Law
Navajo Nation still not sharing drunk driving records


A pledge by Navajo Nation President Joe Shirley Jr. to share the tribe's drunk driving records with other jurisdictions remains unfulfilled, The Farmington Daily Times reports.

Shirley, who lost a daughter to a drunk driver, said he wanted to change Navajo law to allow sharing of records. He is still trying to achieve that goal, a spokesperson said.

The issue has been raised in several high-profile cases where tribal members convicted of drunk driving in tribal court were involved in off-reservation accidents. Record-sharing could ensure the drivers don't get their licenses renewed in New Mexico, Arizona or elsewhere.

New Mexico lawmakers are considering a bill that would prevent people with DWI convictions from buying alcohol for a period of five years. Navajo Nation First Lady Vikki Shirley wrote a letter in support of the bill.

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Navajo DWI offenses not shared with state (The Farmington Daily Times 5/20)