Via Fark:

The New Mexico State House of Representatives has approved a measure that would require ignition interlocks on all vehicles sold in New Mexico. This applies to all vehicles, new and used. New vehicles would have to have them by 2008, used by 2009.

Would this save lives? Probably. However, what this means is that every person who drives a car in New Mexico must prove that he or she is not a criminal before driving. Another way of looking at this is that it removes personal responsibility from the driver and relegates it to the state. I see this as yet another step along the path to making personal responsibility completely irrelevant. If that happens, there will be no freedom. None. Period. Unsurprisingly, the measure's sponsor is a Democrat.

This brings up some questions:

• What will be the limit beyond which the interlock won't release the ignition?


• How will the interlocks' accuracy be verified and maintained?


• What happens if the interlock malfunctions?


• Will it default to allowing the car to start or preventing it if it does fail?


• What happens if someone disables the interlock on their car?


• How will the police find out about it?


• Will there be "interlock inspection" stops?


• Who will provide the interlocks?


• Will more than one manufacturer be able to provide them?


• Who will install them?


• How much will it all cost?


• Will there be public funds available to help cover the costs?

Of course, all you will have to do to defeat this is buy and sell your car in another state. For example, suppose I know that there will be times when I will try to drive after having a drink or two. I just head over to Arizona to trade my current car for a new one. I will have to register it in NM, and pay the excise tax but the car won't have an interlock. And what about all the people who are visiting from out of state?

This will turn into a bureaucratic nightmare and will probably end up having little or no actual effect. Except to increase the size of government and cost the citizens of New Mexico a lot of money.