Why We’re Here: Rhett Perryman and Skyler Johnson
By | April 4, 2013 | Filed in: Victim Stories

Rhett Perryman

On May 25, 2002, Elesha Cruey’s husband, Rhett, and seven-year-old son, Skyler made a quick trip to the Ranger’s Ballpark to pick up tickets.  Elesha stayed home preparing dinner for the family.  The stadium wasn’t far, so she expected them back home within a short period of time.

Elesha’s parents were in town visiting from South Dakota.  Her mom was watching the evening news when the story about horrific crash on the freeway came on…she recognized one of the cars that was on fire.  After calling Rhett's cell phone several times with no answer and calling all of the hospitals looking for them with no luck, Elesha and her dad decided to drive to the crash scene.  They were desperate to see if their family members were alright.  When they arrived at the fiery crash site, their worst thoughts came true. They were told by the medical examiner that both Rhett and Skyler had been killed. 

Skyler Johnson

That day, a drunk driver traveling the wrong way on the highway hit 11 cars, killing four people—including Rhett and Skylerand badly injuring several others.  The drunk driver also died in the crash.

The day after Rhett and Skyler died, Elesha found out she was pregnant.  During the first year after the crash, the baby gave her a reason to keep going, and made her feel like she still had a piece of them with her.

Elesha was contacted by a local MADD victim advocate who helped her in many ways, including getting crime victims compensation.  At the time she wasn’t working and with the news of the pregnancy and two other daughters to care for, it was a lifesaver.

On the 10 year anniversary of the crash, Elesha, and her three daughters, Bethany, Kaylee and SaVanna, visited the crash site for the first time.  They placed their handmade crosses on the road in memory of Rhett and Skyler.

For many years after the crash, Elesha had always wanted to be a part of MADD, but didn’t feel ready.  After that day, she felt that it was time to reach out.  “It wasn’t about my story anymore. It was about someone else’s, and I wanted to help people like MADD helped me.” She felt a new passion to reach out to others that had lost a loved one as she had.

Elesha recently completed MADD’s Victim Assistance Training Institute and connected with MADD North Texas to start volunteering as a Victim Advocate and Victim Speaker.  She also started a support group named "In Our Hearts" for anyone who has experienced the loss of a loved one in her area.  Through her journey, Elesha has learned that no matter how horrific a situation looks at the time, there is always hope and a new day.

Elesha remarried in August of 2011. Her husband had two children, so together they have five. His son was seven years old when they married, the same age Skyler was when he died.  Elesha says, “I feel like God gave me another little boy to enjoy in this life.”

Alcohol Awareness Month
By | April 3, 2013 | Filed in: Power of Parents , Underage Drinking

April is Alcohol Awareness Month, which is one of the reasons why we chose April 21^st as PowerTalk 21 day, the national day for parents and teens to talk about alcohol. 

Of all the dangers teens face, underage drinking is among the worst.  Compared with non-drinking classmates, teens who drink are more likely to:

• Die in a car crash
• Get pregnant
• Flunk school
• Be sexually assaulted
• Become an alcoholic later in life
• Take their own life through suicide

The longer a teen waits to start drinking, the safer he or she will stay.  Both parents and teens can be part of the solution.

Parents play an important role in a teen’s decision to drink.  In fact, 74% of teens say their parents are the number one influence on their decision to drink.

MADD knows that informed, caring parents can make a difference, and we’re here to help.  Download the latest version of the Power of Parents handbook for tips and tools to help you start the potentially lifesaving conversation about alcohol with your teens.  And, we are giving away an iPad to one lucky parent who downloads the handbook during April.  You can also find additional tips and expert resources at madd.org/powerofparents.

We also have a Power of You(th) booklet available.  This research-based booklet for teens helps you take a stand against underage drinking, for both yourself and your friends.

Together, we can prevent underage drinking and help teens meet their full potential.

