The State of New Mexico has take one more step to proving that were a bunch of
slacked jawed yokels. The House of Representative
passed a bill that
will require every vehicle sold in the state to have a
breathalyzer installed as a ignition interlock. Whether you have been convicted of DWI or for that matter whether you drink or not you will have to breath before you can start your car.
There are so many problems with this. Breathalyzer tests are not always accurate. There are probably ways that can one can remove them from the car. Not to mention a whole bunch of civil liberties that are being violated. It will also effect our local economy as people will go out of state to buy vehicles (unless they pass another bill requiring any vehicle with a NM license plate to be retrofitted with one of these things).
I Previously complained about the hight amount of DWI related accidents in New Mexico. The Governor has has proposed some useful changes (PDF) to the existing laws that will go farther then the poorly conceived breathalyzer plan.
- My package dramatically increases penalties for killing or injuring someone while driving drunk
- It toughens the penalties for multiple DWI offenders who kill or injure
- Multiple DWI offenders, and those who drive drunk on a suspended or revoked license, will also forfeit their vehicles. We?ll take the weapon out of their hands
- This package includes a new DWI child endangerment law, creating tougher penalties for those who drive drunk and injure our children, and
- I?m proposing a new law that makes it a separate crime to refuse a blood alcohol or breath alcohol test, closing an important loophole in our DWI laws.
Yet these changes haven’t even made it before the state legislator. These are the real changes that are needed.
This new bill still needs to make it through the senate and the Governor. This hasn’t yet made the national news but if it make is any further I’m sure everyone will be laughing at us.
[Update:] Here is some slashdot coverage.
Doesn't Fit In 