Sen. Payne Supports Tougher DWI, Not Bill that Misleads Public

Senator Who Supports Tough DWI Laws Does Not Support Public Being Misled
Mandatory Jail Time Not “Mandatory” at All
View Video Clip on: YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cN3JWq336Vs
And at www.newmexicorepublicansenators.blogspot.com

Santa Fe--“The public was sold a bill of goods,” that is the reaction of
State Minority Whip Bill Payne of Albuquerque about a bill he said misled the public about being tough on DWI, when in fact it was the opposite.
“I never voted against tough DWI laws in 14 years, I support tougher DWI laws,” Senator Payne said. “But the bill presented to Senate Judiciary had a huge loophole that would have allowed first time DWI offenders to skip out on any jail time and instead would have only required the offender to wear an ankle bracelet around town. How tough is that? The public was led to believe there was mandatory jail time when in fact the bill allowed and even encouraged the DWI offender to be sentenced to community custody in lieu of jail time. The only thing mandatory in the bill is the word “mandatory.”

The bill, SB 3 & 5- Increasing Penalties for DWI Offenders reads:
“…in lieu of the mandatory jail term, the offender may be sentenced to a minimum of thirty days in a DWI community custody program…”