County gets tougher against repeat DWIs

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - A tougher stance against drunken drivers in Bernalillo County will mean those who tried to skirt one of the harshest DWI penalties in the city will not be able to get away with it any more.

Tuesday night, Bernalillo County Commissioners passed the Vehicle Seizure and Forfeiture Ordinance.

Commissioner Wayne Johnson said the ordinance nearly mirrors a city of Albuquerque law that strips repeat drunken drivers of their cars when they are pulled over again for DWI.

“If you have one conviction and you have a second arrest, then they can seize your vehicle,” Johnson said.

Johnson said the ordinance is needed because for far too long parts of the county surrounding Albuquerque have been a safe haven for drunken drivers. Johnson said repeat drunks drivers have learned what laws they can avoid by using county roads instead of city streets.

“The city's hearing examiner told me a story about one gentleman who blew through a stop sign and went down the street and would not pull over until he got outside the city limit,” Johnson said.

Johnson said it was the fourth DWI arrest for that repeat offender. He said according to city officials others have tried this trick, too.

Sheriff Dan Houston said it’s not hard to do.

“Bridge and Eighth,” Houston said referring to a city intersection on the east bank of the Rio Grande.  "If you're stopped for DWI, DUI, the penalty is going to be that the possibility of a seizure vehicle

Houston said if that repeat offender crosses over the river and then pulls over they would then be in the county and would keep their car. However, the county's new ordinance will no longer allow that option.

The program is expected to cost the county $2 million to run. Commissioner said the county is already talking to the city about teaming up and running the programs together to save money.

That would mean the number of cars brought to the city's seizure lot is expected to increase.

Of course, those seized vehicles are auctioned off which helps pay for the program. The new law goes into effect in 30 days.