Waiters Likely Trying To Cover Their Behinds

WHY DO I NEED A LICENSE TO DRINK? That question comes from Doug Jensen, who emails, “my wife and I are in our early 70s. When we order a beer, the waitress frequently asks to see our driver’s licenses (and) advises she must ensure that we have a driver’s license and that it is not expired. It seems that waitresses are trained that it is their job to ensure all customers have a valid and current driver’s license. They say they are told they will go to jail if they do not perform this function.

“Since when are waitresses deputized as law enforcement officers? Do they have an obligation under law to investigate all customers? They claim to have jurisdiction for all states and various other powers. This is an annoying and unbelievable practice. What gives?”

Just a guess here that it’s self/job preservation in light of the tough penalties that are part of the state’s crackdown on drunken driving.

In New Mexico, if Doug’s waiter/waitress serves a minor alcohol, or hands someone who’s drunk a drink, he/she can be criminally charged and face penalties under the Liquor Control Act, statute 15.10.61.8.

According to the state’s Regulation and Licensing Department website, do it once and be fined $1,000 to $2,000 and lose the ability to sell alcohol for one business day. Do it twice, and get fined $2,000 to $3,000 and lose the ability to sell alcohol for seven business days. Do it three times in a year, and get fined $10,000 and kiss that liquor license — worth $200,000-plus — bye bye.

That might explain why many businesses that serve alcohol have instituted a blanket standard-operating procedure of carding; annoying patrons is cheaper for owners and employees than allowing a mistake that means not being able to serve at all.

CAN’T WE ALL GET THAT SMOOTH, QUIET I-25 ASPHALT? Tom Basilone says in an email that “on southbound I-25, about 1/2 mile before the Montgomery exit, the road surface changes and becomes darker, smoother and much quieter. Is this rubberized asphalt? Why isn’t the rest of the interstate surfaced with this? I suspect the answer has to do with money.”

More with newness.

Phil Gallegos, spokesman for the New Mexico Department of Transportation’s District 3 Office,  says “that portion of pavement was recently overhauled and is darker, smoother and quieter because it is  newer roadway. And Tony Abbo, District 3’s assistant engineer,  adds “there is a project that will be starting this spring that will extend the new pavement (on I-25) between Jefferson and Paseo del Norte.”

PLEASE STOP CUT-OVER TRAFFIC OFF THE TRAMWAY/I-40 EXIT: That’s what Mort Dann wants.

He says at that freeway exit there are two right lanes. The inside goes to Central, the outside can go to Central or straight. But in practice drivers in the inside lane are cutting over and going straight, creating a hazard.

So can NMDOT install some of those break-away poles to keep drivers from cutting over, or at least some more signage?

Gallegos says he has “forwarded your question to our traffic folks for evaluation. Unfortunately, instead of acknowledging a mistake and going around to get back to your destination, some drivers force the issue and endanger others regardless of the traffic control in place.”

And Abbo says “I believe that there are also guide signs on the eastbound off-ramp that tells them where each lanes will eventually lead them to.”

AND GIVE SAN MATEO DRIVERS A HEADS UP: That request comes from beejay314.

“On southbound San Mateo,” the email says, “traffic sometimes gets into the left-turn lane to access I-40 when the driver wants to continue going south and makes a quick maneuver to get back to the correct lane. I have witnessed close calls when this happens.

“I think that the signage which shows the two left-turn lanes for I-40 should be closer to the traffic lights at Cutler to possibly alert drivers that that lane is for the freeway.”

Gallegos says “our traffic folks will take a look and see if enhanced signing and or striping will help with this issue.”

Assistant editorial page editor D’Val Westphal tackles commuter issues for the Metro area on Mondays and West Siders and Rio Ranchoans on Thursdays. Reach her at 823-3858; road@abqjournal.com; P.O. Drawer J, Albuquerque, NM 87103; or go to ABQjournal.com/traffic to read previous columns and join in the conversation.