Delanie Walker Teams Up with MADD
By | March 26, 2013 | Filed in: Drunk Driving

Delanie Walker with Alice and Bryan Young (Photo courtesy of Delanie Walker)

Less than 24 hours after playing in the Super Bowl, former San Francisco 49er and now Tennessee Titan, Delanie Walker learned that his aunt and uncle, Alice and Bryan Young, had been killed. The Youngs were returning home after watching their nephew play in the Super Bowl in New Orleans. They were stopped on the side of the road when they were rear-ended by an alleged drunk driver.  Both vehicles caught on fire, and Alice and Bryan died at the scene.  The drunk driver sustained only minor injuries.

"This happens so much and now it's really hit home for me. I just want to make people more aware through my story," Walker said.

Walker has resolved to honor his relatives' memory. On March 17^th, he hosted an event at a local restaurant where he signed pictures, MADD t-shirts, fan paraphernalia and jerseys to help raise awareness and funds for MADD.  Delanie will also be participating in the San Francisco Bay Area Walk Like MADD on May 11^th.  You can join his team or make a donation to support them here.
 
As we always say, drunk driving doesn’t discriminate.  It doesn’t matter if you are a NFL football player or just a football fan, anyone can become a victim.  It’s great to see Delanie use his visibility to honor his loved ones and bring awareness to the fight against drunk driving.

Delanie Walker at MADD signing event

Federal Spending Bill Boosts MADD’s Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving
By | March 21, 2013 | Filed in: Drunk Driving , General

MADD is pleased to announce that Congress has provided full federal funding for the three components of MADD’s Campaign. We couldn’t have done this without the voices of MADD supporters across the country who have been emailing and calling Congress ever since our National Conference Lobby Day in September. Your voices have paid off and will lead to a nation without drunk driving.

The spending bill allows over $50 million for aspects of the Campaign, including:

• $29 million for three annual high visibility “crackdowns.”  Two of these crackdowns are the twice yearly Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaigns, which are key to supporting law enforcement efforts to keep drunk drivers off the road.  The other is for Click It or Ticket, the seat belt campaign, which also helps reduce drunk driving fatalities, since a seat belt is the best defense against a drunk driver.

• $20 million dollars for states that pass an all-offender ignition interlock law.  Right now, 17 states require interlocks for all offenders.  These lifesaving devices reduce drunk driving by two-thirds while on offenders’ vehicles.  This funding, through incentive grants, will encourage more states to save lives with interlocks.

• $5 million dollars for advanced anti-drunk driving technology.  The advanced technology project, known as the Driver Alcohol Detection System for Safety, or DADSS, is part of a cooperative agreement between federal government and the world’s leading automotive companies.  This is the technology that will eventually eliminate drunk driving by making cars that will fail to operate if the driver is impaired.  This funding will aid this vital research.

Grants will also be available to states to address other key areas of highway safety, including distracted driving, occupant protection, motorcycle safety, traffic records and improving graduated driver licensing laws.

We thank you for your support and ask that you join us to celebrate another milestone in our efforts to eliminate drunk driving, once and for all.

NFL Endorses MADD’s Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving®
By | March 19, 2013 | Filed in: Drunk Driving

Yesterday at their annual league meeting in Phoenix, the National Football League (NFL) announced their emphatic support for MADD’s Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving.  The Campaign is based on proven strategies and research which will reduce and eventually eliminate drunk driving.  The Campaign includes:

• Supporting high visibility law enforcement activities to catch drunk drivers and discourage others from driving drunk.
• Requiring ignition interlock devices, or in-car breathalyzers, for all convicted drunk drivers, including first-time offenders, to prove they are sober before their car will start. When a convicted drunk driver wishes to start his or her vehicle, he or she must first blow into the device. The vehicle will not start unless the driver’s Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) is below a preset level.
• Supporting the development of advanced vehicle technology that could automatically determine a driver’s BAC and stop a drunk driver above the legal limit of .08 from driving.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell made the announcement stating, “We are pleased to endorse MADD’s campaign and further build upon our partnership to do everything we can to warn players, team personnel and fans about the dangers of drunk driving.  We have made progress but have more work to do to ensure that everyone associated with the NFL makes safe, responsible decisions with alcohol and never gets behind the wheel when they shouldn’t.”

