Lobo Rides

A Proposal from COSAP at UNM to the New Mexico

Legislature
Introduction:
The proposed solution to drunk driving in our state is a marriage of legal
reform and cooperation between state government and private corporations.
By making the choice between drunk driving and safe transportation so
favorable to the later, we can effectively suppress one of our societys worst
afflictions. With a combination of active prosecution and community
education, the number of drunk drivers can be greatly reduced on New
Mexico roads.
The Problem:
The operation of motor vehicles while under the influence of alcohol has
become a tremendous problem over the past decade. Within the past ten
years, 40 to 45% of the fatal crashes in New Mexico have been alcohol
related (New Mexico Dot 24). Concerns have risen within the community
especially around the University of New Mexico, which is one of the hottest
zones for alcohol related crashes.
In 2013, according to the Department of Transportation, Bernalillo county
which contains the metropolitan area Albuquerque experienced 605 alcohol
related accidents while the nearest comparable county experienced only 192
alcohol related accidents (38). In Figure 2, Bernalillo accounts for more than
25% of DUI convictions and is ranked number 1 in Top Five Counties for DUI
conviction in New Mexico in 2013. The Department of Transportation
demonstrates the geographical area surrounding the University of New

Lobo Rides
A Proposal from COSAP at UNM to the New Mexico
Legislature
Mexico is a hotspot for this activity. With nightlife activities so close to
campus and students participating, there is concern for the safety of the
surrounding community.
Driving while under the influence can be detrimental to many. Making the
decision to avoid driving during these times can be made easier with
programs for full time students attending the University. Individuals from the
age of 20-24 make up 17% of the alcohol related crashes (23). Their
demographic out-numbers the closest age group (25-29 years of age) by 185
incidents (Figure 1).
DUI has many negative effects on the community as a whole. Economically,
DUI can devastate local economies and small business success. The average
cost of an alcohol related accident occurring in a fatality was $5,458,126 in
2013 (UNM GPS Traffic Research Unit 2). Hotspots where crashes occur also
become known as unsafe and dangerous to those around. Businesses around
these locations receive less traffic due to the negative stigma of the
surrounding area.
From 2009 to 2013, alcohol related crashes have decreased by 23.3% (3).
This number can be reduced even more if the focus is on the individuals that
are prone to alcohol related incidents.

Lobo Rides
A Proposal from COSAP at UNM to the New Mexico
Legislature
Alcohol-involved Crashes by Age
1000
800
600

Number of Crashes

400
200
0

Age of Person Responsible

Figure 1 (Source: New Mexico DWI Report 2013, page 28

Figure 2 (Source: New Mexico DWI Report 2013, page 63)

Solution:
While New Mexico spends a considerable amount on prevention campaigns,
our laws concerning DWI are some of the most lenient in the country. The
solution to drunk driving requires a much stricter approach. Under current
New Mexico law there is a system allowing for up to seven DWI arrests before

Lobo Rides
A Proposal from COSAP at UNM to the New Mexico
Legislature
the maximum penalty is applied. This must be reduced to a three tiered
systems.
Effective Changes in Policy to Reduce DUI:
Considering the fact that it is human nature to make mistakes, the first
offense will remain a misdemeanor. The fine for this first conviction will be
increased from a discretionary $300 to a mandatory $1000 while maintaining
a mandatory one-year license revocation. This will be where the leniency
ends for New Mexico drunk drivers. The Second offense will be increased to a
possible felony conviction. The penalty will include mandatory jail time with a
length determined by a judge and a fine of up to $5000. The offenders
license will be revoked for up to five years and they will also be put on
probation for up to two years. The third or subsequent DWI convictions will
carry the states current maximum penalty with the fine being increased to a
mandatory $5000. New Mexico courts will also be encouraged to increase
their conviction rate of DWI cases from 60% to 75%.
Funding For Alternative Transportation:
Cooperation from the international transportation company Uber, the State
of New Mexico will be able to finance safe rides for college students who
have been drinking. Funding from increased penalties will be provided and
possibly reduced Uber rates will allow vulnerable students safe alternative
transportation.
Prevention Measurements:

