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Monday, January 26, 2004

A new law in New Mexico encourages tribes to share traffic-citation records with the state. But one tribal leader says that isn't enough.

Namb Pueblo Gov. Tom Talache believes tribes should share drunk-driving records. Reservations, he says, have become "safe havens" for drunk drivers because tribes aren't obligated to inform the state about DWI infractions of tribal members and other Indians.

Bernie Teba, secretary-designate of the state Indian Affairs Department, says the new law enhances tribal sovereignty because the state would recognize tribal court actions. But some tribal leaders believe sharing information with the state compromises their sovereignty.

Get the Story:
Tribes Keep Records Secret for Fear of Sovereignty Challenge (The Santa Fe New Mexican 1/25)
One Accident Two Deaths Many Victims (The Santa Fe New Mexican 1/25)

Related Stories:
N.M. law allows sharing of tribal DWI records (04/14)
Navajo Nation president tackles DWI on reservation (02/25)
Editorial: Tribe should share records (12/18)
State wants tribal DWI records (11/20)
BIA says it is reforming driver policy (11/11)
Report: Tribal DUI record unreported (10/25)
Navajo man faces charges of manslaughter (10/22)
Motorist charged for reservation crash (10/17)
BIA hit with $37M lawsuit over deaths (09/19)
BIA facing $110M in lawsuits for deaths (8/27)
Ex-BIA employee to appeal DUI sentence (8/23)
Ex-BIA employee sorry for fatal crash (8/14)
BIA aware of employee driving record (4/29)
BIA employee to plead guilty for deaths (4/9)
Lawsuits pending over BIA workers (3/14)
BIA employee indicted on new charges (2/15)
BIA policies on drivers scrutinized (2/11)
Report: BIA helped employee (2/8)
BIA said unaware of employee record (2/4)
BIA employee in custody over crash (2/1)
In hospital, BIA employee faces charges (1/29)
Another Interior employee in deadly crash (1/28)

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