Pubdate: Sat, 19 Jan 2002
Source: Albuquerque Tribune (NM)
Copyright: 2002 The Albuquerque Tribune
Contact:  http://www.abqtrib.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/11
Author: Kate Nash

PUBLIC SAFETY BOSS WANTS CLEAR LAWS IN PLACE AGAINST STONED DRIVERS

We know not to drive drunk.

But what about driving high?

Department of Public Safety Secretary Tom English said he wants to make it 
clear during this Legislative session that stoned drivers also are breaking 
the law.

"We have a enough of a problem with drunk drivers. We want to make sure 
people understand the state is in no way wanting people to drive if they've 
consumed marijuana."

However, it's more difficult to measure a driver's blood marijuana level 
than his or her blood alcohol level, English said.

"So we're working with scientists to see what the testing (for marijuana) 
would be like."

Rep. Al Park plans to sponsor the bill, which could allow officers to use a 
finger prick device to test drivers' blood for marijuana.

"This is another arrow in the officers' quiver," said Park, an Albuquerque 
Democrat.

"I don't want people driving while intoxicated - or high."

English said he's not sure how many stoned drivers are arrested each year, 
but the department needs the measure to "make sure there's no loophole so 
you can drive while you're high."

English said Gov. Gary Johnson agreed to put the measure on his call, which 
is the agenda for items this session not related to the budget.

The measure is one of a handful of policy changes the department is seeking 
this year.

Another also has to do with drivers who are intoxicated.

A bill likely to be sponsored by Sens. Kent Cravens and Ramsay Gorham, both 
Albuquerque Republicans, would create a registry of people who are 
convicted three or more times of drunken driving.

"We're not talking about someone who does it once and makes a mistake," 
English said. "We're after people who make mistake and mistake after mistake."

The registry wouldn't be accessible to the public. English said about 1,000 
New Mexicans have at least three DWI convictions and would have to register.

"If someone has three convictions, they've probably done it 500 to 600 
times," he said.

Also during the session, the department is seeking to tweak the state's sex 
offender act, known as the Megan's Law.

That law requires convicted sex offenders to register their whereabouts 
with law-enforcement authorities.

The state, the last in the nation to pass such a bill, has to improve the 
law to meet federal requirements, English said. If the measure isn't 
tightened, the state could lose $400,000 in federal crime fighting grant money.

One change that could be made, Gorham said, would extend the length of time 
for which convicted offenders must keep registering with law- enforcement 
officials.

A bill being drafted would make mandatory lifetime registration for the 
most violent sex offenders and a 20-year period for less violent sex criminals.

Also on the department's list is a bill that would require law enforcement 
officials to fingerprint everyone arrested in New Mexico.

English said that used to be the case "but compliance has sort of drifted."

The bill, sponsored last year by Albuquerque Republican Rep. Joe Mohorovic, 
would require law enforcement agencies to submit the fingerprints to the 
Department of Public Safety, which in turn forwards copies to the Federal 
Bureau of Investigations.

English said he's also working with legislators on measures that would 
heighten the penalties for murdering a police officer and for fleeing a 
police officer.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom