DWI-MADD’s View of Citizens’ Constitutional Rights
MADD’s View of Citizens’ Constitutional Rights
Mothers Against Drunk Driving is fueled by anger and grief. In fact, its original name was Mothers Against Drunk Drivers. 12 As a leading researcher on drunk driving has observed, MADD is focused on
the demand for justice or vengeance on the group that took the lives of friends and children. This warrants harsh punishment, whether or not deterrence is achieved. It also leads to rejection or a lack of enthusiasm for policies that promise to save lives of crash victims without regard for the cause of an accident. 13
A case in point. Research suggests that using a cell phone while driving may cause more traffic fatalities than driving drunk. But when a MADD official was asked how traffic fatality statistics involving cell phone use compared to those involving drunk drivers, he tellingly replied "I have absolutely no idea, nor do I care." 14 The reason appears to be that MADD sees other causes of traffic accidents to be potential competitors for money and attention. 15
The president of MADD Canada was outraged and publicly blasted a judge who sentenced a repeat drunk driver to restrictions, including electronically-monitored severe limits on his mobility on condition he remain in treatment for his alcoholism. The driver had maintained a long period of sobriety before experiencing a relapse. In handing down the sentence, the judge cited scientific research demonstrating that severe punishments are ineffective in deterring drunk driving by alcoholics. Therefore, she developed a sentence designed to reinforce the long-term effectiveness of his rehabilitation.
MADD Canada strongly disagreed with the judge and wanted severe punishment rather than rehabilitation. 16
MADD’s anger and grief often lead it to disregard constitutional rights. To learn more about MADD’s stance toward human or civil rights, visit MADD and Citizens’ Constitutional Rights.
Mothers Against Drunk Driving is fueled by anger and grief. In fact, its original name was Mothers Against Drunk Drivers. 12 As a leading researcher on drunk driving has observed, MADD is focused on
the demand for justice or vengeance on the group that took the lives of friends and children. This warrants harsh punishment, whether or not deterrence is achieved. It also leads to rejection or a lack of enthusiasm for policies that promise to save lives of crash victims without regard for the cause of an accident. 13
A case in point. Research suggests that using a cell phone while driving may cause more traffic fatalities than driving drunk. But when a MADD official was asked how traffic fatality statistics involving cell phone use compared to those involving drunk drivers, he tellingly replied "I have absolutely no idea, nor do I care." 14 The reason appears to be that MADD sees other causes of traffic accidents to be potential competitors for money and attention. 15
The president of MADD Canada was outraged and publicly blasted a judge who sentenced a repeat drunk driver to restrictions, including electronically-monitored severe limits on his mobility on condition he remain in treatment for his alcoholism. The driver had maintained a long period of sobriety before experiencing a relapse. In handing down the sentence, the judge cited scientific research demonstrating that severe punishments are ineffective in deterring drunk driving by alcoholics. Therefore, she developed a sentence designed to reinforce the long-term effectiveness of his rehabilitation.
MADD Canada strongly disagreed with the judge and wanted severe punishment rather than rehabilitation. 16
MADD’s anger and grief often lead it to disregard constitutional rights. To learn more about MADD’s stance toward human or civil rights, visit MADD and Citizens’ Constitutional Rights.