Agency works with state to ID high risk drivers

Posted at: 10/27/2009 4:27 PM | Updated at: 10/27/2009 5:24 PM
By: Kayla Anderson, Eyewitness News 4; Matthew Kappus, KOB.com

Information about high risk drivers is being shared with state agencies

Government workers hoping their employer doesn't find out about a DWI on their record have reason to be nervous.

School districts, counties and cities across the state are using a program to keep an eye on employees who are convicted of driving under the influence. The program is called Fleet Watch.

The company says between Halloween and New Year's Day, there will be more than 400 driver-impaired crashes. High risk drivers are reported to their employers so that the companies can take action.

To help stop drunk drivers, SAMBA, a New Mexico-based company that runs Fleet Watch, is partnering with the DWI Resource Center.

"I think employers have been asking for years for access to do something that would help alleviate DWI. It effects them as employers, it effects their employees," said Linda Atkinson of the DWI Resource Center.

"Every school district in the state of New Mexico and most counties and municipalities and commercial trucking companies in New Mexico participate in our program," said Greg Miller of SAMBA.

PNM, Comcast and New Mexico State University are just a few employers taking part in the program. Santa Fe County and some departments in Bernalillo County also use Fleetwatch.

Atkinson says the resource's partnership with SAMBA will go a long way to help employers deal with drunk drivers.

"It's having that heads up on what's going on with the drivers record," Atkinson said.

SAMBA hopes to raise more than $6,000 a year for the DWI Resource Center.

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