Summary: DWI enforcement levels in New Mexico have been declining in recent years, and the reduction appears to contribute to reduced progress at reducing alcohol-related crash deaths. Changes in Bernalillo County are especially marked, primarily reflecting various policy changes and special operations of the Albuquerque Police Department. Examining the rest of the State separately provides some additional insights.
NM Statewide DWI Arrests and Alcohol-related Crashes,
January-May 2000 and prior years.
At this writing the most recent complete data on 2000 DWI arrests in New Mexico covers the period from January-May. The counts show DWI arrests at their lowest levels since 1989, comparing to January-May in each prior year since 1985.
|
Year |
Jan-May |
Jan-May
Alcohol-Related Crash
Deaths |
|
1985 |
8,520 |
97 |
|
1986 |
8,447 |
124 |
|
1987 |
7,770 |
113 |
|
1988 |
7,617 |
99 |
|
1989 |
7,713 |
117 |
|
1990 |
8,973 |
106 |
|
1991 |
8,891 |
93 |
|
1992 |
8,567 |
108 |
|
1993 |
10,080 |
92 |
|
1994 |
10,675 |
74 |
|
1995 |
9,439 |
87 |
|
1996 |
9,102 |
94 |
|
1997 |
8,757 |
80 |
|
1998 |
8,463 |
85 |
|
1999 |
8,433 |
71 |
|
2000 |
8,080 |
86 |
Graphing the arrest trends against the Highway Department's counts of alcohol-related traffic deaths for January-May of those same years shows interesting patterns. Note that the big increase in arrests in 1994 corresponds to a sharp drop in crash deaths, and that the subsequent decreases in arrests correspond to increases. Fortunately, the August 1998 closure of drive-up window sales of alcohol helps reduce the effects of general decline in DWI arrests during Governor Johnson's terms.
Bernalillo County DWI Arrests and Alcohol-related Crashes,
January-May 2000 and prior years.
At this writing the most recent data on 2000 DWI arrests in Bernalillo County covers the period from January-May. The counts show DWI arrests at their lowest levels since 1986, comparing to January-May in each prior year since 1986.
|
Year |
Jan-May |
Jan-May |
|
1986 |
3,184 |
29 |
|
1987 |
2,851 |
21 |
|
1988 |
2,928 |
20 |
|
1989 |
2,815 |
16 |
|
1990 |
3,566 |
14 |
|
1991 |
3,355 |
16 |
|
1992 |
2,504 |
23 |
|
1993 |
3,152 |
16 |
|
1994 |
3,221 |
16 |
|
1995 |
2,680 |
18 |
|
1996 |
2,401 |
21 |
|
1997 |
2,483 |
21 |
|
1998 |
2,802 |
9 |
|
1999 |
2,614 |
12 |
|
2000 |
2,337 |
12 |
Graphing the arrest trends against the Highway Department's counts of Bernalillo County alcohol-related traffic deaths for January-May of those same years shows even stronger patterns. Note that the big increases in arrests in 1990, 1993, and 1998 correspond to drops in crash deaths, and that the decreases in arrests in 1992, 1995, 1996, and 1999 correspond to increases.
NM Outside Bernalillo County
-- DWI Arrests and Alcohol-related Crashes,
January-May 2000 and prior years.
For New Mexico DWI arrests Bernalillo County also are at low levels historically, comparing to January-May in each prior year since 1986.
|
Year |
Jan-May |
Jan-May |
|
1986 |
5,263 |
95 |
|
1987 |
4,919 |
92 |
|
1988 |
4,689 |
79 |
|
1989 |
4,898 |
101 |
|
1990 |
5,407 |
92 |
|
1991 |
5,536 |
77 |
|
1992 |
6,063 |
85 |
|
1993 |
6,928 |
76 |
|
1994 |
7,454 |
58 |
|
1995 |
6,759 |
69 |
|
1996 |
6,701 |
73 |
|
1997 |
6,274 |
59 |
|
1998 |
5,661 |
76 |
|
1999 |
5,819 |
59 |
|
2000 |
5,743 |
74 |
Graphing the arrest trends against the Highway Department's counts of New Mexico alcohol-related traffic deaths outside Bernalillo County for January-May of those same years shows comparable trends. Note that the big increases in arrests for 1990-1991 and 1993-1994 correspond to drops in crash deaths, and that the decreases in arrests in 1995, and 1998 correspond to increases.
Last updated 13 Nov 2000