MILAN, N.M. – Local law enforcement agencies have been working on DUI/DWI compliance across the Village of Milan. The Milan Police Department has held multiple checkpoints in the village, working closely with the Cibola County Sheriff’s Office and New Mexico State Police.
According to the New Mexico State Police, DUI is Driving Under the Influence, and this could mean under the influence of drugs or other illicit substances. DWI is Driving While Influenced, or operating a vehicle while influenced by alcohol or drugs. In the State of New Mexico there is no legal distinction between the two.
Since marijuana was legalized in June, officers have been struggling with enforcing DWI and DUIs. Milan Police Chief Carl Ustupski, who is a certified Drug Recognition Expert that is specially trained to recognize DWI and DUIs, said that in his entire 15-year long career in law enforcement, he has never had a checkpoint where so many people and vehicles came through smelling like marijuana.
Ustupski said that every driver who came through either with their car or person smelling of the drug was respectful and fully understood the need for field sobriety tests. MPD had no marijuana arrests from their recent checkpoint. No department in Cibola has confirmed an arrest made by checkpoint for marijuana.
Sheriff Tony Mace explained that since the legalization of marijuana, CCSO hasn’t had many marijuana arrests; their last arrest for the drug was a man in possession of 400 pounds worth of marijuana.
One person was arrested by MPD for barely being able to stand while he came through the checkpoint. Several drunk drivers have been arrested over the course of these checkpoints.
MPD and CCSO state they will continue to be present in the streets to keep the community safe. Both agencies implore drivers to make the smart decision and not drive drunk.