Latest DWI Arrest Is Driver's 28th (NM)

The Albuquerque Journal ^ | March 16, 2007 | Jeff Proctor

[CedarDave]

One of the state's top law enforcement officials and an anti-drunken driving advocate say they've never heard a DWI tale quite so alarming as that of Joseph Brill.

Brill, 53, was arrested Wednesday evening in northeast Albuquerque on suspicion of his 28th DWI. He fell over when he got out of his vehicle and failed a field sobriety test ...

A Metropolitan Court complaint said files indicate he has had 27 prior DWI offenses with at least 14 prior convictions. MVD records show that he has had his license revoked five times and that it was revoked at the time of his most recent arrest.

Brill has spent nearly four years in New Mexico jails and prisons on DWI charges— and was still on parole for two of them at the time of his arrest Wednesday ...

"This man is the epitome of a public nuisance," Bernalillo County Sheriff Darren White said in an interview.

Linda Atkinson, executive director of the Albuquerque-based DWI Resource Center, said she has never seen someone with 28 drunken driving arrests. "Twenty-eight does appear to be the highest," she said. "It's pretty disgusting to see someone who can continue to defy the odds with a history like that."

A sheriff's deputy saw Brill park his car in a driveway in the 6400 block of Tokay NE around 8 p.m., the complaint states.

Deputies noticed signs of impairment and a can of Bud Light beer that was "cold to the touch" in the vehicle, according to the complaint.

Deputies administered field sobriety tests, which Brill failed, ... He then refused to take a breath- or blood-alcohol test.

"His refusing to give us a test is a telltale sign that he's an old pro. He's very familiar with the system— a career drunk driver," White said.

[JZelle]

Oh, I thought Richardson was pulled over again.

[unkus]

Has Richardson really been pulled over for DWI?

[caver]

"A Metropolitan Court complaint said files indicate he has had 27 prior DWI offenses with at least 14 prior convictions."

Apparently the court keeps letting him out of jail for some reason.

[Brilliant]

"Brill has spent nearly four years in New Mexico jails"




28 arrests, and only 4 years? Sounds like the court system is not doing its job.

[SengirV]

Here's an idea. After the 3rd DUI, send him to jail for a year. Any subsequent DUI convictions would double his prior prison sentences. 3rd = 1 year, 4th = 2 years, 5th = 4 years, 6th = 8 years, etc...

I don't see how any criminal coddling liberal puke would argue against that. It's basically an 8 strikes and your out policy.

[JZelle]

I don't know about DWIs, but I read an article about his lead foot. I should have added a ;)

[Rakkasan1]

just shoot him.he's had enough strikes.

[BARLF]

I thought perhaps the drunk just arrived in Albuquerque on a flight from D.C.

[COBOL2Java]

Brill, 53, was arrested Wednesday evening in northeast Albuquerque on suspicion of his 28th DWI. He fell over when he got out of his vehicle and failed a field sobriety test ...

Buurp! Slacker!

[theDentist]

The Judge'll finally get serious after he kills someone...

[Cicero]

Maybe the state should get him a chauffeur. Sounds like it's either that or jail him for life.

I had an aunt--a wonderful woman--who always had a chauffeur. She explained that back around 1920 my uncle said he'd get her a chauffeur if she promised never to drive again.

Her problem wasn't drinking, but reading. She was an inveterate reader. Apparently the incident that triggered the chauffeur offer was that she was out driving along in her electric convertible, maybe about 5 MPH, with a book propped up on the dashboard, when she ran over a well-dressed young gentleman who popped out in front of her. He went right under the front of the car, came out in back, and then as she braked to a stop he came around to the driver's side and gallantly presented her with the tail light, which he had broken off while extricating himself.

All was well that ended well, but she took my uncle's advice and never tried to drive herself again.

[HOTTIEBOY]

"It's pretty disgusting to see someone who can continue to defy the odds with a history like that."

The drunk is not the one that is disgusting. He is just doing what he knows he can get away with.
The judges and courts are the ones that are disgusting for letting him walk time and time again.

I suppose on his 29th he will get a strongly worded letter asking him to stop. And on his 30th he will get a reminder that another mean letter will be written to him if he does it again. Then on his 35th he will get a.......

[CholeraJoe]

How about: 1 DUI - Loss of license for 3 months, an ignition interlock for 3 months and 24 mandatory AA meetings;
2 DUI - Loss of license for a year, an ignition interlock for a year and 80 mandatory AA meetings.
3 DUI - after a year in jail, permanent loss of license and 3 years probation. Any offenses during probation and you go back to jail for life.

The cost of the ignition interlock and monitoring to be borne by the offender.

[ButThreeLeftsDo]

"This man is the epitome of a public nuisance".

Way to show your outrage, Sheriff.

[kachina]

Why? Ted wasn't!

[Go Gordon]

The Judge'll finally get serious after he kills someone...

Good luck there. My cousin was killed by a 60 year old drunk driver that had multiple previous DWI convictions, including an accident that claimed the life of four people. The judicial system sucks.

[P.O.E.]

This poor man is a victim of his illness. State should provide around-the-clock transportation. /sarc, but not so far-fetched, eh?

[Rembrandt_fan]

You wrote, "28 arrests, and only 4 years?"

I'm a little mystified, too. Get 28 DWIs in Indiana and you'll be in prison until people are driving hover-cars and commuting to Mars.

[Frank_2001]

"Twennyeigh? Tha mush be somekinarecord. Hic! Buy tha manadrink! Hic!";)