Ignition interlock systems won't end drunken driving

Editor,

I agree that drunken driving is a huge problem in New Mexico and that something needs to be done. I do not, however, agree that the ignition interlock system is the best way to solve our drunken driving problems.

What's to stop someone from having a friend start a car for him or her? Most drunken drivers don't get caught now, so why would anyone think they would get caught having sober friends start their cars?

This leads to an obvious question that I know someone is bound to ask - if the friend is sober, why wouldn't he or she just drive the drunk friend home? The answer is, because people don't think, and sometimes they make very stupid decisions. If a person is contemplating getting behind the wheel while drunk, chances are its not the first time he or she has done it.

I would love to see something done about the drunken driving problem. I wish I had a plan or an idea that would help eliminate drunken driving. The only solution I can think of is to take away cars and licenses on the first offense and give offenders an automatic jail sentence. Breathalyzers are not good enough - they just won't work.

Alicia Espinosa

UNM student