Santa Fe, NM – Bipartisan legislation sponsored by Rep. Jim Dines to allow judges to impose stricter penalties on DWI felons passed the House of Representatives today by a vote of 49 to 16. The bill, HB 82, would expand New Mexico’s Habitual Offender law to include DWI felonies.
“I’m pleased the House has passed this bill to fix a gap in our existing Habitual Offender law to include DWI felons,” said Dines. “I hope the Senate will join the House in approving this measure to protect New Mexicans from repeat DWI offenders.”
Currently, a DWI offense can be deemed a felony after the fourth conviction. Individuals convicted of a DWI felony are not considered habitual offenders and are exempted from the stricter penalties provided for in the law. The legislation sponsored by Dines would make repeat drunk drivers eligible for sentencing under the Habitual Offender law.