| New Mexico’s Governor, Bill Richardson, knows | | | | between 75 and 100 sobriety checkpoints all over the |
| that drinking and driving is a big problem in his state. In | | | | state. During the months of Operation DWI, it has been |
| 2006, the University of New Mexico Division of | | | | found that the number of New Mexico DUI crashes |
| Government Research published dui information that | | | | and crash deaths is reduced by 27%. |
| found that 42% of all of New Mexico’s fatal | | | | In New Mexico it is illegal to be driving with a blood |
| crashes involved the use of alcohol. They also found | | | | alcohol concentration (BAC) level of .08 or higher. If |
| that a person is injured every 4.5 hours in an | | | | you are under the age of 21, the legal BAC level drops |
| alcohol-related crash, and that 52% of all | | | | to .02. And, if you are a commercial driver, your BAC |
| alcohol-related fatal crashes occurs on weekends. | | | | limit is .04. But don’t refuse to take the blood, |
| Since Governor Richardson described the New | | | | breath, or urine chemical test used to calculate your |
| Mexico DUI problem as the state’s “top | | | | BAC, because the dui penalties for refusal are often |
| priority,” he has encouraged efforts needed to | | | | more harsh than if you had a dui conviction in the first |
| educate the public regarding drinking and driving, as well | | | | place. For example, the arresting officer will confiscate |
| as promoted legislation that has brought stricter dui | | | | your driver’s license and it will be suspended - |
| laws. | | | | automatically - for a period of 1 year. Also be aware |
| In 2009, New Mexico passed Senate Bill 275, entitled | | | | that driving with a license that has been revoked or |
| “Interlocks & DWI License Reinstatement.” This | | | | suspended can bring a jail sentence of from 7 days to |
| dwi law stipulates that drivers who have been | | | | 1 year, fines from $300 to $1,000, as well as the further |
| convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol or | | | | loss of your license. |
| drugs will be required to have an ignition interlock | | | | Some of the circumstances that would make any DUI |
| device (IID) installed in their car before their driver’s | | | | in New Mexico aggravated include a BAC of .16 or |
| license will be reinstated. | | | | more, driving with a minor in the vehicle, having an |
| But probably the most successful campaign aimed at | | | | accident that caused bodily injury, death, or sizeable |
| eradicating drunk driving is New Mexico’s | | | | property damage, as well as the refusal to take a |
| “Operation DWI.” What started as a 10-day | | | | BAC test. An aggravated dui always brings harsher |
| operation in December 1993 is now held six times | | | | penalties. To protect yourself, contact a dwi lawyer |
| every year for two weeks at a time, and consists of | | | | who can make a life-changing difference. |