MADD and the NFL began their partnership in 2010.  It includes game day designated driver programs in 11 stadiums, player education and other awareness activities.  New for 2013, the NFL plans on convening an alcohol-related summit this year in conjunction with MADD that will include NFL players, coaches, team doctors and executives, counselors, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).

We thank the NFL for showing their support of MADD’s Campaign as we work to eliminate drunk driving for fans and families alike.

Click here to watch the Commissioner's announcement from the press conference.

Volunteer Spotlight: Lynne Goughler
By | March 8, 2013 | Filed in: Volunteers

We would like to shine the volunteer spotlight on Lynne Goughler, who was recently awarded the first ever MADD Minnesota Achievement Award in recognition of her years of service in the fight against drunk driving.

Lynne’s dedication to drunk driving prevention stems from the tragic death of her parents, who were hit and instantly killed by a drunk driver in 1992 as they were walking across the street from a restaurant to their hotel. 

Since she began her work in 1996 as a MADD volunteer, she has served as an officer of the MADD Ramsey County Chapter, on the MADD Minnesota executive board, and served two terms on the MADD National Board. 

She currently serving as the Legislative Chair in Minnesota and spends countless hours at the State Capitol serving as the public policy liaison and advocating for tougher anti-drunk driving laws. 

Beyond her legislative work, Lynne continues to volunteer her time for MADD.  A few of her activities and achievements with MADD include:

• MADD National Board Public Policy Chair from 2003-2005
• Advocate for 0.08 BAC and primary seat belt laws in MN; testified countless times for these laws and other alcohol-related bills considered by the Legislature
• Spokesperson for MADD Minnesota policy issues
• Instructor at MADD’s public policy institutes

We are so thankful to have such wonderful volunteers like Lynne, who are so dedicated to MADD’s mission.  If you are interested in learning more about becoming a volunteer, please find your state here and fill out the volunteer form.

Pledge to be Safe this St. Patrick’s Day
By | March 8, 2013 | Filed in: Drunk Driving

St. Patrick’s Day has become a celebration of Irish culture in which people of all backgrounds take part in the festivities, which often include alcohol.  But far too often, St. Patrick’s Day celebrations end in tragedy because of drunk driving.

That’s why this year we’re asking everyone to take a pledge:

Then share your pledge on Facebook and Twitter to let your friends know you’ll be the DD (non-drinking designated driver), or that you vow not to drink and drive this St. Patrick’s Day, and encourage them to do the same.

MADD wants you to enjoy the holiday, but more importantly, we want everyone to get home safe.  So before you dress in green and attend any Irish-themed parties or parades, make plans for a safe and sober way home or an overnight stay if you’re drinking.

Bartender Fired For Calling Cops on Drunk Driver
By | March 7, 2013 | Filed in: Drunk Driving

It takes every concerned citizen to help prevent drunk driving.  MADD has always said, if you think you see someone driving drunk, don’t hesitate to call the police. 

That’s what Twyla DeVito, a bartender in Shelby, Ohio did… and she was fired for it.  A patron at the bar she was working at had been drinking all day, and when he went to get in his car to head home, Twyla knew he had no business driving so she called the police.  He failed the sobriety test and his BAC was twice over the legal limit.  But soon after, Twyla received a call from her boss and was fired because having a bartender who will call the cops is “bad for business.”

Twyla’s story has been featured on Inside Edition and was discussed on the show The Talk, where Sharon Osbourne said, “I think it’s so unfair she got let go. Hideous.”

We commend Twyla, and people like her across the country, for taking the necessary steps to save lives, no matter the consequences.

