Opinion ID: 222147
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Presence of additional factors demonstrating extreme recklessness

Text: Third, the court said there were additional factors that demonstrate Ms. Lente's extraordinary recklessness and show why this case is outside the `heartland' of cases contemplated by the Guidelines. Id. The court gave three examples: (1) Ms. Lente's excessively high BAC; (2) driving without a valid New Mexico driver's license; and (3) driving on State Road (SR) 47, a well-traveled road just outside of Albuquerque. The court first noted Ms. Lente's .21 BAC measured two hours after the crashover two-and-a-half times the New Mexico legal limit of 0.8. The court further noted that Ms. Lente's BAC was significantly over the statewide average in drunk driving cases, citing to 2005 statistics showing that .16 was the mean BAC for drunk drivers in New Mexico. Id. at 444. Second, the court observed that Ms. Lente had never held a valid New Mexico driver's license. While I acknowledge that the lack of a driver's license does not necessarily correlate with a lack of driving experience, it certainly suggests that [Ms.] Lente has never had any formal driving training. Id. The court also said that Ms. Lente's decision to drive without a valid driver's license demonstrates [her] further disregard for the law. Id. Finally, the court noted that SR 47 is well-traveled and the crash occurred in the Isleta Pueblo, just twelve miles outside of the city of Albuquerque. The court said Ms. Lente must have been aware of these road characteristics because she had lived in this area her whole life and yet still chose to drive while highly intoxicated on this well-traveled road. Id. at 445.