An advocate is a person who speaks or writes in support or defense of a person or cause.

Even kids can make a difference…

In 1993, a drunk driver struck the vehicle Annie Davis was riding in with her mother and two friends, injuring all four passengers.   Annie was the most critically injured of the passengers.  They were all flown to Shock Trauma.  Annie was placed on life support and rushed into surgery.  Annie died 27 hours later at the age of twelve. 

The drunk driver refused to take the Breathalyzer test at the scene of the crash.  This was his right, at the time, because no death had occurred at the scene.  Because the drunk driver’s Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) was not collected, Annie’s family did not have the driver’s alcohol level as evidence in court.  The drunk driver who killed Annie Davis and injured three other people pleaded guilty to and was convicted of vehicular manslaughter.  He was sentenced to two months in jail, four months of home detention, 400 hours of community service, and five years of probation.

Annie’s classmates planted a garden in Annie’s memory, but did not stop at that.   With help from their enrichment teacher at Magothy Middle School and MADD, Annie’s friends demanded that the House Judiciary Committee reconsider the bill that would close the loophole in the blood alcohol testing law.  At that time, Maryland law was such that a BAC test was only mandatory when a death occurred immediately.  While the victim was alive, the driver could refuse the test. 

Supporters of the bill to make Breathalyzer tests mandatory had worked for years to get the bill passed.   However, it was not until Annie’s classmates and their parents urged for the passage of the bill and testified in Annapolis that made it mandatory for a person to submit to a Breathalyzer test when a victim has sustained serious bodily injury.  These kids were able to convince lawmakers to change Maryland law. 

If you are interested in becoming a youth advocate for MADD Maryland and making a difference in your community, please contact Jessica at the Maryland State Office by phone at (800) 446-MADD or email at madd.mdyouth@verizon.net