Welcome Isabelle Rhinehart!

 

We are extremely happy to announce that Isabelle Rhinehart has joined MADD VA as our Victim Services Specialist. Isabelle graduated magna cum laude from Longwood University in Virginia with a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminology. She double minored in psychology and sociology and completed an internship as a Victim Advocate with the Commonwealth Attorney’s Office in Prince George, Virginia. Isabelle looks forward to serving victims in Virginia and can be reached at [email protected].

Some dangerous ideas exist about drinking and boating but here’s the truth — Boating Under the Influence (BUI) is just as dangerous, deadly and preventable as Driving Under the Influence (DUI). The US Coast Guard blames 1 in 6 deaths on the water on alcohol.  Watch a CBS Morning Show story on this issue here. Read more about BUI on the MADD site, and the Operation Dry Water site, including outreach materials, and you can follow and share BUI safety posts via their Facebook.

Over the extended Labor Day weekend in 2022, Virginia State Police reported 6 traffic fatalities. The crashes occurred in Hanover, Henry, Pittsylvania, Shenandoah, and Sussex counties, and the City of Norfolk. The Virginia State Police alone made 87 arrests for DUI/DUID. (Source Traffic Records Electronic Data Systems)

Remember to plan ahead for a safe ride home if there will be alcohol involved in your Labor Day weekend plans! Throwing a party? Be sure to include nonalcoholic options for designated drivers. Maybe one of these Labor Day Mocktail ideas from Smart Start!

Help us spread the word on your social media. You are our best messenger! Below are lots of options for sharing!

Impaired Driving Stories in the News

5/24/23 Woman on Honeymoon Killed in Arlington DUI Crash

5/27/23 Chesterfield Driver Charged with DUI

5/31/23 Sentencing In Deadly VA Beach Crash

6/16/23 DUI Arrests Up in Nelson County

6/17/23 Stevie Justice, 56

6/24/23 Wanda Rose, 66

6/30/23 Howard Kyle Hendricks,III 22

7/2/23  Volunteer Mike Goodove on WTKR

7/4/23 Herbert Throckmorton, 80

7/9/23 Man Killed in Deadly Hit and Run in Fairfax- Driver Charged with DUI

7/13/23 Study Finds Compliance Based Ignition Interlock Laws Help Reduce Drunk Driving Repeat Offenses

7/17/23 Juhleil Na’Sean Williams, 5

7/17/23 Two Drivers Charged with DUI After Crash

7/19/23 Drunk Driver Injures Virginia Beach Police Officer

Calendar

9/21/23 – Virtual Victim Support Group – if interested contact [email protected] for updated log in info.

9/30/23 - Walk Like MADD Richmond

10/25/23 – MADD VA Law Enforcement Recognition Luncheon. For more info email [email protected]

 It will be here before you know it! Register today!

This newsletter is supported by a federal highway safety grant administered by the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles.