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Gov. Martinez eyes judge 'monitors' in drunken driving cases

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez wants to step up roundups of drunken-driving fugitives and have citizen watchdogs monitor judges who are routinely lenient on drunken-driving suspects.

Those are part of new executive orders the Republican announced Monday to "crack down" on crimes related to drunken driving.

The moves comes days after police say a man accused of drunken driving killed three people in an Albuquerque crash. Authorities say he was previously arrested on a DWI charge, but prosecutors failed to make court deadlines and the case was dismissed.

Martinez says she has ordered an increase in state police presence along highways in Farmington and Gallup where the state sees its highest drunken-driving related crimes.

Last month, Martinez announced a $300,000 ad campaign featuring police officers telling stories about drunken-driving crashes.