Usually, one of the things at the heart of any controversial issue is the legal aspect of it. Legally, driving while intoxicated is a crime, but does the justice system really treat is as one. This year in Hobbs, New Mexico, Leandro Mike Reyna was arrested on his 16th DWI charge. While Reyna was being booked, an officer found Reyna had a string of fifteen prior DWI arrests that spanned over a thirty-three yea

The consequences for the families of DWI victims is much larger that the consequences of the offenders. As well as punishment and jail time, DWI offenders are suppose to have to pay fines, go through alcohol screening, attend DWI school, perform community service, and install ignition interlock systems on their cars. All of these things are full of good intentions but too many times judges are so overwhelmed that not all of these consequences are assigned. Motorists who drive drunk are suppose to have their licenses pulled for a minimum of ninety days, no matter what happens in court. Increasingly, this is not happening. The consequences are not high enough to scare offenders straight. “The offenders have figured out New Mexico has a pretty offender friendly system” (Cole). If the consequences for DWI offenders are not strengthened then DWI rates are likely to continue to rise. Because of the lack of consequences against people who drive while intoxicated, DWI is an epidemic in New Mexico.

r period. Bob Schwartz, Gov. Bill Richardson’s senior counselor on crime and policy was quoted saying, “There’s no way in this guy should be our there.” If the New Mexico court system can let this happen, what kind of justice is that? Because of the legal aspects in New Mexico, DWI has become an epidemic.

In many cultures certain things that are widely accepted that are not usually accepted in normal society. When something that occurs like in the case with drinking and driving there is a huge lack of education involved. The lack of education involved in DWIs is the lack of information on the impact it has on the state of New Mexico and us as New Mexicans. DWI has a large financial effect on us; everyone pays for drinking and driving, even if you were not the one behind the wheel. We pay higher taxes to pay for things related to DWIs such as checkpoint, officers, and treatment programs. Many people are unaware that even if they are not caught drinking and driving they will eventually pay for it. Parents often tell their children about the consequences of sex and drugs, but do they discuss the consequences beyond death of drinking and driving. Not telling them is a lack of education. Because there is a lack of education in New Mexico for drinking and driving, DWI has become an epidemic in this state.

Another of the reasons DWI is such an epidemic in New Mexico is because many offenders fall through the cracks in the system. Last year, Bureau of Indian Affairs employee, Lloyd Larson, was driving on government time when he crashed into two Nebraska couples; both couples were killed

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