As the holiday week arrives and party season is in full
swing, public safety officials nationwide warn us about the dangers of drunken
driving.
As a court reporter, I’m reminded of those dangers on a
daily basis with DUI cases comprising nearly a quarter of all the cases that come
through the courthouse annually. The Montgomery County District Attorney’s
Office is currently prosecuting more than 1,400 DUI cases and the Sheriff’s
Office Warrants Division has more than 900 DUI warrants on its books.
Tragically, too many DUI cases end with someone being killed
or maimed.
So during this season of awareness and prevention I make a
special mention here of a unique collaboration between members of the
Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, District Attorney’s Office and Mothers
Against Drunk Driving Pennsylvania. Sheriff’s deputies, prosecutors and MADD
officials volunteer their time to promote a designated driver program during
Philadelphia Eagles home games.
Montco Sheriff Sean P. Kilkenny/Submitted Photo |
“We’ve participated in several. I think it’s very valuable. They
help educate fans about the dangers of drunk driving and the importance of
designated drivers at home games,’ Sheriff Sean P. Kilkenny told me recently.
“The volunteers man the table. These dedicated men and women
offer their personal time to volunteer to attend Eagles football games and work
at the MADD booth and encourage fans to plan ahead and designate a non-drinking
driver,” explained Linda Sposato, a victim services specialist for Mothers Against
Drunk Driving Pennsylvania, adding MADD National and the NFL have teamed for
five years at identical events at stadiums nationwide.
The volunteers, four at each game, man a MADD booth at eight
home games and two preseason games at Lincoln Financial Field.
“We get the fans as they come into the stadium and explain
to them the importance of them having a non-drinking designated driver for the
group that they’re with,” Sposato said.
Linda Sposato, victim services specialist for MADD/Photo by Carl Hessler. Jr. |
Under the program, the designated drivers sign a pledge and
receive a coupon for a free soft drink. The designated drivers also are entered
into special drawings to win prizes at each game.
“The people who sign up are very passionate about being a
designated driver and making sure that their friends and family get home safe.
And many times you find they somehow know someone who was involved in a DUI
crash,” said Sposato. “We’d like to have more people sign up. We’re still
giving the same message that we started over 30 years ago - make a plan before
you go out.”
Assistant District Attorney Douglas Lavenberg, who once was
a member of a special DUI prosecution unit in the county, has also volunteered
at the games and said encouraging fans to make “smart choices” is important.
Montco Prosecutor Douglas Lavenberg/Photo by Carl Hessler Jr. |
“People can go out, they can have fun and they can drink
responsibly but we don’t want anyone to get behind the wheel intoxicated,”
Lavenberg said. “It’s a reminder to be responsible. The games are a great forum
to get that message out. We get a lot of people to sign up.”
It’s a great opportunity for volunteers to get involved.
“Many times the volunteers are victims and they want to make
a difference because of what happened to them,” said Sposato. “They feel they
want to do something to stop it from happening to someone else.”
According to Sposato, during the five seasons that MADD and
the NFL have worked together, more than 1.1 million people signed up to be
non-drinking designated drivers at NFL games nationwide.
Lavenberg said he plans to stay involved in the effort.
“I believe strongly in the message that Mothers Against
Drunk Driving is sending. I believe there is a world possible where there is no
more drunk driving,” Lavenberg said.
Sposato said MADD is honored to have a local partnership
with county officials “dedicated to keeping our roads safe for everyone.”
“To actually have the DA’s office and the sheriff’s
department volunteer their own personal time to come out and support our cause
just made me feel so good that they appreciate MADD’s work and want to help us,”
Sposato said. “MADD is extremely grateful to the Sheriff’s Office along with the
Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office for going above and beyond in
their part in saving lives.”
Sposato, the sheriff’s office and the district attorney’s
office should be recognized for everything they do to make our roads safer year
round. I applaud your efforts and thank you.
Here’s wishing all readers a very Merry Christmas and safe
holiday season.
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