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NEW MEXICO
1100 FOURTH STREET NW
ALBUQUERQUE, NM 87102
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| phone: |
505.255.2955
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| fax: |
505.255.0352 |
| email: |
NM.STATE@MADD.ORG |
Home
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About MADD
In May 1980, 13-year-old Cari Lightner was killed by a drunk driver as she walked on the sidewalk in her suburban Sacramento neighborhood. The driver, Clarence William Busch, did not stop, but when he was apprehended he was found to have a blood alcohol level of 0.20 percent and previous drunk-driving convictions. He was, in fact, out on bail for a similar hit-and-run.
The Lightners' story was horrifying but not unique--there were 27,000 alcohol-related traffic fatalities in the United States that year, 2,500 of themin California. However, in this case, the girl's mother, Candace Lightner, a real estate agent, used her grief to fuel a new grassroots organization dedicated to reshaping the public's perception of drunk driving.
Today, MADD is the largest crime victims’ assistance organization in the world with more than 3 million members and supporters.
MADD is about committed spirits and determined volunteers. It is the embodiment of victim support and assistance. MADD is tangible proof that social attitudes can be radically changed. Since MADD’s inception, alcohol-related traffic fatalities have declined 43 percent.
Statistics indicate that in 1980, 55 percent (28,100) of the nation’s 51,091 traffic fatalities were alcohol-related. In 1999, alcohol-related fatalities represented 38 percent (15,794) of the nation’s 41,345 traffic fatalities, according to preliminary statistics.
Due in large part to MADD’s efforts, more than an estimated 138,000 people are alive today and an untold number have received comfort, support and assistance in dealing with the aftermath of a drunk driving crash.
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MADD New Mexico's Activities:
Court Monitoring - MADD Court Monitoring Staff observe court proceedings to ensure that the laws relating to driving under
the influence are fully enforced.
Public Education - MADD members speak to groups of all sizes on the consequences of driving under the influence of alcohol or other drugs.
Victim Assistance - MADD Victim Advocates offer emotional support to victims by providing information and referrals.
Legislative Reform - MADD's Executive Director work with legislators to strengthen laws against alcohol and other drug impaired driving.
MADD Youth - MADD focus on youth with a series of educational and activism initiatives that directly involve young people in efforts to
prevent underage drinking and impaired driving. Programs include: Youth in Action Teams, and Protecting You / Protecting Me -
an elementary school curriculum program.
For further information regarding our activities and programs click on the links at your left.
MADD, New Mexico is committed to protecting you, your family, and your friends from impaired drivers.
That commitment is reinforced by the donations and support of our volunteers.
Together we can make a difference!
MADD New Mexico is in need of volunteers to help spread our mission.
Volunteers are the heart and soul of MADD. It is their compassion and determination that drives the organization and it is their tireless
efforts that have accomplished so much.
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. WE ARE ONE VOICE WITH ONE MISSION - We will eliminate Drunk Driving!
If you are interested in learning more about our volunteer opportunities, please contact MADD New Mexico at:505-255-2955.
Volunteer for MADD Forms: http://www.madd.org/Forms/Volunteer-Form.aspx
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NEWS ALERT! Governor Richardson Announces New Mexico Makes Major Progress Against DWI - St. Patrick's Super Blitz (March 14-30) Kicked Off! Click to read News Alert
2008 Upcoming Events: Download our Newsletter for further information.
| Lights, Camera, Action! - April 13. |
MADD Matters - Thursday, May 8, 2008 |
| Walk Like MADD - October 18. |
Honoring Heroes - November 8. |
 Our SPRING - 2008 Newsletter is here!
Stay in touch with MADD New Mexico's activities by reading our quarterly newsletter. All our events are listed in our quarterly newsletter.
GET YOUR SPRING 2008 NEWSLETTER Check out MADD ON THE MOVE and Join us!
2008 Meetings:
Court Monitoring - First Tuesday of every month at the MADD NM Office.
Volunteer Vibe Meeting - April 10, from 5:30 - 7:30 pm at the MADD NM Office
Drunk driving affects everyone.
We encourage people of all ages to join the fight against drunk driving and help make New Mexico's roads safer.
Volunteer today! http://www.madd.org/Forms/Volunteer-Form.aspx
Visit our Pilot Website!
Watch Flash Movies of our events,Light a Virtual Candle in memory of a loved one whose life was taken by a drunk driver, add your loved one to MADD New Mexico Memorial Quilt and so much more!
C'mon over and have a great time with New Mexico MADD on the move!
2008 MADD Media Awards - Call for Entries - March 31st is entry deadline!
Visit the MADD Media Awards Website www.madd.org/media-awards , it's a fast and easy way for media to online.