Learn how to recognize and report drunk drivers on the roadways and read tips on how to prevent someone from driving drunk.

Why We’re Here: Helene Zucker Seeman
By | March 5, 2013 | Filed in: Victim Stories

On June 27, 2010, Fred Seeman and Helene Zucker Seeman were heading home after dinner at a friend’s house—a 10 minute drive.  As they were turning into their driveway, a drunk driver with a BAC nearly three times the legal limit and driving 20 miles per hour over the speed limit on a dark two-lane road, crashed into the Seemans’ vehicle.  Helene, who was sitting in the passenger seat where the car struck, was pronounced dead at the scene. Fred was transported in a Medevac helicopter to a nearby hospital with serious injuries.

Helene left behind two sons—Ford, and Curtis who were 23 and 17 respectively at the time of the crash.

Helene was an enthusiastic and bright person. She was always smiling and lived life to the fullest.  She was a distinguished art curator in New York, working as the director of the Art Acquisition Program for the Prudential Life Insurance Company. She also worked as an adjunct professor at New York University’s School of Continuing Education.

Helene was active in and loved by those in her community. On September 11th, 2001, Helene was living in Battery Park City and active participated in the relief effort cleaning up her neighborhood. 

Her son Ford shared a story in her eulogy of his experience telling an employee at the local rental car company Helene used occasionally:

“Not knowing who the woman was behind the desk, I introduced myself and told her I was sorry to inform her of my mother’s passing. The reaction of this woman, this woman who to me meant nothing, started crying uncontrollably. This was the effect my mother had. She was a pure soul who had the social graces of any of history's greatest queens. She was a queen, she was my queen, and my light and my love.”

The Brooklyn Museum has established the Helene Zucker Seeman Memorial Exhibition Fund to support a variety of exhibitions by a recognized or emerging woman artist that will be presented at the Elizabeth A. Sackler Center for Feminist Art.

Reaching Out to Victims
By | March 4, 2013 | Filed in: Victim Services

Hopefully by now you know that MADD is first and foremost a victim services organization—as we like to say, “We help survivors survive.” We have more than 1,200 trained victim advocates nationwide who can help bereaved families and injured victims/survivors.  What you may not know is how we first connect with the victim/survivors we serve.

Often, a victim/survivor will contact MADD directly through their local MADD office or call MADD’s National Help Line (1-877-623-3435). But many times victim/survivors don’t feel comfortable contacting MADD, or are unaware of what services MADD has to offer crash victim/survivors.  That’s when we reach out.

MADD victim advocates may learn about an alleged impaired driving crash through working relationship with the victim witness coordinators at the District Attorney or Sheriff’s office, or through law enforcement agencies. Other time they hear about them in the news—advocates scan newspapers and news websites regularly for crash information.

After we hear about an alleged impaired driving crash, a “We Care” card is sent to the victims, typically two weeks after the crash occurred.  The cards inform victims of what services MADD can provide.  Then, if we have their phone number, a MADD advocate will place a follow up call after a “We Care” card has been mailed.

We strive to be respectful and considerate of the people we reach out to and serve.  We would never want to be perceived as aggressive or hurtful to a victim/survivor and by doing so cause further harm.  Our job is to support and empower those who have been affected by this violent crime, and sometimes it’s those little details, such as that first contact, that make a big difference.

If you or someone you know is a victim/survivor of an impaired driving crash, MADD is here for you.  Services are available 24 hours a day, every day of the year through our Help Line: 877.MADD.HELP.  If you are interested in becoming a victim advocate, click here to connect with your local office.

Announcing the Power of You(th) Video Contest Winner
By | February 27, 2013 | Filed in: Underage Drinking

Last Fall, we asked teens across the country to participate in the second annual Power of You(th)® video contest to prove that underage drinking is not cool, and we’re excited to share with you the winning video:

Congratulations to 17-year-old Jason Girouard from Brimfield, MA for creating a great video that shows how teens can influence each other to not drink underage.  Jason’s video was selected from numerous entries submitted by teens across the country, based on its creativity, quality and overall underage drinking prevention message.

