August 20, 2009 - Stepped Up Drunk Driving Patrols Honor Victims; Tri-County Area Mom Uses Loss To Help Prevent Other Tragedies
Contact:
Lynn Sutfin, OHSP, (517) 333-5754
Agency:
State Police
It's been a dozen years since Connie Ayres lost her daughter to drunk driving, but not a day goes by that she doesn't think about her. In fact, there aren't many days that she doesn't talk about her to try and prevent similar tragedies.
It was Dec. 12, 1996, when 16-year-old Amanda Siner and two friends ran off the road and into a tree in Atlas Township. Siner, who was driving, died at the scene and her friends were injured. All had been drinking.
Siner, who had skipped a grade and was taking advanced placement classes, was a senior at Davison High School. She had dreams of becoming a doctor.
"I always pictured a drunk driver as an older man with grey hair who kicked the dog," Ayres said. "That year was terrible in Genesee County and we lost about 15 kids. Amanda knew one of the boys who died. I pointed it out to her and even told her never to drink and drive."
After her daughter's death, Ayres began talking to high school students about drinking and driving. She also became active in MADD, speaking to individuals sentenced by the courts to attend victim impact panels because of drug or alcohol offenses.
Ayres and five other victims and their families across the state are being recognized today as officers across the state begin patrols tomorrow. Victims were identified with the help of MADD Michigan. Visit www.michigan.gov/ohsp for more victim stories, including video.
"When I talk to the people at the panels, I tell them that I see a room full of people who got a second chance and that the police officer who pulled them over was their angel," Ayres said. "They might have been 10 minutes away from their tree."
Ayres is just one of the many people whose lives have been affected by drunk driving and that is why law enforcement agencies statewide are stepping up drunk driving patrols beginning Aug. 21 and continuing through Labor Day.
"More people are injured and killed in drunk driving crashes in August than in any other month," Office of Highway Safety Planning (OHSP) Director Michael L. Prince said. "Everyone should be aware of the extra patrols and remember to plan ahead and never drive drunk."
OHSP is coordinating the Drunk Driving. Over the Limit. Under Arrest. crackdown by administering federal traffic safety funds to more than 300 agencies in 54 counties. Grant-funded counties in the Tri-County area are Arenac, Bay, Genesee, Huron, Isabella, Midland, Ogemaw, Saginaw, Shiawassee and Tuscola.
About 35 percent of all traffic fatalities in Michigan involve alcohol and/or drugs including four during last year's Labor Day holiday weekend.
A first-time drunk driving conviction carries heavy penalties including up to 93 days in jail, up to a $500 fine, up to 360 hours of community service, six points on a driver's license and up to 180 days' license suspension.
In addition, convicted drunk drivers will be subject to a $1,000 fee for two consecutive years, for a total of $2,000 in additional costs. Anyone who refuses a breath test the first time is given an automatic one-year driver's license suspension.
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