Mothers Against Drunk Driving celebrates 20 years

Mothers Against Drunk Driving is not just for mothers.

It's not just for women, not just for victims. It is a nonprofit organization, dedicated to fighting the battle against drunk driving. And anyone with that goal in mind can take part.

MADD was founded in 1980, after a 13-year-old girl was killed by a hit-and-run drunk driver who had with three previous drunk-driving arrests and two convictions. In response, a small group of women in Sacramento formed the first chapter.

Today is the 20th anniversary of MADD, which now has more than 600 chapters, throughout the nation.

"It's really amazing that 20 years have gone by since MADD began right here in California," MADD California State Chairman Richard Laffin said in a statement released. "We have seen so much progress and it is certainly worthy of celebration. We just cannot forget that we still have a long way to go before we accomplish our mission: to stop drunk driving, support the victims of this violent crime and to prevent underage drinking."

In 20 years, MADD has accomplished a great deal, including getting two laws passed. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the enactment of the .08 law and the Administrative License Revocation law in California. MADD fought to get the legal blood alcohol level of intoxication dropped from .10 to .08. The Administrative License Revocation law allows law enforcement officers to confiscate a drunk driver's license immediately, at the scene of arrest.

"We have people like Attorney General Bill Lockyer and Assemblyman Bill Leonard to thank for enacting laws such as .08 and Administrative License Revocation," said Rebecca Bearden, MADD California Public Policy Committee Chairperson. "MADD could not have saved so many lives without the help of our lawmakers and the diligence of those who enforce the laws."

In 1999, there were nine Driving Under the Influence felonies and 207 DUI misdemeanors in South Lake Tahoe.

In Douglas County, there were 234 DUI arrests, two of which were juveniles.

Throughout the country, end of the school year activities, such as prom and graduation increase the risk of teen-age drunk driving. But South Shore high schools are doing their part to keep students sober and safe.

"Right now, because prom is coming up, we have a morning TV show, called VTV and every morning for the last week or so, they've had a big show on drunk driving," South Tahoe High School's Birgie Lukins said. "It shows kids who have died on prom night. It's a very emotional thing. Sober Grad Night is what we try to encourage the kids to do, to be there all night. We try to get in touch with the parents and get them to make their kids attend Sober Grad Night."

Whittell High School also has a Sober Grad Night.

"The idea is that there will be no alcohol, period. And when the students go there, they are there for the night," WHS Principal Howard Bennett said. "Our concern is that prom night and graduation night are two of the most dangerous nights for teen-agers. We think this of Grad Night as an alternative."