WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) recognized state leaders who played a major role in MADD’s mission to eliminate drunk driving, which is still the leading killer on U.S. roads.
In all, MADD honored 45 state lawmakers, three governors and one lieutenant governor for their commitment to saving lives. These MADD champions represent 20 states, including seven from Wisconsin, five from Maryland and Texas, four from New York and New Jersey, three from Florida and Massachusetts, two from Alabama, California, Kentucky, Oklahoma and South Carolina and one from Georgia, Idaho, Michigan, New Mexico, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah and Virginia.
“MADD is so grateful to our elected leaders who share our passion for eliminating the often deadly and always preventable crime of drunk driving,” said MADD National President Helen Witty, whose 16-year-old daughter, Helen Marie, was killed by a drunk and drugged teen driver while rollerblading on a bike path just blocks from the family’s Miami home in 2000. “Drunk driving deaths have risen 9 percent since 2014. Meanwhile, arrests are down. We rely on our governors and legislators to introduce, champion, pass and prioritize enforcement of laws that will save lives and help reverse this public safety crisis.”
Many of the 2019 Legislators of the Year played a major role in MADD’s Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving, which was launched in 2006. A key component of the Campaign calls for all-offender interlock laws, which require the use of an ignition interlock for any convicted drunk driver who seeks driving privileges during a license suspension. Prior to the Campaign, only one state — New Mexico — had an all-offender interlock law. This year, Kentucky and New Jersey passed all-offender laws, bringing the total number of states to 34.
Other components of MADD’s Campaign include supporting high-visibility law enforcement, such as sobriety checkpoints and saturation patrols, advocating for the development of advanced alcohol detection technology in all new vehicles and taking personal responsibility by always planning ahead for a non-drinking driver when plans include alcohol.
This year marks the first time MADD has endorsed state legislation in support of a .05 BAC limit, and MADD is proud to recognize six lawmakers in five states for their work to lower the BAC threshold.
Utah so far is the only state to successfully pass a .05 law, which, if passed nationwide, could save 1,800 lives each year.
2019 MADD Legislators of the Year:
Alabama
Representative Arnold Mooney
Senator Jim McClendon
California
Senator Jerry Hill
Assemblywoman Autumn Burke
Florida
Senator Dennis Baxley
Representative Scott Plakon
Representative Brad Drake
Georgia
Representative Chuck Efstration
Idaho
Representative Ryan Kerby
Kentucky
Senator Whitney Westerfield
Representative Richard Heath
Maryland
Governor Larry Hogan
Delegate Vanessa Atterbeary
Senator Will Smith
Senator Ben Kramer
Delegate Erek Barron
Massachusetts
Governor Charlie Baker
Senator Bruce Tarr
Representative Timothy Whelan
Michigan
Representative Abullah Hammoud
New Jersey
Governor Phil Murphy
Senator Nicholas Scutari
Senator Joseph Lagana
Assemblywoman Joann Downey
New Mexico
Senator Daniel Ivey-Soto
New York
Senator Monica Martinez
Assemblywoman Carrie Woerner
Assemblyman Felix Ortiz
Senator John Liu
Oklahoma
Senator Kim David
Representative Chris Kannady
Oregon
Senate President Peter Courtney
South Carolina
Senator Brad Hutto
Representative Eddie Tallon
South Dakota
Representative Tim Goodwin
Texas
Senator José Menéndez
Representative Andrew Murr
Representative James White
Representative Reggie Smith
Lt. Governor Dan Patrick
Utah
Representative Norm Thurston
Virginia
Delegate Joe Lindsey
Wisconsin
Senator Chris Larson
Representative Christine Sinicki
Senator André Jacque
Representative Jeremy Thiesfeldt
Senator Alberta Darling
Representative Jim Ott
Senator Van Wanggaard
About Mothers Against Drunk Driving
Founded in 1980 by a mother whose daughter was killed by a drunk driver, Mothers Against Drunk Driving® (MADD) is the nation’s largest nonprofit working to end drunk driving, help fight drugged driving, support the victims of these violent crimes and prevent underage drinking. MADD has helped to save more than 380,000 lives, reduce drunk driving deaths by more than 50 percent and promote designating a non-drinking driver. MADD’s Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving® calls for law enforcement support, ignition interlocks for all offenders and advanced vehicle technology. MADD has provided supportive services to nearly one million drunk and drugged driving victims and survivors at no charge through local victim advocates and the 24-Hour Victim Help Line 1-877-MADD-HELP. Visit www.madd.org or call 1-877-ASK-MADD.
Contact: Becky Iannotta, 202.600.2032, [email protected]
