The fund that helps poor New Mexicans pay for ignition interlock devices in their cars is drying up and could be in the red come January.

The fund, intended to make alcohol-sensing devices affordable for convicted drunken drivers to prevent them from starting their cars after drinking, has been hit hard by an increase in the number of people getting financial help.

The state's DWI czar, Rachel O'Connor, said a bill approved this year by the Legislature means more people are tapping into the fund. The bill requires a convicted offender to use the device for at least six months before getting full driving privileges reinstated.

On top of that, O'Connor said, there's no standardized way to determine who is indigent — and thus who qualifies for a reduced rate on the devices — and who isn't.

The fund had $760,000 almost a year ago and has dwindled to $213,000, O'Connor said.

Outstanding bills, however, exceed that by about $80,000, she said.

"The good side of the story is more people are getting interlocks," she said. "The bad side of the story is we are running out of money."

About $300,000 of the money for the fund comes from the state's excise tax on alcohol. The remainder comes from a $100 fee that nonindigent offenders pay after they are convicted.

Some 9,000 people have the devices in their vehicles, up by about 800 from a year ago, O'Connor said. The device costs about $1,000 per year for nonindigent people, which includes installation, monthly leasing fee and removal.

The increase in ignition interlock users comes after one interlock distribution company, Adobe Interlock of Santa Fe, went out of business in July.

Owner Timothy Hallford said that was due in large part to nonpayment from the state for providing interlocks to indigent offenders, which it did on a routine basis.

Getting payment from the state started to become increasingly difficult, Hallford said, adding the state owes him and his company $150,000.

Mark Slimp, spokesman for the New Mexico Department of Transportation, said Monday evening that he would have to research Hallford's claims before he could comment.

Hallford worried that the fund's problems will jeopardize the safety of the traveling public.

"If they don't find the money and fund this," he said, "it will put people back in the underground, thinking, 'I can't afford this, so I will just go without a license.' "

The number of interlocks installed in New Mexico vehicles has risen dramatically in recent years, and many credit the devices with a reduction in DWI crashes.

Contact Kate Nash at 986-3036 or knash@sfnewmexican.com. Read her blog at www.greenchilechatter.com.