Airline Booze Sales Targeted (NM-Richardson power play)

The Albuquerque Journal ^ | Janauary 30, 2007 | Martin Salazar

[CedarDave]

SANTA FE— US Airways, which served Dana Papst liquor hours before he plowed his pickup into a Las Vegas, N.M., family's minivan, has been ordered to stop serving alcohol on any flights in and out of New Mexico.

On Monday, the state Regulation and Licensing Department hit US Airways with a cease-and-desist order [because] the airline did not have a license to serve alcohol in New Mexico.

The state DPS also issued US Airways an administrative citation for selling alcohol to Papst while he was intoxicated.

In a related move, Gov. Bill Richardson said in a news release that he persuaded Giant Industries not to renew its liquor-license lease with the Bernalillo convenience store that authorities have determined sold a six-pack of beer to Papst after his flight landed in New Mexico and not long before the crash.

Giant Industries' lease with the Bernalillo Redi-Mart expires at the end of February. "We all have an obligation to stop drunk driving, and that includes New Mexico businesses," Richardson said in his release. "Giant Industries is taking decisive action. This should send a strong message to all liquor license holders that they will be held responsible for selling alcohol to minors and intoxicated people."

~~ snip ~~

The Regulation and Licensing Department is reviewing its records to ensure that other airlines have obtained the necessary server license. Those who haven't can also expect to be served with an order barring them from selling alcohol, the Governor's Office said.

~~ snip ~~

US Airways spokesman Morgan Durrant, in Tempe, Ariz., acknowledged the airline isn't licensed by the state to serve alcohol. "We are going to comply with the order," he said.

The governor's news release says his administration was prompted to act "because of the Federal Aviation Administration's failure to thoroughly investigate or impose sanctions against US Airways."

[CedarDave]

What else you need to know:

Pabst killed six people including himself when he ran into them going the wrong way on I-25; he had a history of DUI. Besides himself, the dead included five of six family members.

Under state law, airlines and railroad operators must obtain a public service liquor license to serve alcohol in New Mexico. Southwest Airlines, United and Continental all have the license, as does Amtrak.

Richardson arm-twisted Giant by saying if it did not terminate the liquor license lease with the convenience store, it would lose it altogether. In NM, liquor licenses are expensive and limited. To lose it, Giant would have forfeited a piece of paper that can be bought, sold or transferred like a commodity. Since he appoints the heads of the Regulation and Licensing Department and the subsidiary Alcohol & Gaming Division, they essentially have to do the governor's bidding or else.

[3AngelaD]

Richardson has given us yet another big preview of what life under a Richardson Nanny state administration would be like. The concept of personal responsibility never enters his mind. People like him just can't help themselves.

[RebelBanker]

I suppose the question is where the State of New Mexico's jurisdiction ends. I am not sure of the relevant laws regarding aircraft and/or their passengers, but I would have to imagine that the airline could say that they stopped serving before they entered NM airspace and challenge the state to prove otherwise.

[Gay State Conservative]

What authority can he possibly have over an aircraft when it's anywhere but in New Mexico airspace??

[Thermalseeker]

Under state law, airlines and railroad operators must obtain a public service liquor license to serve alcohol in New Mexico. Southwest Airlines, United and Continental all have the license, as does Amtrak

Delta must, too. I flew from Albuquerque to Nashville on Saturday and the juice was flowing (at 9:00AM no less)

[Uri’el-2012]

Pabst killed six people including himself when he ran into them going the wrong way on I-25; he had a history of DUI.

If Pabst had a history of DUIs,
What did the New Mexico court system
do to keep this drunk off the road ?

[ASOC]

Utah tried this a number of years ago.

The airlines told them to pi$$ off. Went to court, Utah lost. Surprise.

[CedarDave]

Delta was not mentioned as having one. They and any others (American) without a license will likely get a cease and desist order, also.

[mysterio]

Airline drinkers didn't stand up for smokers. We told you so.

[CedarDave]

The history was in Colorado, IIRC. I think his record was clean in NM.

But the question is a valid one. Another article today has a convicted DUI offender driving drunk down the interstate (again). When the sheriff caught up with him, they found he had an DUI interlock system that he ripped out of the console and hotwired his car.

Interlocks, vehicle confiscation, rehab, nothing really works except putting these guys in jail. Of course, the NM system is so screwed up that half the time they walk due to court mistakes or poor record keeping. As someone said on a thread last year, there are certain parts of the state where you don't drive after sunset on weekends or you are likely to be involved in an accident with a drunk driver.

[weegee]

If he had a history of DUI then blame the state for providing him with a license yet again. Oh wait, the state is never in error.

[Wolfie]

At least the guy wasn't stoned.

[CedarDave]

Also, see this thread for a discussion of problems getting a DUI conviction in NM:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1737743/posts

[CedarDave]

Richardson has given us yet another big preview of what life under a Richardson Nanny state administration would be like. The concept of personal responsibility never enters his mind. People like him just can't help themselves.

My problem is with his hassling a convenience store. Instead of letting the agency do its job, he has taken charge and told the company what to do. This is his M.O. in state government -- go over peoples heads and dictate what he wants done instead of letting the process work. That is why his nickname is King Bill.

[Uri’el-2012]

Thanks for the update on the skills of the the Governor of New Mexico.

I don't see any leadership skills on the part of Bill Richardson in reducing drunk driving accidents.

I don't see Bill taking any personal responsibility in reducing these terrible events except blaming the innocent.

I would think that a responsible Governor would issue rules to the New Mexico Dept of Motor Vehicles to review
out of state driving records of before issuing a license to operate a 4000 pound weapon.

I know the stretch of road very well as my wife is from Rio Rancho.

I drove from Denver to Rio Rancho many times and the most dangerous part was from Bernalillo to Santa Fe.
The number of drunks on I-25 leaving the Indian Gambling Casinos is outrageous.

[twonie]

He is an abuser of power; whatever power he feels he has, he pushes it to the limit. Oh, sure - go ahead and run HIM for president in '08. President Goober. Perfect.

[CedarDave]

I drove from Denver to Rio Rancho many times and the most dangerous part was [I-25] from Bernalillo to Santa Fe.

And instead of improving the road, Richardson is building a railroad.

[Range Rover]

This dovetails into a nascent movement in the New York Metro area - the removal of alcohol from Commuter Railways.

Metro North specifically the target

The New Haven Line is the only rail line still operating "Bar Cars" Correct me if I'm wrong but I believe that these Bar Cars have been already been removed from the LIRR and the Metro North Hudson and Harlem lines (those being the Commuter Rail lines operating in New York State only). For those unfamiliar, these are Metro North-operated cars set up with a bar and "club" seating. These cars are 1970's vintage and rumor is that they are quietly being phased out as they become more of a liability to repair than to operate mechanically.

The overall move is to ban alcohol altogether on all Commuter trains to the point of disallowing persons to consume alcoholic beverages on the train itself.

While I do enjoy an occasional beer on the train, I can say that some people may overdo it at times. Some do get in a car and drive away from their train stop impaired. This envisioned ban would, of course, have no effect upon those who are impaired BEFORE they board the trains.

The groundswell is building to get this done. All it would take is one high-profile lawsuit to push it into the big spotlight.

[LegendHasIt]

I'd be just as happy if they didn't serve alcohol on any airline, but I think Richardson is vastly exceeding his Constitutional authority on this.

But then, the Constitution (State or Federal) never meant anything to him or his cronies, except an impediment to be gotten over or around.