The video contest is part of MADD’s Power of You(th) program, sponsored by State Farm®, to empower teens to say no to alcohol and never get in a car with someone who’s been drinking.  The program also includes a teen-focused booklet, called The 411 on Teen Drinking, which provides teens with this information and more, empowering them to make good choices and resist alcohol.  Get the teen booklet now.

Senator Frank Lautenberg Announces Retirement
By | February 20, 2013 | Filed in: General

New Jersey Senator Frank Lautenberg, who chairs the Senate Commerce panel in charge of highways, transit, rail and maritime issues, recently announced that he won’t run for re-election in 2014. Senator Lautenberg has been a champion for MADD and our mission to end drunk driving and underage drinking for three decades, and has been instrumental in getting key legislation passed—saving tens of thousands of lives.

Senator Lautenberg was an author and driving force behind both the 21 minimum drinking age law in 1984 and setting the .08 blood alcohol concentration (BAC) standard for the entire country throughout the 90s, eventually getting that standard passed in 2000.  He supported the 2006 STOP Act to help prevent underage drinking, and has continued to support reauthorizing that funding ever since.  Recently, he was a champion for the federal highway bill, MAP-21, and its safety provisions, which include giving incentive grants to states that require interlocks for all offenders, and funding research into DADSS technology.

We are incredibly thankful for his support of MADD’s issues and all of his lifesaving work over the past 30 years. We wish him much happiness in retirement.

MADD Texas lobbies for strong drunk driving legislation
By | February 12, 2013 | Filed in: Drunk Driving

Today, MADD Texas is having our lobby day at the state capital.  Texas is particularly important because it has more drunk driving deaths than any other state in the country (with 1,213 people killed in 2011).  That’s not just because it’s the second largest state – 40% of Texas’s traffic fatalities come from drunk driving, significantly more than the national average of 31%.

In short, Texas has one of the worst drunk driving problems in the country.  This is in part because it lacks two very important laws:

• Ignition interlocks for all drunk driving offenders.  Right now, Texas only requires interlocks for repeat offenders or offenders who were nearly twice the legal limit or more.  Studies show these devices can reduce repeat offenses by two-thirds.  Seventeen other states now require them and Texas should too.
• Sobriety checkpoints.  Thirty-eight states allow law enforcement to do sobriety checkpoints, where they check vehicles in an orderly and methodical fashion to make sure people are not driving drunk.  This lets potential offenders know that they will be caught if they try to drive drunk.  As you might guess, this deters people from committing the crime – sobriety checkpoints have been shown to lower drunk driving deaths by 20 percent.  That would be 262 lives saved each year in Texas.

So, today, we are talking to legislators about these bills and, if you are a Texan, we’d like you to as well.  You can email your legislators about the ignition interlock bill here and the sobriety checkpoint bill here.

MADD at the Super Bowl
By | February 5, 2013 | Filed in: General

MADD was invited by our partners at the NFL to host a booth during the Super Bowl Media Week.  Check out a few of the photos from the event:

MADD CEO Debbie Weir and Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt

Former Ravens tackle and Pro Hall of Famer Jonathan Ogden

MADD’s booth with 100% alcohol free MADD Virgin Drinks samples

Why We’re Here: Luke Maue
By | February 4, 2013 | Filed in: Drunk Driving , Victim Services , Victim Stories

Luke at the zoo

Luke Maue was a loving and caring boy with a sweet smile.  He loved basketball, the Power Rangers and Blues Brothers 2000.

On May 18, 2001, seven-year-old Luke visited the St. Louis Zoo on a field trip with his first-grade class.   Luke was excited about the trip and was happy to have his mother, Angie, attend with him. 

