Roth 3/25/ Lifesavers Conference1 Reducing DWI With Interlocks The New Mexico Experience Lifesavers Conference March 25-27, 2007 Richard Roth, PhD Research Consultant and Citizen Lobbyist Supported by PIRE, RWJ, and NM TSB

Roth 3/25/ Lifesavers Conference2 New York Times Editorial November 25, “The initial (MADD) goal, which is backed by associations of State highway officials and car manufacturers, is to have all states do what New Mexico has already done: require that all convicted drunken drivers, even first-time offenders, have devices installed in their cars that measure alcohol in the breath and immobilized the car if levels exceed set limits.”

Roth 3/25/ Lifesavers Conference3 An Ignition Interlock is an Electronic Probation Officer Dedicated Probation Officer in Front Seat On duty 24 hours per day Tests and Records daily BAC’s Allows only Alcohol-Free Persons to Drive. Reports All Violations to the Court Costs Offender only $2.30 per day. (1 less drink per day)

Roth 3/25/ Lifesavers Conference4 New Mexico Interlock Laws 1999 Optional for 2 nd and 3 rd DWI Mandatory for all Aggravated and Subsequent DWI. Indigent Fund 2003 Ignition Interlock License Act: ….an alternative to revocation Mandatory Interlocks for all DWIs: 1yr for 1 st ; 2 for 2 nd ; 3 for 3 rd ; Lifetime for 4+

Roth 3/25/ Lifesavers Conference5 Interlocks are Effective, Cost-Effective and Fair Interlocks reduce DWI re-arrests by 40-90% They reduce the economic impact of drunk driving by $3 to $7 for every $1 of cost. Interlocks are perceived as a fair sanction by 85% of over 5000 offenders surveyed...But they only work if… you get them installed.

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Roth 3/25/ Lifesavers Conference7 How does New Mexico compare with other states in interlock utilization?

Roth 3/25/ Lifesavers Conference8 Comparison Groups(RED) Interlocked Groups(GREEN) Effectiveness with Court Mandated Offenders

Roth 3/25/ Lifesavers Conference9 RED=Comparison Groups GREEN=Interlocked Groups Effectiveness with Volunteers ie. Not court-mandated

Roth 3/25/ Lifesavers Conference10 Re-Arrest Rates Down 30-44%

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Roth 3/25/ Lifesavers Conference13 Fewer Alcohol Involved Fatal Crashes and Fatalities

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Roth 3/25/ Lifesavers Conference15 Survey of Interlocked Offenders 77%81% 69% 63% N = 796

Roth 3/25/ Lifesavers Conference16 Interlocks Installed Per Conviction in First 9 months of 2006 Caution: this figure includes installations by persons not convicted, and changes of provider.

Roth 3/25/ Lifesavers Conference17 Interlocks Installed per DWI Arrest by County in NM Jan-Sept 2006 Caution: Includes some changes of Provider. Room for Improvement

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Roth 3/25/ Lifesavers Conference19 Proposals to Close NM Loopholes 1.Add “or electronic monitoring” for No car. 2.Vehicle Forfeiture for driving while revoked without an interlock. 3.Vehicle Immobilization or Interlock between arrest and adjudication. 4.Crime to contribute to circumvention. 5.Apply interlock sanction to juvenile offenders. 6.Mandate a period of alcohol-free DRIVING before getting unrestricted license.

Roth 3/25/ Lifesavers Conference20 Legislative Recommendations 1.Immobilization or Interlock between DWI arrest and adjudication. 2.Mandatory Interlock for at least one year for all convicted offenders with electronic monitoring or urine testing as the only alternatives. 3.Compliance Based Removal. Requirement: No recorded BAC >.05 by any driver for a year. 4.Interlock License as an Alternative to Revocation. 5.An Indigent Fund with objective standards. 6.Mandatory Period of Interlock before Unrestricted License Reinstatement.