MADD VA E-Newsletter                                                                   December 2023

#ToGetThere Media Kickoff Event

Crash Survivor, Natalie Rainer, speaking at the To Get There kickoff event.

On Thursday, November 16, Richmond Ford hosted our kickoff event for our new campaign “To Get There”. Thank you to all our speakers including Deputy Attorney General Rob Bell of the Virginia Office of the Attorney General, Lt. Colonel Matthew Hanley of the Virginia State Police, Major Andrea Riesmeyer of the Chesterfield Police Department, crash survivor Natalie Rainer, and Brett Kody of Richmond Ford.

 

During the holidays, there are 21 million chances you or a loved one could encounter a drunk driver on the road. We're taking a stand to turn 21 million to zero. Join the movement and donate to end impaired driving this holiday season. Visit MADD.org/ToGetThere to learn more.

 

You can find a recording of the event on the MADD VA Facebook page.

MADD VA Law Enforcement Awards 2023

Group photo of the officers who were able to attend this year’s event.

This year’s winner of the Richmond Ford Award for most DUI arrests: Officer Zabulon Cardona of the Chesterfield Police Department with 129 DUI arrests for the year.

Each year we ask law enforcement agencies across Virginia to submit the names of officers they feel deserve recognition for their impaired driving prevention efforts. We then honor those officers at an awards luncheon. The luncheon was held in Richmond on October 25.th Some of these officers have the most DUI arrests for their department, some are part of a DUI Task Force, some have pursued specialized training, and some have conducted specialized training. ALL are HEROs to us for their efforts.

Pictures from this event are on our MADD VA Facebook page.  A complete list of winners is here.

Impaired Driving Prevention Month

The holiday season is one of the deadliest seasons when it comes to drunk driving. December is Impaired Driving Prevention Month…help us remind everyone to make a plan for a safe ride home before the party starts. Plan ahead to have a designated driver or use a rideshare app to make sure you have a safe and sober ride home.

Social media downloads available at https://www.trafficsafetymarketing.gov/

Impaired driving stories in the news

10/17/23 Family of Four Hit By Drunk Driver in Stafford

10/20/23 Stafford Man Arrested for DUI After Crashing in Creek

10/20/23 Rappahannock Man Charged in Five Vehicle Deadly Crash

10/21/23 William Thompson, 52, Campbell County

11/3/23 Lewis Dudley, 63, Campbell County

11/17/2023 Women arrested after crashing into two vehicles while under the influence, James City County

Calendar

December 19 - Join MADD on Facebook Live for the “National Day of Remembrance” for impaired driving victims on 12/19/23 7pm Central (That’s 8pm Eastern!). 

December 21 – MADD Mid-Atlantic Monthly Virtual Support Group via Teams at 7:00 pm

https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_ZTUxOWY1YzUtZmYxMC00YWQ0LTgzZDktYzE3N2Q2NjUzMTEx%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%224d97059f-5f7e-491b-8c1e-8ff3eb6788c0%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%228f0751c2-c692-4387-9287-3b5b82719d9f%22%7d

Please contact [email protected] with any questions or concerns.

MADD Around Virginia

MADD volunteer, Lisa, shares her story at the Lynchburg Police Academy.

MADD volunteer, Kristine, shares her story at the Shenandoah Criminal Justice Academy.

MADD volunteer, Joshua, shared his story with the students of Triplette Academy.