As they were leaving the zoo after a fun-filled day, a 20-year-old drunk driver, with a BAC of .22, was driving 64 mph in a 25 mph zone and lost control of his car. His car jumped the curb and struck and killed Luke on the sidewalk as his mother and classmates  watched in horror.

After Luke was killed, Angie called MADD’s Help Line looking for support.  She was introduced to a victim advocate, Angela Leong, who met the family at the funeral home for the visitation and continued to support the family.  “She was there for us whenever we needed her,” says Angie Maue, Luke’s mother.  

Angie also attended support group meetings and other MADD events. Through MADD, the Maue family found a community that helped them through the healing process, and now considers them family.

Angie now spends her time speaking at area high schools, colleges and MADD Victim Impact Panels.  She hopes that sharing Luke’s story might prevent someone else from a senseless tragedy like this.

“I feel that is my gift and what I am supposed to do,” Angie says.  “I witnessed my son's death and now I need to be his voice.  We want to give back to MADD, the organization that is making an effort to do the same.”

The Maues created Luke’s Legacy and host a fundraising event for MADD called “Hope 4 Tomorrow,” a 5K run and 1 mile MADD Dash that is held around Luke’s birthday each year.  This event raises several thousand dollars each year for the MADD Gateway affiliate.

Impact: After the Crash Documentary Film
By | February 1, 2013 | Filed in: Drunk Driving

May 14^th will mark the 25^th anniversary of the deadliest drunk driving crash in US history. A bus carrying a church group in Carrollton, KY was hit by a drunk driver, killing 27 passengers—24 youth and 3 adults—and injured 30 more. Former MADD National President Karolyn Nunnallee's daughter Patty was killed in the crash.

You can read more about how the Kentucky Bus Crash inspired the creation of a large-scale crisis response system in our Winter MADDvisor.

Super Bowl XLVII
By | January 30, 2013 | Filed in: Drunk Driving

The Super Bowl is one of America’s most anticipated and celebrated sporting events and brings together families, friends and fans each year to enjoy the excitement of the big game. Fans often gather to watch the game at sports bars, restaurants or Super Bowl parties; but too many times these fans have one too many during the big game and then drive.  In fact, on Super Bowl Sunday in 2011, 43 percent of all traffic fatalities involved a drunk driver compared to 31 percent of total traffic fatalities for the year.

MADD wants everyone to enjoy the game this year, but more importantly, we want everyone to get home from the celebration safely.

If you’re attending a Super Bowl party or watching the game at a sports bar or restaurant:

• Designate a sober driver before the party begins or save the number of a local cab service in your phone prior to heading out.
• If you don’t have a designated driver, ask a sober friend for a ride home, or call a cab, friend, or family member to come and get you.
• Always buckle up. It’s your best defense against other drunk drivers.

If you’re hosting a Super Bowl party:

• Make sure all of your guests designate their sober drivers in advance, or help arrange ride-sharing with sober drivers.
• Never serve alcohol to someone under the 21 and never ask children to serve alcohol at parties.
• Serve plenty of food and non-alcoholic beverages at the party, but avoid too many salty snacks as they tend to make people thirsty and drink more.
• Host your party just like they do at the stadium. Stop serving alcohol at the end of the third quarter of the game. The fourth quarter is perfect for serving coffee and dessert.
• Keep the phone numbers of local cab companies on hand and take the keys away from anyone who is thinking of driving drunk.
• Review our Safe Party Guide for more tips to help you be a champion host this Super Bowl Sunday.

No matter how you celebrate or who you cheer for this Super Bowl Sunday, don’t ruin the day by getting a DUI, or much worse. If you're going to drink alcohol, remember to plan ahead and designate a sober driver to help get everyone home safe after the game.

National Day of Service
By | January 17, 2013 | Filed in: General

This Saturday, January 19th, is the National Day of Service.  President Obama and first lady Michelle Obama are asking Americans to find an event and serve with others in their community.  We hope you will use this National Day of Service to get in contact with your local MADD office to see how you can get more involved.

MADD’s wonderful volunteers help raise awareness about drunk driving and underage drinking, as well as provide the vital support to those victimized by drunk driving.  There are so many different ways you can get involved.

Here are a few examples of the types of volunteer opportunities with MADD:

• Become a trained victim advocate and provide emotional support to drunk driving victims/survivors as well as guide them through the criminal justice system.
• Work with MADD’s public policy department to strengthen existing laws and enact new ones. 
• Share your story at schools, civic groups, clubs and other organizations.
• Ensure that drunk driving offenders are punished to the fullest extent of the law by monitoring court cases and reporting outcomes to the community and media.

Whether you’re interested in volunteering a couple of times a year or a couple of times a week, there’s a place for you at MADD. And we have a wide variety of opportunities to match your interests and expertise.

President Obama and first lady Michelle Obama have chosen to make Saturday a special day of service to highlight volunteerism in the country, and we hope that you will use this day to find your place as a MADD volunteer.

Click here to find your local office and fill out the volunteer form for more information.

U.S. Supreme Court Hears Arguments in Missouri v McNeely
By | January 14, 2013 | Filed in: Drunk Driving

The U.S. Supreme Court recently heard the case of Missouri v. McNeely, which involves a law enforcement officer ordering a blood draw on a suspected drunk driver without a search warrant.

Law enforcement is key to drunk driving prevention, and we need to ensure officers have the tools they need to enforce drunk driving laws — ultimately, making our roads safer.  That is why MADD supports testing the BAC for of any drunk driver where there is probable cause and submitted an amicus brief in support of the blood draw, saying that the state has a compelling state interest to prevent drunk driving.

After law enforcement has arrested a driver based on their performance during a standard field sobriety test, they have probable cause to obtain BAC evidence in as timely a manner as possible.  Because the body breaks down alcohol over time, it is imperative that this evidence is obtained as close to the arrest as possible to ensure the result is the most accurate depiction of the suspect’s BAC at the time of the alleged drunk driving offense.   Failure to obtain timely BAC evidence often results in a lack of conviction. 

Forcing officers to obtain a search warrant after probable cause has already been established gives drunk drivers continued motivation to refuse to submit these tests in the hope that the delay will give their body just enough time to process the alcohol and their lawyer just enough leverage to obtain an acquittal.  It is our hope that the Supreme Court will reinforce the importance of drunk driving as a compelling state interest and allow law enforcement to enforce our drunk driving laws by obtaining the best evidence available at the time of arrest—an accurate BAC. 

Why We're Here: Brian Wood
By | January 9, 2013 | Filed in: Drugged Driving , Victim Stories

On September 3, 2010, Brian Wood was traveling with his wife Erin, who was 7 months pregnant with their first child, to Whidbey Island, Washington.  Brian saw a car heading towards them at about 50 mph in their lane.   Knowing that his car would be struck head on and wanting to protect his pregnant wife and unborn baby, Brian turned his car to the right so that he would take the brunt of the impact.  His action saved Erin and their child, but Brian did not survive the crash. Two passengers of the other vehicle were also killed.

Investigators at the scene found heroin, marijuana, syringes and other drug paraphernalia in the driver’s vehicle, and the driver admitted to smoking marijuana earlier that day.  She was charged with causing three deaths and injuries while driving in a reckless manner under the influence of drugs.

Brian’s father Ed Wood began his quest to promote effective laws to reduce drugged driving after hearing the offender’s defense attorney state that “it is not unlawful to drive with illegal drugs in your body.”  Ed has worked with experts at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the Governors Highway Safety Association, MADD and countless other groups as well as individual experts and consultants to become a recognized leader in promoting effective drug per se laws.  Ed also directs www.deceptionpass3.com, a network of drugged driving victims who join him in the effort to enact effective drugged driving legislation.

In recognition of his efforts, the White House’s Office of National Drug Control Policy has recognized Ed as an Advocate for Action.