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F I S C A L I M P A C T R E P O R T

SPONSOR HJC

DATE TYPED 03/04/05 HB 282, 494 & 506/HJCS

SHORT TITLE DWI License Suspensions & Interlocks

SB

ANALYST Ford

APPROPRIATION

Appropriation Contained Estimated Additional Impact Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY05

FY06

FY05

FY06

$500.0 -

$1,200.0*

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

*See Narrative

Conflicts with

HB 472, HB 492, HB 493, HB 502, SB 154, SB 187, SB 581, SB 587, SB 603, SB 714

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

SUMMARY

Synopsis of HJC Substitute Bill

The House Judiciary Committee substitute for House Bills 282, 494 and 506 requires that all

DWI offenders have their driver’s licenses suspended and have ignition interlock devices in-

stalled on their vehicles for a set time-period as follows:

A.

First conviction: one year

B.

Second conviction: two years

C.

Third conviction: three years

D.

Fourth or subsequent conviction: the remainder of the offender’s life.

The bill provides that fourth or subsequent offenders may apply to the district court after 5 years

(and every 5 years thereafter) to have the ignition interlock device requirement removed and/or

their driver’s license restored provided there have not been any subsequent DWI convictions.

The bill also removes the existing provisions of law that allow a first-time offender to receive

either a driver’s license or a limited license after attending DWI school.

House Bill 282, 494 & 506/HJCS -- Page 2

Significant Issues

Current law requires first-time offenders of aggravated DWI to have an ignition interlock device

installed and operational for one year. The law provides that DWI offenders may be required to

have an ignition interlock device installed and operational on their vehicles for one year. Also,

current law allows first time offenders to avoid license suspension by attending DWI school.

This bill would require license revocation for all DWI offenders for specified time periods and

would require ignition interlock devices for all DWI offenders for the same time periods. The

bill would substantially increase the number of offenders required to have ignition interlock de-

vices and would increase the length of time the devices are required for subsequent offenders.

In March, 2004, the Governor created the Task Force on Ignition Interlock Technology and De-

ployment by Executive Order. The Task Force reviewed information regarding the effectiveness

of ignition interlock devices.

The task force reported that there are approximately 20,000 DWI arrests resulting in almost

13,000 convictions annually. About 2,500 ignition interlock devices are installed annually, rep-

resenting a small percentage of those convicted.

Data on the ignition interlock devices shows that they are effective in reducing DWI recidivism

during the time period they are installed on the vehicle. However, there are barriers to the effec-

tiveness of the interlock devices, including the problem that some offenders do not install the de-

vices as ordered or drive vehicles not equipped with the devices.

The Administrative Office of the Courts has raised the concern that the courts lack the personnel

to monitor compliance with ignition interlock device requirements. Without adequate monitor-

ing, the effectiveness of interlock requirements is reduced. The Bernalillo County Metropolitan

Court echoes these concerns.

The companies that install and maintain the ignition interlock devices provide much of the day-

to-day monitoring and thus alleviate some expense to the courts. However, the courts must have

personnel and procedures to receive information from these companies. If an offender is found

to have violated his/her sentence, the courts have to respond, which would likely require a judi-

cial proceeding to determine the appropriate response. The effectiveness of an expanded ignition

interlock device requirement may be reduced because of the lack of court officials to provide

adequate monitoring.

PERFORMANCE IMPLICATIONS

Both the Department of Transportation and the Department of Public Safety have performance

measures related to reducing alcohol-related accidents, injuries and fatalities. To the extent that

stricter license suspension and ignition interlock device requirements reduce recidivism and/or

serve as a deterrent, this bill could help the departments improve on their performance measures.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The bill will result in cost increases to the courts because of the additional workload for in-

creased monitoring of offenders and increased number of court proceedings.

House Bill 282, 494 & 506/HJCS -- Page 3

There are approximately 13,000 DWI convictions annually. These convictions would result in

either a new or extended ignition interlock device requirement. The bill could lead to an increase

in judicial proceedings. There may be an increase in the number of non-compliance hearings be-

cause of the lengthened ignition interlock device requirements. In addition, because the penalties

will increase, violators may be less likely to accept a plea agreement, which would lead to an in-

crease in the number of jury trials. Finally, the provision allowing 4

th

and subsequent offenders

to petition for removal of the ignition interlock requirement every 5 years would generate addi-

tional court proceedings.

In evaluating the proposed ignition interlock device requirements, the Bernalillo County Metro-

politan Court assessed that it would require 5 additional probation officer I positions, 1 probation

officer III and 1 judicial specialist for a total salary of $329.4 thousand. The court estimated that

3,333 new first time offenders in 2004 would have been subject to the ignition interlock device

requirements under this bill.

Using the Metro Court’s figures as a basis of general costs, the costs associated with fully

monitoring the ignition interlock device compliance of 13,000 DWI offenders per year could

range from $500 thousand to $1.2 million.

The bill does not require that courts hire new personnel. However, the effectiveness of the igni-

tion interlock device requirement will be reduced to the extent that adequate monitoring re-

sources are not in place.

CONFLICT, DUPLICATION, COMPANIONSHIP, RELATIONSHIP

Numerous bills have been introduced to combat New Mexico’s DWI problem. Several bills in-

cluding, Senate Bills 154, 187, 603 and 714 specifically relate to ignition interlock devices. Sev-

eral other bills propose to amend the same sections as those amended in this bill, including

House Bills 472, 492, 493, and 502 and Senate Bills 581 and 587.

EF/yr