Alcohol-lock on all cars stirs New Mexico outrage
Foe: Judges aren't following (current) law

Guardian Interlock Systems owner Robert Powell holds the device installed by his company on the ingnition system for 85 vehicles in San Juan and McKinley Counties Wednesday, in Farmington. (Photo by Craig Robinson/Independent)

By Tom Purdom, Staff Writer

GRANTS — Do not tell Timothy Halford that New Mexico judges are doing a fine job of following the current ignition interlock law.

People across the state are upset with House Bill 126, which would require ignition interlock devices be installed on all new cars sold in New Mexico by Jan. 1, 2008, regardless of the purchaser's driving record.

Halford, CEO of Adobe Interlock, a company leasing the ignition interlock devices in court-ordered cases, said people should turn their ire in a different direction.

A law went into effect last year requiring ignition interlock devices be installed on vehicles of all drunk driving cases involving aggravated drunk driving, or, when an individual gets his or her second driving while intoxicated conviction. It is the lack of enforcement of that law which Halford said people should be concerned about.

The problem is, judges across the state are breaking the law by ignoring the existing interlock law.

"If (people) are mad about (HB 126), they ought to be mad as hell with the judges who are not requiring the devices be put on cars of repeat offenders," Halford said.

A state study shows that New Mexico has about 20,000 drunk driving cases each year. Studies also show that of the 20,000, about 9,000 are repeat offenders.

"Explain to me why I have more ignition interlock devices installed in Hobbs, New Mexico, in a year's time than I do in Albuquerque." Halford said.

The interlock device uses a blow tube which activates sensors when one blows into the tube. If alcohol is detected, the sensors activate a mechanism which shuts down the vehicle's ignition system and the car cannot be started. In addition, a new test is given about every 10 minutes while the car is in use. Interlock devices authorized for use in New Mexico record the driving record and the record is downloaded by companies such as Adobe Interlock. The driving record is then turned over to judges to see how the driver is doing.

Halford said in states where ignition interlock devices have been in use for a few years, repeat DWI offenses have been reduced. He said the state of Maryland has experienced a 65 percent decrease in repeat offenders because of the use of ignition interlock devices.

Halford said the intent of the ignition interlock device is not to force people to stop drinking.

"It won't do that," he said. "The device is for the rest of us driving on New Mexico roads who want to go to their kids' ball game without getting killed."

The current New Mexico interlock law states that all persons with a second conviction of drunk driving must have an interlock device installed on their car for at least a year.

"So why are there so many people with second convictions out there without the devices on their cars?" Halford asked. "Because some judges are not following the law."

Halford is a firm believer in the interlock system.

"Look, everything we've been trying up to the point of the interlock hasn't worked," he said. "We have to look at other ways and the interlock already has been proven to work."

Halford said if the New Mexico Legislature did not believe in ignition interlock devices as well, lawmakers would not have passed the current law in the first place.

However, the number of judges ordering violators to install the units must be low.

Said Halford, "If I got a 30 percent participation from the judges in New Mexico, I'd be happy."

Halford said he is concerned about ignition interlock devices being required on cars belonging to Native Americans.

"The magistrate judges in Grants were concerned that if we put an interlock device on a car of a Native American, and that person goes into the reservation, we can't go on the reservation and get the device back," Halford said. "That is a real concern, but we are working on it and may have a solution."

He added that Cibola County does have several individuals with court-ordered ignition interlock devices.