DUIDocument Actions
NM DWI News
New Mexico Receives Grant to Combat DWI
$1.15 million grant will be used by police departments to patrol for drunk driving in NM.
The U.S. Department of Transportation has provided New Mexico with $1.15 million in grant money to fight driving while intoxicated. The funds will be shared by law enforcement agencies across the state and must be used to implement or conduct programs focusing on stopping drunk driving in New Mexico.
The money will offset the cost of officers engaged in additional patrols, special party patrols and sobriety checkpoints. The grant is part of the DOT’s Alcohol Traffic Safety and Drunk Driving Prevention program.
Do you need to find a New Mexico DWI Attorney?
Governor Films New Mexico DWI Ad
Anti-drunk driving commercial to air during Olympic games.
Governor Bill Richardson was featured in a commercial highlighting the fight against driving while intoxicated in New Mexico. Filmed at a mock sobriety checkpoint, the governor talks about DWI and praises the citizens of the state for their efforts to reduce drinking and driving offenses.
Governor Richardson hopes the anti-DWI message reaches a large audience during the Olympics. He said, “Everybody watches the Olympics and we want everybody to watch this.” The ads are scheduled to air on August 8, the first day of the Olympic games.
Do you need a New Mexico DWI Attorney?
Police Officer Arrested for New Mexico DWI in Las Cruces
Officer charged with drunk driving and firearm offense.
An Albuquerque police officer was charged with driving while intoxicated in Las Cruces, New Mexico last weekend. U.S. Border Patrol agents found a Toyota truck parked on the sidewalk around 3:30 am and went to check on the driver.
After Las Cruces police officers arrived on the scene, the driver, David Hill, Jr., reportedly exited the truck very slowly. A breath test revealed his blood alcohol content was double that of the legal limit for intoxication in New Mexico. Hill was booked for drunk driving in New Mexico at the Dona Ana County Detention Center. He was also charged with negligent use of a firearm. Hill had a loaded Glock handgun on him at the time of the arrest, and possession of a firearm while intoxicated is illegal in the state.
Hill is a three year veteran with the Albuquerque Police Department. He was placed on administrative leave pending an investigation.
Have you been charged with drunk driving in New Mexico?
Senator’s Daughter Charged with New Mexico DWI
Daughter of anti-DWI advocate charged with drunk driving in Albuquerque.
The 21-year old daughter of state Senator Kent Craven was arrested for driving while intoxicated in New Mexico. She wrecked her vehicle in southwest Albuquerque Sunday while driving drunk. Police reports indicate that Kady Craven’s blood alcohol content was nearly three times the legal limit.
Kent Craven is one of the more outspoken advocates for tough anti-DWI laws in New Mexico. In a prepared statement, he said his daughter is entering rehab.
Are you searching for a New Mexico DWI Attorney?
Albuquerque Drunk Driving Arrests Lead to Record Number of Seized Vehicles
Repeat offenders for New Mexico drunk driving create acres of seized vehicles.
The effort by law enforcement agencies to crack down on New Mexico drunk driving has resulted in a record number of seized vehicles. Repeat offenders for drunk driving in Albuquerque have contributed to literally acres of cars and trucks.
One impound lot covers nine acres, with officers seizing about 2,200 vehicles in 2007. In looking at the assortment, one finds expensive trucks to downright clunkers. Albuquerque's deputy city attorney revealed that hard-core alcoholics actually purchase second 'junk' cars as their drinking vehicles. Many NM driving while intoxicated defendants have said "that's my drunk car."
Police periodically conduct auctions of the seized vehicles. More than 3000 DWI seizure vehicles have been sold since the program was initiated seven years ago. Despite costing half a million dollars to run the seizure program, last year there was a profit from towing, auction and storage fees. That money went into a pool for New Mexico drunk driving programs, including education, training and equipment purchases.
Police Shift Fight Against New Mexico DWI
Sobriety checkpoints focus on stopping drunk driving in Albuquerque, NM.
Traditionally DWI sobriety checkpoints focus on larger streets and intersections, and they are implemented on the weekend. Albuquerque police are now shifting efforts against driving while intoxicated in New Mexico by setting up roadblocks on smaller roads on any given day of the week.
The goal is to have an element of surprise; making driver’s think twice about drinking and driving in Albuquerque.
On a recent Thursday night, police made 20 arrests for suspicion of DWI. One motorist actually abandoned his vehicle at the roadblock and fled on foot.
For more information on New Mexico DWI Laws and finding a New Mexico DWI laywer, please visit it our New Mexico page.
Filed in DUI News | New Mexico DUI | Sobreity Checkpoints | Permalink | Comments (0)
Appeals Court Overturns New Mexico DWI
Court rules driver did not attempt to avoid N.M. DWI checkpoint.
In November 2005 Nicole Anaya was arrested for drunk driving in New Mexico after police felt she had made an illegal u-turn before reaching a DWI checkpoint. The appeals court said that the law enforcement officers did not have reasonable suspicion to stop Anaya, as the turn was made in sight of but outside of the checkpoint zone established by police. In its decision the court said, “There is no statute that prohibits a driver from evading a checkpoint.”
The state’s lawyers argued that reasonable suspicion did not apply, as police were instructed to stop vehicles trying to avoid the checkpoint. However that directive did not follow checkpoint guidelines established in a 1987 legal ruling.
Anaya pleaded guilty to driving while intoxicated in New Mexico in early 2006, though she and her DWI defense attorney reserved the right to appeal on the case on the grounds that the initial traffic stop was illegal.
The attorney’s general’s office has indicated that the appellate court ruling is under review, and that an appeal to the New Mexico Supreme Court may be made.
If you have been arrested drunk driving in New Mexico, you will need to hire a DWI lawyer in New Mexico.
Bernalillo County to Try New Device in New Mexico DWI Arrests
New technology detects alcohol when drunk driving in Albuquerque is suspected.
The Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Department will soon have a new high-tech tool to combat driving while intoxicated in New Mexico. The county commission approved the purchase of ‘TruTouch’ equipment that is able to detect alcohol content by shining a beam of light through the skin.
The new technology will initially be used by law enforcement as an indicator that a more thorough drunk driving investigation needs to be undertaken. Deputies will still use field sobriety tests and breath tests to determine intoxication.
In fact, the ‘TruTouch’ system has to be accepted by judges and the court system before its results can be entered into evidence during a New Mexico DWI case.
A spokesperson for the Sheriff’s Department understands the need for proving the equipment’s validity, saying it must meet all scientific tests for determining blood alcohol content.
If you have been arrested for drunk driving in Bernalillo County, New Mexico you will need to hire an Albuquerque DWI lawyer.
Drug Court Established to Combat Repeat New Mexico DWI
Special Valencia County court takes aim at reducing drinking and driving in New Mexico
New Mexico Tries to Close DWI loophole
Plan would require all new residents to obtain a New Mexico driver’s license quickly
Under recently enacted legislation, the State of New Mexico requires all motorists convicted of drunk driving to install ignition interlock devices in their vehicles. This includes people with a DWI arrest since June 2005 who move to New Mexico and apply for a driver’s license. Current law however does not mandate a time frame for those moving to the state to obtain a new license. Consequently, those with drunk driving convictions from other states are simply prolonging their license applications.
In response, Governor Bill Richardson's administration is advocating for a new law that will require all those moving to the state to get a New Mexico driver's license within 30 days. Penalties will be devised to punish new residents who do not obtain a license within that time frame.
In the News
