Victim Volunteers To Increase Presence To Educate Players and Executives
PHOENIX — Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) will provide a comprehensive training to all players, staff and executives of the Arizona Cardinals after the second Cardinals executive in a year was arrested for drunk driving.
The Cardinals announced yesterday afternoon that they had suspended Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Ron Minegar for at least six weeks without pay, fined him $200,000 and will work with MADD to provide mandatory DUI awareness training for all employees in the organization.
The $200,000 fine will be donated to MADD to provide services to victims of impaired driving in Arizona.
“Across the nation, drunk driving is the leading killer on our roads, taking the lives of almost 11,000 people every year. MADD serves a victim of this violent, 100% preventable crime every 3 minutes,” said MADD Arizona Executive Director Jason Frazier. “The victims who work with us change lives by sharing their heartbreaking stories. We believe our training will make a difference in the lives of every member of the Cardinals organization. We will make sure they remember us when their plans include alcohol.”
Arizona has one of the toughest drunk driving laws in the country, including the requirement that every drunk driving offender install an ignition interlock. Minegar, too, should be required to use an ignition interlock to protect those around him and to block any attempts to drink and drive in the future.
“There is no excuse to ever drive while impaired by alcohol or other drugs,” Frazier said. “Plan ahead before going out for a non-drinking, unimpaired driver, whether it’s a taxi, rideshare app, public transportation or a friend or family member. It’s that simple.”
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 350,000 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]
