45th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2001

RELATING TO DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF INTOXICATING LIQUOR OR DRUGS; PROVIDING FOR THE INSTALLATION OF AN IGNITION INTERLOCK DEVICE ON THE MOTOR VEHICLE OF A FIRST-TIME OFFENDER; IMPOSING A FEE; CREATING A FUND; AMENDING AND ENACTING SECTIONS OF THE NMSA 1978.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

Section 1. Section 66-8-102 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1953, Chapter 139, Section 54, as amended) is amended to read:

"66-8-102. PERSONS UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF INTOXICATING LIQUOR OR DRUGS--AGGRAVATED DRIVING WHILE UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF INTOXICATING LIQUOR OR DRUGS--PENALTY.--

A. It is unlawful for [any] a person who is under the influence of intoxicating liquor to drive [any] a vehicle within this state.

B. It is unlawful for [any] a person who is under the influence of any drug to a degree that renders him incapable of safely driving a vehicle to drive [any] a vehicle within this state.

C. It is unlawful for [any] a person who has an alcohol concentration of eight one-hundredths or more in his blood or breath to drive [any] a vehicle within this state.

D. Aggravated driving while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or drugs consists of a person who:

(1) has an alcohol concentration of sixteen one-hundredths or more in his blood or breath while driving [any] a vehicle within this state;

(2) has caused bodily injury to a human being as a result of the unlawful operation of a motor vehicle while driving under the influence of intoxicating liquor or drugs; or

(3) refused to submit to chemical testing, as provided for in the Implied Consent Act, and in the judgment of the court, based upon evidence of intoxication presented to the court, was under the influence of intoxicating liquor or drugs.

E. Every person under first conviction under this section shall be punished, notwithstanding the provisions of Section 31-18-13 NMSA 1978, by imprisonment for not more than ninety days or by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars ($500), or both; provided that if the sentence is suspended in whole or in part or deferred, the period of probation may extend beyond [ninety days] one year but shall not exceed [one year] two years. Upon a first conviction under this section, an offender may be sentenced to not less than forty-eight hours of community service or a fine of three hundred dollars ($300). The offender shall be ordered by the court to participate in and complete a screening program described in Subsection H of this section and to attend a driver rehabilitation program for alcohol or drugs, also known as a "DWI school", approved by the [traffic safety] bureau [of the state highway and transportation department] and also may be required to participate in other rehabilitative services as the court shall determine to be necessary. In addition to those penalties, when an offender commits aggravated driving while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or drugs, the offender shall be sentenced to not less than forty-eight consecutive hours in jail. If an offender fails to complete, within a time specified by the court, any community service, screening program, treatment program or DWI school ordered by the court, the offender shall be sentenced to not less than an additional forty-eight consecutive hours in jail. Any jail sentence imposed under this subsection for failure to complete, within a time specified by the court, any community service, screening program, treatment program or DWI school ordered by the court or for aggravated driving while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or drugs shall not be suspended, deferred or taken under advisement. On a first conviction under this section, any time spent in jail for the offense prior to the conviction for that offense shall be credited to any term of imprisonment fixed by the court. A deferred sentence under this subsection shall be considered a first conviction for the purpose of determining subsequent convictions.

F. A second or third conviction under this section shall be punished, notwithstanding the provisions of Section 31-18-13 NMSA 1978, by imprisonment for not more than three hundred sixty-four days or by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000), or both; provided that if the sentence is suspended in whole or in part, the period of probation may extend beyond one year but shall not exceed five years. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary for suspension or deferment of execution of a sentence:

(1) upon a second conviction, each offender shall be sentenced to a jail term of not less than seventy-two consecutive hours, forty-eight hours of community service and a fine of five hundred dollars ($500). In addition to those penalties, when an offender commits aggravated driving while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or drugs, the offender shall be sentenced to a jail term of not less than ninety-six consecutive hours. If an offender fails to complete, within a time specified by the court, any community service, screening program or treatment program ordered by the court, the offender shall be sentenced to not less than an additional seven consecutive days in jail. A penalty imposed pursuant to this paragraph shall not be suspended or deferred or taken under advisement; and

(2) upon a third conviction, an offender shall be sentenced to a jail term of not less than thirty consecutive days and a fine of seven hundred fifty dollars ($750). In addition to those penalties, when an offender commits aggravated driving while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or drugs, the offender shall be sentenced to a jail term of not less than sixty consecutive days. If an offender fails to complete, within a time specified by the court, any screening program or treatment program ordered by the court, the offender shall be sentenced to not less than an additional sixty consecutive days in jail. A penalty imposed pursuant to this paragraph shall not be suspended or deferred or taken under advisement.

