46th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2003

RELATING TO DRIVING WHILE UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF INTOXICATING LIQUOR OR DRUGS; REQUIRING THAT AN OFFENDER HAVE AN IGNITION INTERLOCK DEVICE INSTALLED ON AN APPROPRIATE MOTOR VEHICLE; PROVIDING FOR INSTALLATION OF AN IGNITION INTERLOCK DEVICE AS A CONDITION OF RELEASE ON BAIL; MAKING CHANGES TO THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE INTERLOCK DEVICE FUND; AMENDING SECTIONS OF THE NMSA 1978; DECLARING AN EMERGENCY.

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 a person who is under the influence of intoxicating liquor to drive a vehicle within this state.

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

C. It is unlawful for a person who has an alcohol concentration of eight one hundredths or more in his blood or breath to drive 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 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] A person under first conviction pursuant to 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 but shall not exceed one year. Upon a first conviction pursuant to 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 bureau 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 pursuant to 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 pursuant to 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 pursuant to this subsection shall be considered a first conviction for the purpose of determining subsequent convictions.

F. A second or third conviction pursuant to 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] an 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 pursuant to 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 pursuant to 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 requirement imposed pursuant to this subsection shall not be suspended, deferred or taken under advisement.

I. Upon a first conviction for aggravated driving while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or drugs pursuant to the provisions of Subsection D of this section,

as a condition of probation, an offender shall be required to have an ignition interlock device installed and operating for a period of one year on [all motor vehicles driven by the offender] the motor vehicle driven by the offender when he was arrested for driving while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or drugs, a motor vehicle owned by the offender or a motor vehicle that the offender has permission to operate, pursuant to rules adopted by the bureau. [Unless determined by the sentencing court to be indigent] The offender shall pay all costs associated with having an ignition interlock device installed on the appropriate motor [vehicles] vehicle, unless he is determined to be indigent pursuant to a standard adopted by the department of finance and administration. If an offender drives a motor vehicle that does not have an ignition interlock device installed on the motor vehicle, the offender may be in violation of the terms and conditions of his probation.

J. Upon a first conviction for driving while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or drugs pursuant to the provisions of Subsection A, B or C of this section, as a condition of probation, an offender may be required to have an ignition interlock device installed and operating for a period of one year on [all motor vehicles driven by the offender] the motor vehicle driven by the offender when he was arrested for driving while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or drugs, a motor vehicle owned by the offender or a motor vehicle that the offender has permission to operate, pursuant to rules adopted by the bureau. [Unless determined by the sentencing court to be indigent] The offender shall pay all costs associated with having an ignition interlock device installed on the appropriate motor [vehicles] vehicle, unless he is determined to be indigent pursuant to a standard adopted by the department of finance and administration. If an offender drives a motor vehicle that does not have an ignition interlock device installed on the motor vehicle, the offender may be in violation of the terms and conditions of his probation.

K. Upon any subsequent conviction pursuant to this section, as a condition of probation, a subsequent offender shall be required to have an ignition interlock device installed and operating for a period of at least one year on [all motor vehicles driven by the subsequent offender] the motor vehicle driven by the offender when he was arrested for driving while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or drugs, a motor vehicle owned by the offender or a motor vehicle that the offender has permission to operate, pursuant to rules adopted by the bureau. [Unless determined by the sentencing court to be indigent] The subsequent offender shall pay all costs associated with having an ignition interlock device installed on the appropriate motor [vehicles] vehicle, unless he is determined to be indigent pursuant to a standard adopted by the department of finance and administration. If a subsequent offender drives a motor vehicle that does not have an ignition interlock device installed on the motor vehicle, the subsequent offender may be in violation of the terms and conditions of his probation.

L. 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.

M. A conviction pursuant to 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 pursuant to this section for purposes of determining whether a conviction is a second or subsequent conviction.

N. In addition to any other fine or fee [which] that 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.

O. As a condition of release on bail following a person's arrest for driving while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or drugs, the presiding court may require the person to have an ignition interlock device installed on the motor vehicle driven by the person when he was arrested or on another motor vehicle driven more frequently by the person.

[O.] P. 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. Section 66-8-102.3 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 2002, Chapter 82, Section 2) is amended to read:

"66-8-102.3. IMPOSING A FEE--CREATING A FUND.--

A. 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 ten percent of the amount charged to lease, install, service and remove each ignition interlock device [to] for a person convicted pursuant to that section and shall be paid monthly to the local government division of the department of finance and administration.

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 local government division of the department of finance and administration.

C. 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 installing and [leasing] removing ignition interlock devices [to] for indigent people who are required, pursuant to convictions under Section 66-8-102 NMSA 1978, to install those devices in their vehicles. [Indigency shall be determined by the sentencing court.]

D. Any balance remaining in the interlock device fund shall not revert to the general fund at the end of any fiscal year.

E. The interlock device fund shall be administered by the local government division of the department of finance and administration. The department of finance and administration shall establish a standard for determining indigency. The standard shall not be less than one hundred thirty percent of the eligibility standard for public assistance."

Section 3. EMERGENCY.--It is necessary for the public peace, health and safety that this act take effect immediately.