Selling Fuel to Intoxicated Drivers

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July 23, 2021 – The Line opinion round table offers reactions and insight on the New Mexico Supreme Court’s recent decision that gas stations have a duty to refuse to sell fuel to drunk drivers. Under the ruling, businesses could be held liable if a drunk driver then injures someone. The NM Supreme Court made the decision in the wake of a wrongful death lawsuit filed by the family of a man killed by an intoxicated driver who had run out of gas, walked to a station for a small amount, then returned to fill up before causing the deadly accident. 

Host: Gene Grant 

Line Guests: 
Inez Russell Gomez, editorial page editor, Santa Fe New Mexican 
Serge Martinez, UNM Law School  
Diane Snyder, former state senator 

For More Information: 

New Mexico Supreme Court: gasoline stations may be liable for selling fuel to intoxicated drivers – BBC News 

New Mexico to make gas stations liable for selling fuel to intoxicated drivers – KOAT 

New Mexico becomes 2nd state to make gas stations liable for drunk drivers – Associated Press 

New Mexico Supreme Court rules gas stations can be liable for DUIs – Autoblog