Lobo Rides
A Proposal from COSAP at UNM to the New Mexico
Legislature
Students will be able to hail an Uber and receive a free or greatly discounted
ride within 8 miles of the location they are received. Since the average
commute for a UNM student to campus is about 10 miles, and the majority of
college parties take place near campus, 8 miles will be far enough for the
vast majority of students. To receive this benefit, they must present the
driver with a valid UNM ID to show that they are eligible for the program.
To maintain cost effectiveness, the program will only be available Thursday
through Saturday, 9 pm to 5 am of the following day. Students will only be
eligible for 2 rides per week. This limit only applies to unique logins on the
Uber app. That means students in a group taking a single car through Uber
will only count against the cellular device that hailed the ride. The program
will be marketed to students through an on campus poster campaign
promoting the new form of safe transpiration. The posters will encourage
students to refrain from driving after drinking and provide instructions on
how to take advantage of the new program.
Promoting safe alternatives to drunk driving for college students has multiple
benefits. Not only will the number of weekend drunk drivers on New Mexico
roads be decreased, but a valuable education will be provided to New
Mexicos younger population. By conditioning college aged students to make
the smart decision of not driving drunk, they are likely to maintain this
attribute into their later years when they can easily afford safe

Lobo Rides
A Proposal from COSAP at UNM to the New Mexico
Legislature
transportation. This program has the potential to raise a generation of
influential New Mexicans who choose to take a stand against drunk driving.
Solution Summary:
To combat drunk driving, state wide legislative reform is required. Fines must
be increased to a mandatory $1000 for a first time offender and up to $5000
for a second time offender. The maximum penalty will have to be
implemented upon the third conviction of an individual instead of the
seventh as is customary under current New Mexico law.
A portion of the increased revenue from fines in Bernalillo County will be
used to combat drunk driving by college students. The county will be able to
subsidies safe transportation for University of New Mexico students through
cooperation with the transpiration company Uber.
COSAP Qualifications:
The Campus Office of Substance Abuse Prevention (COSAP) has extensive
experience in dealing with the local problem of drunk driving. As members of
COSAP, we have created various programs to try to minimize the damages
that intoxicated driving causes the community. Currently, we have instituted
a Designated Lobo driver program that has successfully been preventing
drunk driving. We incentivize students to designate themselves as drivers by
wearing a bracelet that identifies them as the driver. When they take a
picture of themselves with friends at a Designated Lobo friendly location,
they are entered in a drawing for a prize. We are in touch with the

Lobo Rides
A Proposal from COSAP at UNM to the New Mexico
Legislature
community of 27,197 Lobos and our plan will integrate modern, technological
solutions that we know are appealing to young, progressive Lobos. This will
help to ingrain healthy, responsible decision making in the minds of
thousands of our students. COSAP was established in 1992, and our years of
experience in making the University of New Mexico a safer place when it
comes to alcohol have shown that some solutions are safer than others. We
believe that our plan makes the safety of the community a priority, as we
have learned from other less successful programs that require students to
walk to a bus stop or have some similar obstructive issue. Our program has
been developed with experts from the University of New Mexico School of
Law and Anderson School of Business.
Our group has highly distinguished individuals with expertise in diminishing
the damage that drunk driving has on students and the local community.
COSAP is a subdivision of the Center on Alcoholism, Substance Abuse, and
Addictions (CASAA). We have obtained the aid of Dr. Barbara S. McCrady, a
Distinguished Professor of Psychology at the University. Dr. McCrady has
worked in research regarding student alcohol abuse and has extensive
experience in making prevention programs incentivized and effective for
students. Additionally, Dr. Jon M. Houck has assisted us in researching the
extent of the drunk driving problem in the Central/University area. Dr. Houck
has conducted major research on the problem of alcoholism as it pertains to
the University of New Mexico student body.

