Pubdate: Fri, 5 Dec 2008 Source: Albuquerque Journal (NM) Copyright: 2008 Albuquerque Journal Contact: http://www.abqjournal.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/10 Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/opinion.htm (Opinion) THERE OUGHTA BE LAWS ON DRIVING DRUGGED In New Mexico, the magic number that tells the legal system for sure that you've had too much booze to drive is a blood-alcohol level of .08 percent. But there's no magic number for too much heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, marijuana - or any other illegal drug, for that matter. So drive with illegal drugs in your system, maybe shoot up heroin and kill a guy changing his tire on the side of the road, and you walk. State Rep. Bill Rehm, R-Albuquerque, spent more than 20 years in county and city law enforcement. He watched suspects who tested positive for illegal drugs avoid prosecution. And while he tried to get them behind bars and off the road, he routinely ran up against the lack of a magic number when it came to drug intoxication. He's tried to change that since taking office in 2006; 2009 may be his magic number. A report shows that in 2007, 92 percent of New Mexico drivers who submitted to a blood test after an accident tested positive for a controlled substance. That's focused attention on closing this dangerous legal loophole. Gov. Bill Richardson's DWI adviser, Rachel O'Connor, says the governor plans to introduce a "drugged driving" bill adding a presumptive level of intoxication for narcotics. Rehm is working with the administration and says it will likely be based on Nevada legislation and, like his previous bills, target only illegal drugs. Once adopted, the benchmarks should be used administratively as well as criminally. The state Motor Vehicle Division suspends a driver's license for six months if they are arrested on a DWI charge and register a blood-alcohol content of .08 percent or higher. The same should go for drivers who register at or above a presumed level of intoxication for an illegal drug. When you're behind the wheel of a two-ton killing machine, wasted is wasted, whether it's on Seven and Seven or smack. And New Mexico has wasted enough time not getting these drivers off the road. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake