MAD ABOUT MADD
To the editor:
I write this letter as a victim of a drunk driver and as a working for Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) for the past 12 years. In your January issue, Erin Burdette wrote an article about Allen Gwinn’s website Dallas.org (“The Man Behind the Blog”). She states that Gwinn “has sniffed out many a public official doing less than his or her job,” and goes on to say that this includes “Dallas Police Department placement of proceeds-$175 per DWI funneled to MADD instead of city coffers.” This is absolutely incorrect. MADD is not the recipient of any fine or penalty paid by DWI offenders to Dallas city or county governments. MADD does have a program with area probation departments to provide speakers at Victim Impact Panels (VIPs). As a condition of their probation, the courts often order DWI offenders to attend a two-hour session to hear victims of drunk drivers tell how DWI offenders have affected their lives. The purpose of this is hopefully prevent some of these folks from becoming repeat offenders. Each offender pays a $25 fee to MADD, which is used for MADD’s many programs, including victim assistance and educational programs. I am very familiar with this program because I have been one of the speakers for the past six years. There are usually three to four victim speakers who volunteer their time and receive no compensation. You can find the complete details on these classes at madd-metroplex.org/vip.shtml. There are some adult DWI offender classes available from other sources that some judges may order offenders to attend. These are more expensive and are conducted through the State Department of Health. These are not related to MADD, and MADD receives no funds from them. It is unfortunate that Gwinn has attempted to discredit the work of MADD and its volunteers, who spend many hours trying to keep drunk drivers off our street and who provide assistance to victims.
-Don Lee