Lobo Rides
A Proposal from COSAP at UNM to the New Mexico
Legislature
We have consulted law professors of the revered University of New Mexico
School of Law to help us design our increased penalties for drunk driving.
Formulated by experts in the field, these measures will help the State of New
Mexico not only cut down directly on drunk driving, but also raise revenue to
fund the second portion of our plan. Tied for space seventy-first for best law
school in the nation (US News and World Report 2016), the School of Laws
distinguished professors have helped the State of New Mexico in crafting
laws in a multitude of instances.
In addition to the School of Law, we have discussed the beneficial potential
impact our program could have on Uber with the Anderson School of
Business. Our financial, public relations, and management experts at the
School of Business have helped numerous businesses grow in new sectors
and expand their public image. We have determined that the impact on
Ubers popularity among college students would be very likely to increase
through our program and yield large amounts of positive public relations for
the firm.
Our skilled and experienced team of professors, researchers, and experts has
helped us to design a plan to drastically reduced drunk driving in the
University of New Mexico area. At COSAP, we have previously implemented
successful programs that incentivize students to drive sober with our
knowledge of student culture. We are certain that the program will be both
beneficial to the local University of New Mexico community, Uber, and the

Lobo Rides
A Proposal from COSAP at UNM to the New Mexico
Legislature
State of New Mexico by penalizing drunk driving in a serious manner while
also offering a service to get students safely back to their domiciles without
costing the State while increasing the popularity of Uber among students.
Conclusion:
Our plan to reduce the damage that drunk driving has on Bernalillo County is
designed to be efficient and instill a sense of responsibility in the local
population. Raising the penalties for intoxicated driving will not only
incentivize people to stop driving drunk, it will also raise revenue for the
State of New Mexico. A portion of the revenue will be used to further reduce
drunk driving by offering a culturally friendly transport method to students at
the University of New Mexico in the University/Central area. Our project will
aggressively reduce the massive damage that drunk driving causes to New
Mexico. With our expert team of professors and researchers, the solution has
been crafted to help Uber build their business among students and raise
revenue for the State of New Mexico. The program will effectively reduce the
incidence of drunk driving in New Mexico.
Cost:
DWI Arrests in Bernalillo County (2013):
.3968
DWI Arrest of Repeat offenders in Bernalillo County (2013):
1176
Current Rate of Conviction for DWI arrest in Bernalillo County:
.60.1%

Lobo Rides
A Proposal from COSAP at UNM to the New Mexico
Legislature
Projected Rate of Conviction for DWI arrest in Bernalillo County:
.75.0%
Projected Revenue for First Time Offender Conviction: .
$2,094,000
Projected Max Revenue for Repeat Offender Conviction:
$4,410,000
Total Projected Revenue:
Estimated Current Revenue:
(average DUI fine is $366 (Rasheed Associates 1))
Net Max Revenue increase:

$6,504,000
$1,452,288
$5,051,712

Uber XL (large group transportation)

Base fee: ..$3
Per minute fee: $0.25
Per mile fee: . $1.95
Estimated Maximum fare charge (8 mile max distance): .. $20
Amount of students living in Bernalillo County:.$15,100
Estimated weekly usage: 500
students
Total Max Estimated Yearly Cost:
Net Max Profit Increase:

$520,000
$4,531,712

Lobo Rides
A Proposal from COSAP at UNM to the New Mexico
Legislature

Work Cited
1. New Mexico DOT, comp. "New Mexico DWI Report." (2013): n. pag.
Web. 19 Oct. 2015.
2. UNM GPS Traffic Research Unit "Albuquerque Crash History." (2013: n.
pag. Web. 19 Oct. 2015.
3. "DWI FAQs." Rasheed Associates, n.d. Web. 19 Oct. 2015.