MADD TIMES NEW ENGLAND REGIONAL ED I T I ON
JUNE 2023
Maine groups raise awareness of dangers of drunk driving through license plates
by Johnny Maffei, WGMEWed, May 31st 2023
PORTLAND (WGME) -- People are trying to raise awareness about the dangers of drinking and driving through Maine license plates. Police officers are designing a plate to support Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD). MADD says drunk driving is a 100% preventable crime that puts everyone on the roads in danger, so Maine State Police and the Maine State Troopers Foundation hope these plates send a message to people who consider driving under the influence. The plates would be a blue state police plate with the Mothers Against Drunk Driving logo. “Impaired driving crashes are not accidents, but rather choices. There is a proper time and place for everything, and if you are using alcohol, cannabis, illegal drugs, or even impairing prescription drugs, the responsible choice is to not get behind the wheel,” Bureau of Highway Safety Director Lauren Stewart said. Maine State Police say last year in Maine there were more than 1,200 impaired driving crashes that led to 2,000 personal injuries and 46 deaths. One officer with the Maine State Troopers Foundation hopes this can be a strong message, especially heading into the summer months. Troopers have been authorized to use these plates on their cruisers for the month of June and they will be auctioned off at a later date.
Sen. Cohen and Rep. Lemar Join Road Safety Advocates to Share Support for Lowering BAC Levels to .05 in Connecticut
HARTFORD, CT - On May 18, 2023, Chairs of the Transportation Committee, State Senator Christine Cohen(D-Guilford) and State Representative Roland Lemar(D-New Haven), along with Ranking Members State Senator Tony Hwang(R-Fairfield) and State Representative Kathy Kennedy(R-119) joined representatives from the Connecticut Department of Transportation, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) to share their support for lowering Connecticut’s BAC limit to .05 for drivers. Currently, the legal BAC limit for drivers is .08 and Connecticut ranks third nationally in fatalities due to impaired driving. Driving while impaired is the largest single contributor to road fatalities with 46% of all Connecticut traffic fatalities involving a driver with at least a BAC of .01. Studies indicate that drivers with a BAC of .08 show considerable impairment, and the risk of being killed for drivers between .05 and .79 is 7 times that of drivers with no alcohol (NIH/NIAAA, Voas) As of 2023 there are more than 90 countries with a .05 BAC limit. Connecticut, Hawaii, Washington, Oregon, New York and North Carolina have proposed bills to lower the limit to .05. If passed, Connecticut would join Utah who reduced their BAC limit to .05 in 2018. Once passed, Utah saw a 19.8% reduction in the fatal crash rate reduction from 2016- 2019, while the rest of the United States showed a 5.6% fatal crash rate reduction during the same years.
Upon enacting the policy, Utah saw a boost to the restaurant and tourism industry. State officials reported an increase in visits to State and National Parks, spending went up by 7% and alcohol sales and tourism measures continued to increase.
For more information on the benefits of .05 BAC see resources from the Vision Zero Council here.
Thank you to MADD MA’s wonderful volunteers Anna Marie Laduzenski and her husband Donald for speaking out on the court ruling of breathalyzer test evidence being thrown out for thousands of OUI cases due to faulty technology. This kind of news can retraumatize our victims and survivors. Breathalyzers are only one piece of evidence in an impaired driving case, and all aspects should be reviewed.
Click here for the Laduzenski’s full story
Thank you to AAA Northeast for having MADD MA at your press event, graciously hosted by Massachusetts State Police on teen driver safety and the 100 Deadliest Days. As our summer months of celebrations are upon us, please remember to always designate a sober driver if you are drinking on the roads or in the water. Do not drive with any distractions and always wear a seatbelt. Make memories that will last a lifetime, not tragedies.
On June 8th, in Devens, MA, MADD Massachusetts awarded 26 municipal officers and state troopers for their excellence in OUI enforcement. This annual event is an opportunity for MADD to say thank you on behalf of our victims and their families. We want our law enforcement officers to know that their hard work does not go unnoticed. Their dedication to keeping our roadways safe absolutely save lives and we encourage them to continue their great work within the Commonwealth.
MADD OUI Excellence Award Winners
Trooper Devin Balboni, Massachusetts State Police Officer Derrick Card, East Bridgewater Police Department Officer Garrett Danna, Sturbridge Police Department Trooper Patrick DiMartino, Massachusetts State Police Trooper Russell Donnell, Massachusetts State Police Trooper Zachary Driscoll, Massachusetts State Police Trooper Jonathan Freedman, Massachusetts State Police Officer Matthew Frydryk, Amherst Police Department Trooper Ashley Goodspeed, Massachusetts Police Department Officer Daniel Hanks, Charlton Police Department Trooper Eric Harrison, Massachusetts State Police Officer Jacob Laughlin, Hadley Police Department Officer Zachary Marderosian, Sturbridge Police Department Officer Adam McGrath, Bridgewater Police Department Trooper Thomas Norcross, Massachusetts State Police Trooper Officer Giovanni Orlando Trooper Eric Resendes, Massachusetts State Police Lt. Michelle Sutherland, Massachusetts State Police Officer Ryan Swart, Bridgewater Police Department Trooper Ryan Tobin, Massachusetts State Police Trooper Christine Verdolino, Massachusetts State Police Trooper Brendan Woeller, Massachusetts State Police Trooper David Wohler, Massachusetts State Police Officer Joseph Worthey, Amherst Police Department
Trooper Of the Year Trooper Jack Donaldson, Massachusetts State Police
MADD Hero Award Lt. Eric Bernstein
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Dear Sponsors & Donors, Without your continued support, MADD would not be able to support victims of this violent crime, provide valuable educational tools to youth and parents and work toward creating a future of No More Victims. Remember that 100% of funds donated to your local office remain in that state to assist with programs and advocacy. MADD New England
August 5, 2023- MADD Dash (Short Beach Summer 5K) (CT) Sept. 15, 2023- Law Enforcement Recognition Ceremony (CT) September 19, 2023- Golfers Gone MADD (CT) September 22, 2023- Comedy Show (CT) October 1, 2023- Walk Like MADD Boston (MA) October 7, 2023- Branford Walk Like MADD (CT) October 27, 2023- Law Enforcement Recognition Breakfast (RI) November 2023- Massachusetts Remembrance Vigil (MA) December 2023- Candlelight Vigil (RI)
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