AN ACT
RELATING TO DRIVING WHILE
UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF INTOXICATING LIQUOR OR DRUGS; RECONCILING MULTIPLE
AMENDMENTS TO SECTION 66-8-102 NMSA 1978 (BEING LAWS 1953, CHAPTER 139, SECTION
54, AS AMENDED BY LAWS 2003, CHAPTER 51, SECTION 10 AND BY LAWS 2003, CHAPTER
90, SECTION 3 AND ALSO BY LAWS 2003, CHAPTER 164, SECTION 10); PROVIDING
SANCTIONS FOR PROBATION VIOLATORS; CLARIFYING PROVISIONS REGARDING TREATMENT OF
OFFENDERS; INCREASING THE SENTENCING ENHANCEMENT FOR PRIOR DWI CONVICTIONS WHEN
A PERSON COMMITS HOMICIDE BY VEHICLE OR GREAT BODILY HARM BY VEHICLE WHILE DWI;
PROVIDING PENALTIES; 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 by Laws 2003, Chapter 51,
Section 10 and by Laws 2003, Chapter 90, Section 3 and also by Laws 2003,
Chapter 164, Section 10) 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:
(1) 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; or
(2) a person who has an alcohol concentration of
four one hundredths or more in his blood or breath to drive a commercial motor
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. 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 K 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 or fails to comply with any other
condition of probation, the offender shall be sentenced to not less than an
additional forty-eight consecutive hours in jail. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the
contrary, if an offender's sentence was suspended or deferred in whole or in
part, and the offender violates any condition of probation, the court may
impose any sentence that the court could have originally imposed and credit
shall not be given for time served by the offender on probation. 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, an offender shall
be sentenced to a jail term of not less than ninety-six 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 conviction pursuant to this
section, an offender is guilty of a fourth degree felony and, notwithstanding
the provisions of Section 31-18-15 NMSA 1978, shall be sentenced to a term of
imprisonment of eighteen months, six months of which shall not be suspended,
deferred or taken under advisement.
H. Upon a fifth conviction pursuant to this
section, an offender is guilty of a fourth degree felony and, notwithstanding
the provisions of Section 31-18-15 NMSA 1978, shall be sentenced to a term of
imprisonment of two years, one year of which shall not be suspended, deferred
or taken under advisement.
I. Upon a sixth conviction pursuant to this
section, an offender is guilty of a third degree felony and, notwithstanding
the provisions of Section 31-18-15 NMSA 1978, shall be sentenced to a term of
imprisonment of thirty months, eighteen months of which shall not be suspended,
deferred or taken under advisement.
J. Upon a seventh or subsequent conviction
pursuant to this section, an offender is guilty of a third degree felony and,
notwithstanding the provisions of Section 31-18-15 NMSA 1978, shall be
sentenced to a term of imprisonment of three years, two years of which shall
not be suspended, deferred or taken under advisement.
K. 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 approved by
the department of finance and administration 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.
L. Upon a second or third conviction pursuant to
this section, an offender shall be required to participate in and complete,
within a time specified by the court:
(1) not less than a twenty-eight-day inpatient,
residential or in-custody substance abuse treatment program approved by the
court;
(2) not less than a ninety-day outpatient treatment
program approved by the court;
(3) a drug court program approved by the court;
or
(4) any other substance abuse treatment program
approved by the court.
The
requirement imposed pursuant to this subsection shall not be suspended,
deferred or taken under advisement.
M. Upon a felony conviction pursuant to this
section, the corrections department shall provide substance abuse counseling
and treatment to the offender in its custody.
While the offender is on probation or parole under its supervision, the
corrections department shall also provide substance abuse counseling and
treatment to the offender or shall require the offender to obtain substance
abuse counseling and treatment.
N. 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, 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. 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.
O. 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, 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. 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.
P. 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, 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. 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.
Q. 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.
R. 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 or of a tribe, when that ordinance or law is equivalent
to New Mexico law for driving while under the influence of intoxicating liquor
or drugs, and 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.
S. In addition to any other fine or fee 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.
T. 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;
(2) "commercial motor vehicle" means a
motor vehicle or combination of motor vehicles used in commerce to transport
passengers or property if the motor vehicle:
(a) has a gross combination weight rating of more
than twenty-six thousand pounds inclusive of a towed unit with a gross vehicle
weight rating of more than ten thousand pounds;
(b) has a gross vehicle weight rating of more
than twenty-six thousand pounds;
(c) is designed to transport sixteen or more
passengers, including the driver; or
(d) is of any size and is used in the
transportation of hazardous materials, which requires the motor vehicle to be
placarded under applicable law; and
(3) "conviction" means an adjudication
of guilt and does not include imposition of a sentence."
Section
2. Section 66-8-101 NMSA 1978 (being
Laws 1978, Chapter 35, Section 509, as amended) is amended to read:
"66-8-101. HOMICIDE BY VEHICLE--GREAT BODILY HARM BY
VEHICLE.--
A. Homicide by vehicle is the killing of a human
being in the unlawful operation of a motor vehicle.
B. Great bodily harm by vehicle is the injuring
of a human being, to the extent defined in Section 30-1-12 NMSA 1978, in the
unlawful operation of a motor vehicle.
C. A person who commits homicide by vehicle or
great bodily harm by vehicle while under the influence of intoxicating liquor
or while under the influence of any drug or while violating Section 66-8-113
NMSA 1978 is guilty of a third degree felony and shall be sentenced pursuant to
the provisions of Section 31-18-15 NMSA 1978, provided that violation of
speeding laws as set forth in the Motor Vehicle Code shall not per se be a
basis for violation of Section 66‑8-113 NMSA 1978.
D. A person who commits homicide by vehicle or
great bodily harm by vehicle while under the influence of intoxicating liquor
or while under the influence of any drug, as provided in Subsection C of this
section, and who has incurred a prior DWI conviction within ten years of the
occurrence for which he is being sentenced under this section shall have his
basic sentence increased by four years for each prior DWI conviction.
E. For the purposes of this section, "prior
DWI conviction" means:
(1) a prior conviction under Section 66‑8‑102
NMSA 1978; or
(2) a prior conviction in New Mexico or any other
jurisdiction, territory or possession of the United States, including a tribal
jurisdiction, when the criminal act is driving under the influence of alcohol
or drugs.
F. A person who willfully operates a motor
vehicle in violation of Subsection C of Section 30-22-1 NMSA 1978 and directly
or indirectly causes the death of or great bodily harm to a human being is
guilty of a third degree felony and shall be sentenced pursuant to the
provisions of Section 31‑18-15 NMSA 1978."
Section
3. EMERGENCY.--It is necessary for the
public peace, health and safety that this act take effect immediately.
HJC/SJC/SB 144&207
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