Sunday, July 13, 2008

Editor:

Everyone knows Wyoming has a problem with drunk driving and underage drinking. There has been a lot of attention brought to the issue, which is great. Cultural changes take courage and long term commitment.

I want to say thank you to all who are working to make Wyoming a safer place to live.

On the state level, I want to thank Gov. Dave and First Lady Nancy Freudenthal for their work with the Impaired Driving Coalition and the Wyoming First Lady’s Initiative; the Department of Health Mental Heath and Substance Abuse Services Division for developing community programs; WYDOT for providing grant funding; the Wyoming Highway Patrol Association for donating to MADD and Injury Prevention Resources; the Wyoming Association of Sheriffs and Chiefs of Police for their development of an Alcohol Issues and Policy Committee; and to the Wyoming Legislature for passing five DUI bills two years ago and who continue to work to protect the citizens of our state.

On the local level, I want to say thank you to the following agencies: to law enforcement for the C.A.R.T.E. program and the officers working overtime on DUI enforcement, to the Casper Police Department for doing voluntary Breathalyzer tests in the bars as an educational tool; to Officer Scott Jones for having made the most DUI arrests in the state; to judges for sending DUI and MIP offenders to the MADD Victim Impact Panels as a sentencing option; and to the judges who are being tough with offenders.

Thank you to the Casper City Council; to all local media for coverage; to the Casper Events Center for the decision to use wrist bands; to the Natrona County Prevention Coalition and the Game and Fish for their "Stay Afloat, Don't Booze and Boat" media campaign; for Safe Kids; to liquor establishments who provide beverage server training and continue to pass compliance checks; and to all the advocates who are working with the victims of drunk driving crashes.

A special thank you goes to all elected officials across the state who are working to implement good public policy.

These are just a few of the things happening to address binge drinking, alcohol abuse, drunk driving and underage drinking. Keep up the good work because we are making a difference -- we are saving lives.

For more information, call MADD Wyoming at 1-800-498-5201.

TONI REICHENBACH, Casper

MADD Wyoming