Pubdate: Tue, 02 Nov 1999 Source: Albuquerque Journal (NM) Copyright: 1999 Albuquerque Journal Contact: P.O. Drawer J, Albuquerque, N.M. 87103 Website: http://www.abqjournal.com/ Author: Loie Fecteau, Journal Capitol Bureau GOV. BACKS TOUGHER DWI PENALTIES Gov. Gary Johnson said Monday he favors tougher penalties for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs -- although he offered no specific plan or proposed legislation. "Stiffening penalties for drinking while driving, driving while under the impairment of any substance, I'm all for," Johnson said. "Drinking and driving is just not acceptable behavior." Johnson made his comments outside the state Capitol as he helped the Santa Fe chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving kick off its annual red-ribbon safety campaign for the holidays. The ribbons are intended to remind drivers of the dangers of driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Johnson said New Mexico has made progress in combating drunken driving. He said DWI-related deaths in the state have dropped more than 40 percent in the past decade. "But our DWI rates are still higher than any of our surrounding states," Johnson said. "We still average 70 alcohol (related) crashes every week, and this has got to stop." Johnson said he would support putting legislation to increase DWI penalties on the agenda of the next legislative session, which begins in January. Johnson noted that in past legislative sessions he has proposed changing state law so that a person convicted of a first DWI offense would lose his or her driver's license for five years. The governor also has proposed jailing for six months anyone caught driving with a revoked license due to a DWI conviction. Neither proposal has been approved by lawmakers. On another topic, Johnson said New Mexico needs a super-maximum-security prison unit to help control violent and disruptive inmates. However, the governor said he was not advocating a specific super-max plan yet. "Apparently, it is something that we need," Johnson said of a super-max prison. "We need a mix of more of those beds." Corrections Secretary Rob Perry and Wackenhut Corrections Corp. officials have proposed converting half of Wackenhut's 600-bed Santa Rosa prison into a super-maximum-security prison. The conversion would be part of $5 million in proposed upgrades in security and rehabilitation programs at Wackenhut's prisons in Hobbs and Santa Rosa. Four inmates and a guard have been killed at the two prisons since December. On Friday, Perry said he also was considering converting the South unit at the Penitentiary of New Mexico outside Santa Fe into a super-maximum-security prison. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake