OFF TOPIC- DWI hot-line letters are 'vigilantism,' group says

I wonder if law enforcement gets calls about sex offender concerns and keeps track of them? Calls not related to drunk driving, just calls about sex offenders, if they do it would be interesting to know what types of calls (complaints) they get tabulated similar to these statistics.

7-4-2008 New Mexico:

SANTA FE -- State officials say it would be a "wake-up call" to send warning letters to the owners of automobiles that were reported to the state's drunken driving hot line but whose drivers were never arrested. The American Civil Liberties Union has another term: "vigilantism."

George Bach, staff attorney for the ACLU of New Mexico, said sending letters to the owners of autos reported to the DrunkBuster's hot line could lead to government scrutiny of innocent people, the Albuquerque Journal reported Thursday in a copyright story.

"This is basically state-sponsored vigilantism," he said.

About 16,000 calls were made to the hot line last year to report possible drunken drivers. Almost 890 motorists were stopped by police and about 200 arrests were made for drunken driving because of the calls. ..News Source.. by ElPaso Times


Letters going to people reported by DWI hot line

7-1-2008 New Mexico:

SANTA FE—New Mexico wants to deliver what state officials describe as a "wake up call" to motorists who may drink and drive but haven't gotten caught.

Starting this week, the state will send letters to the owners of automobiles reported to New Mexico's DrunkBuster's anti-DWI hot line. The letters will tell people their vehicles were allegedly being driven erratically or in an unsafe manner.

"It's no longer just law enforcement that are looking out for drunk drivers. It's citizens that are looking out for drunk drivers. That perception is really important in continuing to work to reduce DWI in New Mexico," Rachel O'Connor, the state's DWI czar, said Tuesday.

Last year, about 16,000 calls were made to the telephone hot line to report possible drunken drivers. Almost 890 motorists were stopped by police and about 200 arrests were made for drunken driving because of the calls. She said six wrong-way drivers also were stopped by calls.

The letters will tell people the time, date and location when their vehicle was reported to the drunken driving hot line.

"It's a courtesy letter—maybe a wake-up call for some of those drivers," said Faron Segotta, chief of the state police.

Gov. Bill Richardson and other officials also announced that a "superblitz" against drunken driving will be conducted by law enforcement during the July Fourth holiday and the state will airing a new television and radio advertisement to discourage drinking and driving.
"I am confident that these new initiatives will make people think twice before drinking and driving on our highways," said Richardson.

Alcohol-related traffic deaths have dropped sharply through the first half of the year, declining almost 40 percent from last year, according to preliminary figures released by O'Connor.

She attributed the decline to the "collective buzz" of programs and laws against drunken driving, which range from tougher penalties and greater enforcement to ignition interlocks for offenders. "It's never just one thing," said O'Connor. ..News Source.. by BARRY MASSEY