Three proposals to tack on sentencing enhancements for violating the state's DWI laws have won approval in their first House committee vote.
The bills proposed by Republican lawmakers would add more prison time for people convicted of multiple DWIs, and add a charge of "party to a crime" for people who toss the keys to convicted drunk drivers with driving restrictions.
The legislation comes as part of a push by GOP Gov. Susana Martinez to ramp up penalties against repeat DWI offenders, while leaders in the Democratic-controlled Senate said the state needs more officers on the streets to enforce laws already in place.
The measures were sponsored by Reps. Sarah Maestas-Barnes, Rod Montoya, Paul Pacheco and Jim Dines.
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