Dona Ana County Commissioners Crack Down On Drunk Drivers
LAS CRUCES,NM — Dona Ana County officials made it clearWednesdaythey aren’t tolerating drunk driving.
The County Commissioners voted unanimouslyWednesday to pass an ordinance allowing deputies to impound a vehicle the second time an offender is caught driving drunk.
Under the previous ordinance, drunk drivers lost their vehicles after a thirdDWI offense.
Under the new rule,an offenderwill have thirty days to appeal the forfeiture ofhis or hercar after a second DWI. Ifthe offenderdoes not appeal, the car becomes county property. Ifthe offenderdoes appeal, he or she hasto go before a judge who will decide the car’s fate.
County Commissioners say it was time to toughen the punishment for repeatDWI offenders. Supporting the ordinance, Commissioner Bill McCamley said that it’s wrong New Mexico has the most drunk driving deaths in the country.
