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New Mexico, Hogback Chapter step up fight against drunk drivers

ALBUQUERQUE

New Mexico has revved up efforts to end drunk driving across the state, according to reports from Governor Susana Martinez’s office.

This past year, the state rounded up DWI fugitives, cracked down on liquor establishments that overserve, initiated a monitoring program to keep a close eye on judges and called out state police in one of the largest surveillance sweeps ever.

Over Memorial Day weekend, state police cruised alleys, streets, parks and back roads.

This past year, Martinez also signed off on Senate Bill 118 that increases jail time for repeat offenders by several years.

But, the DWI Resource Center, a nonprofit that collects traffic accident data reports, these initiatives are falling short when it comes to tribal communities.

According to a 2013 report by the DWI Resource Center, New Mexico’s Native Americans die in motor vehicle crashes three times more than other population groups.

“The 2013 figures continue a long-established pattern of very high crash death rates among the state’s Native American population,” stated author Steven Flint who cites the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as the source of his data.

“It’s appalling!” stated Flint.


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