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Victims of Crime Act (VOCA)
2009 Fact Sheet
PAID ENTIRELY BY CRIMINALS – NOT TAXPAYERS!! The Crime Victims Fund is a separate account paid entirely by Federal offenders and dedicated exclusively to support victim services. According to the Office of Management and Budget, the Fund will have a 2009 opening balance of $1.9 billion and will collect an additional $710 million during the year.
DIRECT ASSISTANCE TO MILLIONS OF CRIME VICTIM. Every year, state VOCA assistance grants support direct services to 3.8 million victims of all types of crimes (domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse, drunk driving, elder abuse, robberies, and survivors of homicide victims, etc) through 4,400 local agencies (such as domestic violence shelters, rape crisis centers, prosecutor- and law-enforcement-based programs, Court-appointed Special Advocate (CASA) programs, drunk driving victim and homicide survivor support groups, and child advocacy centers).
VOCA ASSISTANCE GRANTS CUT! In 2000, Congress started capping annual obligations from the Fund to ensure "stable funding" in future years. Yet, despite huge balances in this non-taxpayer Fund, VOCA assistance grants have actually been cut by $87 million (22 percent) since 2006. This was because 1) the cost for other VOCA programs increased; 2) in 2008 Congress lowered the cap; and 3) the Office of Justice Programs began charging the Crime Victims Fund for management and administrative costs. As a result, programs have cut services, shortened hours, reduced caseloads, laid off staff and, in some instances, closed their doors.
RESTORE VOCA ASSISTANCE GRANTS TO 2006 AMOUNTS. The 2009 VOCA cap should be sufficient to bring VOCA assistance grants back to the same dollar amount awarded in 2006—four years ago. This reasonable amount does NOT include costs to serve more victims of more crimes or to even make up for increased costs of providing services, such as higher prices for utilities to heat and operate shelters, gasoline to transport clients, or postage to mail victim notification letters.
STEPS IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION! Both the Senate and House Appropriations Committees have made some progress in making up for the cuts in state VOCA assistance grants, but still fall somewhat short of the amount needed to restore these grants. Under the Senate bill, which increases the VOCA cap to $635 million, VOCA assistance grants would be $52 million less than the 2006 amounts. The House bill raises the VOCA cap to $650 million and provides a separate non-VOCA appropriation for OJP’s management and administration; this still leaves VOCA assistance grants $8.2 million less than the 2006 amounts.
A $660 MILLION CAP WITHOUT OJP MANAGEMENT COSTS
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WILL RESTORE VOCA ASSISTANCE GRANTS
Crime Victims Fund
(in millions)
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2006
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2007
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2008
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2009 estimate
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Senate
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House
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Opening Fund Balance (per OMB)
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1,307.0
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1,333.0
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1,730.0
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1,904.0
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1,904.0
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Cap
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625.01
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625.0
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590.0
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635.0
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650.0
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OJP Management & Administration2
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34.2
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36.8
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-0-
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Children’s Justice Act
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20.0
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19.9
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19.0
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20.0
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20.0
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US Attorneys victim/witness coord.3
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21.9
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22.2
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22.4
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23.0
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23.0
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FBI victim specialists3
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8.7
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11.9
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9.2
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9.5
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9.5
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Victim Notification System3
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5.5
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5.0
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6.4
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6.6
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6.6
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Training/Technical Assistance grants
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29.6
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28.2
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18.4
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21.2
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29.5
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Compensation grants
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143.4
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165.7
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171.3
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173.6
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173.6
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State victim assistance grants
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395.9
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370.6
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309.0
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344.2
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387.7
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1 Includes $1.4 million in carryover and adjustments.
2 In 2008, OJP charged the Fund 4.9 percent for its overall management and administration costs and 0.9 percent for the Office of Audit, Assessment and Management. The OAAM charge of $5.5 million was taken entirely from training and technical assistance grants. Assumes the same percentages would be charged in 2009.
3 Assumes 3 percent annual increase in 2009.
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NEW MEXICO REPRESENTATIVES Contact Information:
Heather Wilson (R) 1st Congressional District- Albuquerque: (505)346-6781 / Washington: (202)225-6316 - www.wilson.house.gov Steve Pearce (R) 2nd Congressional District - Hobbs: (505)392-8325, Las Cruces: (505) 522-2219, Roswell: (505)622-0055, Socorro: (505)8387516, Washington: (202)225-2365 - www.pearce.house.gov Tom Udall (D) 3rd Congressional District - Santa Fe: (505)984-8950, Rio Rancho: (505)994-0499, Gallup: (505)863-0582 Farmington: (505)324-1005, Clovis: (505)763-7616, Las Vegas: (505)454-4080, Washington: (202) 225-6190 - www.tomudall.house.gov
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