G. Upon a fourth or subsequent conviction under this section, an offender is guilty of a fourth degree felony, as provided in Section 31-18-15 NMSA 1978, and shall be sentenced to a jail term of not less than six months, which shall not be suspended or deferred or taken under advisement.

H. Upon any conviction under this section, an offender shall be required to participate in and complete, within a time specified by the court, an alcohol or drug abuse screening program and, if necessary, a treatment program approved by the court. The penalty imposed pursuant to this subsection shall not be suspended, deferred or taken under advisement.

I. Upon [any subsequent misdemeanor] a first conviction under this section [prior to July 1, 2003], as a condition of probation, an offender [may] shall be required to have an ignition interlock device installed and operating for a period of one year on [all motor vehicles owned by the offender or available for the offender's personal use, pursuant to rules adopted by the traffic safety bureau] all motor vehicles driven by the offender, pursuant to rules adopted by the bureau. The offender shall be required to prove one year of continuous, legal, alcohol-free driving before the device may be removed. The offender shall pay all costs associated with having an ignition interlock device installed on the appropriate motor vehicles. If an offender drives a motor vehicle that does not have an ignition interlock device installed on the motor vehicle, the offender shall be in violation of the terms and conditions of his probation.

J. Upon any subsequent conviction pursuant to this section, an offender may be required to have all motor vehicles driven by the offender impounded or immobilized for the period that the offender's driver's license is revoked or have ignition interlock devices installed and operating for a period of at least one year following reinstatement of his driver's license on all motor vehicles driven by the offender pursuant to rules adopted by the bureau. The offender shall be required to prove one year of continuous, legal, alcohol-free driving before the device may be removed. The offender shall pay all costs associated with immobilizing or impounding his motor vehicles or having ignition interlock devices installed on the appropriation motor vehicles.

[J.] K. In the case of a first, second or third offense under this section, the magistrate court has concurrent jurisdiction with district courts to try the offender.

[K.] L. A conviction under a municipal or county ordinance in New Mexico or a law of any other jurisdiction, territory or possession of the United States that is equivalent to New Mexico law for driving while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or drugs, and that prescribes penalties for driving while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or drugs, shall be deemed to be a conviction under this section for purposes of determining whether a conviction is a second or subsequent conviction.

[L.] M. In addition to any other fine or fee which may be imposed pursuant to the conviction or other disposition of the offense under this section, the court may order the offender to pay the costs of any court-ordered screening and treatment programs.

[M.] N. As used in this section:

(1) "bodily injury" means an injury to a person that is not likely to cause death or great bodily harm to the person, but does cause painful temporary disfigurement or temporary loss or impairment of the functions of any member or organ of the person's body; and

(2) "conviction" means an adjudication of guilt and does not include imposition of a sentence."

Section 2. [NEW MATERIAL] IMPOSING A FEE--CREATING A FUND.--

A. Beginning July 1, 2001, a fee is imposed on all persons who provide ignition interlock devices to persons convicted of driving while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or drugs pursuant to Section 66-8-102 NMSA 1978 in the amount of twenty percent of the amount charged to lease each ignition interlock device to a person convicted pursuant to that section and shall be paid monthly to the traffic safety bureau of the state highway and transportation department pursuant to rules adopted by the traffic safety bureau.

B. The "interlock device fund" is created in the state treasury. The fee imposed pursuant to Subsection A of this section shall be distributed to the fund by the traffic safety bureau of the state highway and transportation department.

C. Beginning January 1, 2002, all money in the interlock device fund is appropriated to the local government division of the department of finance and administration to cover the costs of leasing ignition interlock devices to indigent people who are required pursuant to convictions under Section 66-8-102 NMSA 1978 to install those devices in their vehicles.

D. The balance in and earnings on the fund shall not revert to the general fund at the end of a fiscal year but shall remain in the fund for distribution in subsequent years. E. The fund shall be administered by the local government division of the department of finance and administration.

Section 3. EFFECTIVE DATE.--The effective date of the provisions of this act is July 1, 2001.