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More New Mexican Neoprohibition

Thursday, July 15th, 2004

Beyond words:

State Rep. Joe Thompson says he’ll call off his efforts to run for public office…

…Thompson, 37, the House minority whip from Albuquerque, was arrested early Wednesday morning on charges of drunken driving…

The incident comes. . .just one day after he’d stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Richardson at a signing of several anti-DWI bills.

Thompson sponsored a bill in this year’s session to increase sentencing for some DWI offenses. The bill passed the House but died in Senate committees. He also sponsored an unsuccessful memorial to push for the installation of ignition interlock devices that don’t allow drunken drivers to operate their cars.

Even better is Governor Bill Richardson’s reaction:

Gov. Bill Richardson said Thursday that House Minority Whip Joe Thompson of Albuquerque, arrested on a charge of drunken driving is a “DWI champion” strongly committed to tougher laws, and should be given another chance.

So I guess in Gov. Richardson’s world, you get one “drive drunk for free” pass so long as you’re willing to sponsor get-tough legislation that mugs everyone else of their civil liberties.

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This entry was posted on Thursday, July 15th, 2004 at 4:08 pm by Radley Balko and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

8 Responses to “More New Mexican Neoprohibition”

  1. #1 |  james |  July 16th, 2004 at 7:11 am

    The pols just can’t allow themselves to be affected by their own laws, can they…

  2. #2 |  Mike Farrell |  July 16th, 2004 at 8:43 am

    James,

    Your hard drive isn’t big enough to store a list of laws passed by politicians that specifically exclude themselves from their application.

  3. #3 |  Jeb |  July 16th, 2004 at 10:01 am

    Hey Mike, name one.

  4. #4 |  Ryan Seals |  July 16th, 2004 at 10:27 am

    More evidence that politicians are the worst of all people.

  5. #5 |  Lee |  July 16th, 2004 at 10:32 am

    Karmic Justice?

  6. #6 |  Joe Sims |  July 16th, 2004 at 10:36 am

    jeb,

    Might I suggest looking at the Congressional Record. Pick any day in, say, the last 217 years. You’re sure to find at least one event of exclusion and/or favoritism by Congresspersons on that given day…

  7. #7 |  gail dixon |  July 16th, 2004 at 12:09 pm

    I am TOTALLY against such tuff drinking laws. Very unfair!!!!!!!!!!!! but wouldn’t you know it? A democrat gets caught and the head of the State wants him to have another chance. What another joke on the democrats, hahahhaha. New Mexico needs to clean up more than their drinking citizens.And their governor is soooooo phoney.
    PS: I just live across the state line from New Mexico. And they got some bad problems, roads, gambling,you name it that State needs some leadership.
    Gail Dixon
    Odessa, Tx.