MADD NM’s 2019 Saturation Saturday
In conjunction with various law enforcement agencies and NMDOT’s “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign, Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) of New Mexico launched “Saturation Saturday” with a press conference on August 24th. MADD shared words of appreciation to law enforcement agents, cautions to those who were planning on driving impaired, and jeremiads of those who lost loved ones to this senseless, preventable crime. The “Saturation Saturday” campaign is a nation-wide event that intends to overwhelm the nation with constant messaging to deter people from driving impaired and from adding to the growing statistic of drunk and drugged driving victims. Additionally, law enforcement increased patrol visibility as well as sobriety checkpoints, all of which have served to reduce drunk driving incidences by at least twenty percent. According to NMDOT, there was a 14% decrease to the year prior of alcohol-related crash fatalities that can be attributed to increased outreach and awareness of impaired driving. Given these outcomes, MADD’s Program Director Lindsey Valdez found the partnership with law enforcement to be very promising and encouraging.
MADD recognized and applauded the analogous efforts of those officers who honorably and tirelessly devote their energies to keep our communities and roads safe. Several local businesses and community vendors partnered with MADD’s “Saturation Saturday” launch by donating food, gift cards, and other supplies while officers patrolled and returned to their command centers located at MADD’s State Office. MADD was extremely grateful for Parnall Law’s donations and unrelenting support for MADD’s mission and efforts to support law enforcement and victims. Several media outlets, such as KRQE and KOB captured the press conference to raise awareness, and volunteers filled the State Office to help contribute and assist in any way.
“Saturation Saturday” proved to be a successful event with over 100 officers and deputies on patrol from four participating agencies (NM State Police, Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office, Sandoval County Sheriff’s Office, and Albuquerque Police Department). The high visibility patrol and sobriety checkpoints resulted in 41 arrests. We very proud of the success of the event and are looking forward to more opportunities to partner with the community and with law enforcement to increase awareness and to eliminate drunk driving. We firmly believes that the enduring pain and heartache of families who mourn the abbreviated lives of their loved ones will always serve to embolden efforts to create a reality of “no more victims”.
