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Madd

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MADD
Sarah Smith
BSHS 355
August 03, 2015
Tristram Jones

MADD
MADD, Mother against Drunk Driving, was created by Candace Lightner, after the death of her daughter. MADD was a group of mother's coming to support each other and change the consequences that drunk drivers received after being caught drinking and driving. The organization has lobbied for many social policy changes against the rulings of accidents and even state regulation on the legal drinking age for the 50 states. Because of some policies created new interest have arrived like the prevention of underage drinking. MADD movement all started after the tragic death of 13-year-old Cari Lightner.
The Start of MADD
On May 03, 1980 Cari Lightner was walking along a quiet road on her way to a church carnival when a car swerves out of control, striking and killing her (Stancato, 2013). After the tragic event Candy, Cari’s Mother started the group Mother against Drunk Drivers. Candace Lightner’s was determination to put an end to DUI’s after losing her 13-year-old daughter to a drinking driver. Who was not only drunk at the time of the crash, but also had two prior DUI convictions on his record before the incident (Stancato, 2013)? In fact, Clarence Busch had been arrested on another hit-and-run drunk-driving charge less than a week earlier before Cari’s accident (History, n.d.).
When a DUI occurred, many drunk drivers were rarely prosecuted harshly. Few drunk drivers were subjected to jail time. Fatalities were still considered accidents instead of being called vehicular homicide that is what Candace Lightner believed they were (History, n.d.). The term ‘accident’ is no longer used in relation to a drunk driving incident – instead the word ‘crash’ is used, because an incident caused by the deliberate action of drinking and driving is not considered an accident (Stancato, 2013).
MADD became the fight against “the only socially accepted form of homicide” says Candace in History (n.d.). On September 5, 1980, Mothers Against Drunk Drivers (MADD) was incorporated, and the mission as stated in its Articles of Incorporation were. “To aid the victims of crimes performed by individuals driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, to aid the families of such victims and to increase public awareness of the problem of drinking and drugged driving (MADD, n.d.).” With only citations and minimal action taken on against drunk driving Lightner began lobbying California’s governor, Jerry Brown, to set up a state task force to investigate drunk driving. “In 1980 almost 27,000 alcohol-related traffic fatalities occurred in the United States (History, n.d.).”
Policy Changes
In 1981, California passed a law imposing minimum fines of $375 for drunk drivers and mandatory imprisonment of up to four years for repeat offenders. According to History (n.d.) with the National Commission MADD raised the minimum drinking age to 21 and the start of licenses being revoked for those being arrested for drunk driving. MADD campaign to lower the nation’s legal blood alcohol content from 0.1 percent to 0.08 was won in 2000. They even created checkpoints along state highways to minimize those who are driving under the influence. They even helped to place a higher tax on spirits’.
MADD has implemented laws, taxes, and prevention programs all in the name of ending drunk driving. Not every program was connected to effect easily. “1984, Lightner stood next to Reagan as he signed a law reducing federal highway grants to any state that failed to raise its drinking age to 21. Because of this threat to state budgets by the following year, all 50 states had tightened their drunk-driving laws. In 2000, the group won a major victory when the Clinton administration passed a law tying federal highway funds to states’ adoption of the 0.08 standard.
When sobriety checkpoints that were put into full effect in 2002 MADD wasn’t favored by those that felt it violate their 4th amendment. These checkpoints don’t violet the 4th amendment because they are posted before they are conducted. The checkpoints catch more than just DUI’s the also get things like individuals wanted by the police, vehicle inspection and registration violations, and vehicle tax avoidance or driving without a license. Because of the possibility of other violations being noticed many frowns upon Sobriety checkpoints. MADD’s policies were viewed as overbearing by many, but yet they were still praised for their awareness.
MADD was created by Mothers against drunk drivers, who felt that the drivers should become reliable for their actions after driving under the influence (MADD, n.d.). Mothers against drunk driving have changed social policies and even lobbied for new taxes. MADD has been praised for their awareness against drunk driving. Not all feelings were mutual after the 0.08 intoxicated levels changed, and sobriety checkpoints were enforced. MADD is still working hard today to prevent drinking and driving.
Thanks, Sarah—in most respects this is an improved paper, and your general use of APA citation is on target. Your failure to fully address the range of content points cost you a rubric point, I’m afraid, but otherwise you are making good headway toward becoming a first-rate essayist!@ --Dr. T

Reference
History. (n.d.). MADD founder’s daughter killed by drunk driver - May 03, 1980 - HISTORY.com. Retrieved from http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/madd-founders-daughter-killed-by-drunk-driver
Life Safer. (2013, July 11). History of MADD. Retrieved August 3, 2015, from http://www.lifesafer.com/blog/history-of-madd/
MADD. (n.d.). MADD - Mission Statement. Retrieved from www.madd.org/about-us/mission/?referrer=www.madd.org/about-us/history/?referrer=https://www.google.com/

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