to the criminal complaint.

Bettcher was also charged for refusing to take a breath or chemical test, the Pioneer Press reported.

Police said he was pulled over after blowing a stop sign and swerving on Highway 10. According to the complaint, Bettcher told authorities he was "way over" and to "take me to jail," the Star Tribune reported. A state public safety spokeswoman confirmed with the newspaper that Bettcher had a valid driver's license when he was arrested. The license had "a restriction that any use of alcohol or drugs invalidates the license." A move to revoke Bettcher's license was pending earlier this week.

In an email to Patch, Minnesota Department of Public Safety spokeswoman Megan Leonard said under Minnesota law, a person whose driver’s license is canceled and denied due to having three or more impaired incidents in ten years or four incidents on record may reinstate driving privileges after successfully completing rehabilitation requirements outlined by Minnesota law.

This includes:

• Following recommendations in a chemical use assessment
• Successfully completing chemical dependency treatment
• Meeting other requirements such as having insurance, paying fees, passing knowledge and DWI tests, etc.

Minnesota law requires the driver’s license carry a “no alcohol/drugs” restriction, which means the license is subject to cancellation if there is satisfactory evidence of alcohol or drug use at any time, regardless of whether the violation involves driving.

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Image via Otter Tail County Detention Facility