January 2020 e-newsletter

Legislative Update

We are monitoring all legislation that impacts impaired driving and underage drinking in Virginia. Below are links to a few bills of interest. Since the status of a bill can change at any time, we’ve provided links to Virginia’s legislative website. Clicking on a highlighted bill number below will take you to its current status.

HB 34 – MADD supports this bill, which would require suspected drunk drivers who refuse a breath test to use an ignition interlock in order to drive during a one-year license suspension. People who use interlock are less likely to reoffend. Compared to license suspension alone, interlocks reduce repeat offenses by 67% while the device is installed and 39% after the device is removed.

SB 520 – This bill is being re-worked and with the anticipated changes MADD will be supporting it. In the current form as of 1/23/2020 we do not support the bill.

SB 148 – MADD is opposed to this bill, which would make it legal to drink under the age of 21, and to drive impaired on private property 

You can look up your legislator and their contact information here. 

As you consider Virginia laws related to impaired driving, MADD’s Report to the Nation ranks every state and the District of Columbia in five categories:  Ignition interlocks for all drunk driving offenders; conducting sobriety checkpoints; administratively revoking driving privileges upon arrest for drunk driving; creating enhanced penalties for those who drive drunk with a child, and adopting penalties and expediting warrants for suspected drunk drivers who refuse an alcohol test. See how Virginia is doing here!

Calendar

4/4/2020   Walk Like MADD - Richmond  Teams, walkers and volunteers needed! Contact cristi.cousins@madd.org.

SHOE DONATION!!! Did you know that your school, business, church, etc. can collect used sneakers to raise money for MADD in VA??  For more information, contact Christopher.konschak@madd.org.

5/16/2020  Walk Like MADD - Leesburg  For more information contact maddloudoun@aol.com.

April is PowerTalk 21 Month. MADD’s National month for urging parents to talk to their kids about alcohol. If you would like to collaborate with MADD VA in your community by hosting a parent workshop or handbook giveaway, contact cristi.cousins@madd.org. 

April is PowerTalk 21 Month. MADD’s National month for urging parents to talk to their kids about alcohol. If you would like to collaborate with MADD VA in your community by hosting a parent workshop or handbook giveaway, contact cristi.cousins@madd.org.

Impaired driving stories in the news

11/16/19 Heather Wrenn, 31, Loudoun

12/25/19 Rashida Begun, 79, and Mohammed Malik, 80, Loudoun

12/26/19 Christopher Brown, 43, Newport News

12/26/20 Layvon Andrews, 23, and Kalijuan Andrews, 25, Lunenberg

12/28/19 Franklin Roosevelt Davis, 62, Dinwiddie

01/01/20 VA Man Kills WVA Woman in DUI Crash

01/01/20 Tramayne Wyatt, 35, New Kent County

01/05/20 Tonika Wilkins, 41, Mecklenburg

01/11/20 Mark Wilson Smith, 49 Winchester

01/15/20 Stephen Evatt, 25, Albemarle

01/18/20 Wife Shocked When Case Dismissed

01/19/20 Michelle McLees, 49, Chesapeake

01/20/20 Tyrone Parham, 61, Brunswick County

01/20/20 Man Charged With Striking Pedestrian

MADD AROUND VA

MADD Volunteer Debbie Sausville has been elected the vice chair of the Fairfax ASAP Policy Board. Debbie, whose step-daughter Lauren Sausville died in a drunk driving crash, has been a volunteer with MADD for almost 15 years. She volunteers at the National level with the Victim Helpline, and at the local level, speaking at such venues as ASAP Victim Impact Panels, schools and military bases.

Volunteer Mark Reid at Westfield High School in Chantilly on January 15 as part of a WRAP Youth Safety Event.

MADD VA was at Battlefield High School in Fairfax on January 10 as part of a WRAP Youth Safety Event.

Volunteer Vanessa Haislip spoke to officers with the Hanover Sheriff’s office on Jan 3.