New Mexico City Street Sweeper Charged With DWI
Driving while intoxicated is generally associated with typical vehicles such as a car or truck, but any operation of a motor vehicle while intoxicated is against New Mexico state law.
October 26, 2012
New Mexico City Street Sweeper Charged With DWINew Mexico City Street Sweeper Charged With DWI
Driving while intoxicated is generally associated with typical vehicles such as a car or truck. But any operation of a motor vehicle while intoxicated is against New Mexico state law, which a state employee working as city street sweeper recently found out to his detriment. The employee, Herbert Morgan, was out to clean up after an accident, but missed the debris entirely and instead crashed into a police car. He ended up backing into a police deputy's car twice but did not seem to notice. The police asked Morgan to submit to a Breathalyzer test, which revealed a blood alcohol concentration of twice the legal limit.
The unusual DWI arrest came shortly after police arrested four young men in an Amish buggy that collided with a police car while carrying alcohol in western New York, according to GlobalPost.
DUI Penalties in New Mexico
No matter the vehicle, DWI penalties in New Mexico are the same. A first-offense DWI carries the following punishments:
-Up to 90 days in prison
-Up to a $500 fine
-Twenty-four hours of community service
-Attendance at "DWI school"
-Up to one year license revocation
New Mexico also enacted legislation in 2005 that made it mandatory to install an ignition interlock device even for a first offense. An ignition interlock device is essentially an alcohol breath test for a car. An IID measures a driver's BAC before allowing the car to start. It also periodically tests the driver's BAC while driving.
New Mexico's DWI laws increase with subsequent convictions and for certain other factors. For example, a fourth DWI conviction is a felony that results in:
-Lifetime driver's license revocation
-Mandatory six month prison sentence, with a maximum of 18 months
-Up to a $5,000 fine
In addition, drivers with a BAC of 0.16 are subject to aggravated DWI charges, which increases the amount of mandatory jail time for offenders.
If you have been charged with a DWI, contact an experienced criminal defense attorney who can defend your rights in court and possibly reduce the amount of jail time and fines you face.
Article provided by Law Office of Matthew Vance, P.C.
Visit us at http://www.mattvancelaw.com/