ABOUT US:

Impact DWI, Inc. is a community action and advocacy organization, which puts an emphasis on ending alcohol abuse in New Mexico, and is run strictly by volunteers. We are based in Santa Fe, and have been in operation since 1999. We are a tax-exempt corporation operating under section 501 c (3) of the internal revenue code.

Originally, our mission was solely focused on the development and monthly presentation of victim impact panels. To date, we have given over 50 such panels to over 3,600 court mandated DWI offenders. During this process we have raised more than $70,000 from fees paid by these offenders. This money has been donated to a variety of private and local governmental organizations, which have demonstrated to our board of directors that the money will be used to address the reduction of DWI.

Our members have been instrumental in the development and enactment of tough ignition interlock laws now in force throughout this state. Some of our members also serve on the Santa Fe county DWI program's planning council to assist the county to develop the actions, which have reduced DWI crashes by over 30 percent in the past 10 years.

It is from this experience that Impact DWI, Inc. Board members have decided to sponsor a statewide, e-mail based citizen petition drive. The objective is to motivate our legislature to pass a permanent increase in the amount of the state alcohol tax, which is distributed to the County DWI Programs during the 2006 session. We envision a 50% increase beginning this next fiscal year, and then at least a 10% additional increase each following year until 100% is distributed to these programs.
Please see our recommendations for managing and auditing these new programs located on the attached page: PROPOSALS FOR IMPLEMENTATION.

We believe that it is past the time when special interest groups can influence our legislators to continue to pass on the over a billion dollars of alcohol abuse-related costs to the New Mexico taxpayers and DWI victims. This new money will not cost taxpayers anything, since it is derived from the sale of alcohol, not additional income, or gross receipts taxes.
It is time that those who consume alcohol pay for the damage that alcohol does to our society. We welcome new volunteers who believe in our mission. We also welcome contributions from individuals, businesses, and foundations that wish to support our mission.
For additional information about Impact DWI or the alcohol abuse problem and attending costs, please visit our web-site at www.impactDWI.org

OUR OBJECTIVE

In order that the State of New Mexico, and all 33 counties will be able to provide the level of complete services needed by citizens, due to the effect of alcohol abuse upon their lives, OUR OBJECTIVE is to persuade the 2006 State Legislature to pass, and the Governor to sign, a significant increase in the alcohol excise tax (from 6 cents to 25 cents per ounce of alcohol). We believe that this cost should be paid as the alcohol is purchased, and not paid directly by the taxpayer and the victims.

This objective is consistent with the survey taken by "The New Mexican", in August 2005, which showed that 88% of the people responding favored increasing the alcohol tax in order to provide effective treatment and prevention services.
That survey was consistent with previous polls and surveys taken in prior years by various other organizations, (see the Common Cause Report of January, 2004). This objective would also be supportive of Governor Richardson's Executive Order of September 4, 2005 to provide effective treatment for first time DWI offenders, amongst other DWI related initiatives.

THE PLAN
The only action, which our Legislators cannot ignore, is the action of a significant number of constituents demanding specific legislature from these politicians.
Since Special Interest Groups are using donations and entertainment to persuade our elected officials, we are left with only one option: A "flood" of petitions. The only time / cost effective method to submit such large numbers of petitions is by e-mail.

A "flood" of pre-drafted petitions with very specific words, sent by e-mail, could persuade the legislators that their re-election may be at risk if they do not listen to these constituent requests, and act accordingly. Thus, Impact DWI, Inc., (the organizing sponsor of this project), has contracted to have a website constructed, which will not only provide extensive, easily accessible, and understandable information about alcohol abuse, but also a pre-written petition which requires only 60 seconds to complete by the petitioner, and then is sent directly, by e-mail, to their particular senator and representative.

THE SUGGESTION TO COMPROMISE
It has been suggested we settle for a "sure thing", and compromise our demands. This is the "Something is better than Nothing" approach.
To risk failing to obtain a new tax rate of significance, is a road we have been down before. We have seen in past years how unwilling the Legislature, and the Special Interest Groups are to give us any ground. Last year's $20 million compromise, which was supposed to be a "done deal", is an example.

That deal failed to make it to the floor for a vote during a 60-day session. Thus, it is obvious that raising money to address New Mexico's alcohol abuse related problems in a meaningful manner is a lower priority than the concerns of the Special Interest Groups at Legislature.
In addition to that recent history, we must remember that even $20 million, or the full $39 million collected last year, is an inadequate sum to offset the over $1 Billion in yearly alcohol related damage. The only sensible option is to have drinkers "pay forward" when they buy their alcohol.

LOCAL OPTION
This is a divide-and-conquer move. If it is passed, the Special Interest Groups still have a good shot at derailing the county-by-county local elections required to approve and to set new tax rates.
They would have 33 chances in fact, since most people do not vote! Then there is the cost of the elections and the delay before they are held. Thus the local option is a poor option.