MADD has Its Critics

The problem of drunk driving has now largely been reduced to a "hard core of alcoholics who do not respond to public appeal," according to MADD. 1 Most drivers who have had something to drink have low blood alcohol concentration (BAC) and few are involved in fatal accidents or crashes. 1a On the other hand, while only a few drivers have BAC's higher than .15, many of those drivers have fatal crashes. 2 For example, almost half of fatally injured drunk drivers have a BAC of .20 (which is over twice the legal limit in most states) or higher. 3

The biggest problem in reducing drunk driving fatalities now consists of the hard core of alcoholic drivers who repeatedly drive with BAC's of .15 or higher. But MADD has now decided to go after social drinkers and to eleminate driving after drinking any amount of alcohol beverage. This change appears to reflect the influence of a growing prohibitionist movement within MADD.3a

The founding president of MADD, Candy Lightner, left in disgust from the organization that she herself created because of its change in goals. "It has become far more neo-prohibitionist than I ever wanted or envisioned," she says. "I didn't start MADD to deal with alcohol. I started MADD to deal with the issue of drunk driving." 4 Ms. Lightner has apparently put her finger on the problem when she says that if MADD really wants to save lives, it will go after the real problem drivers. 4a

Vengeance

Mothers Against Drunk Driving is fueled by anger and grief. In fact, its original name was Mothers Against Drunk Drivers. 5 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. 6

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." 7 The issue for MADD is no longer preventing auto accidents but preventing drinking.

Prohibitionist Goal

Drunk driving has been defined in the U.S. as driving at the .10 BAC level, but is being re-defined down to .08. At least five states have attempted to lower that definition of drunk driving to .05. Doris Aiken, the founder of MADD's sister organization, Remove Intoxicated Drivers (RID), wants to lower the level to .04. Exploiting the tragedies of September 11, the RID leader charges that "Drunken drivers are the terrorists of the road." There is now a move in Vermont to define drunk driving at the .02 BAC level. What's the ultimate goal? MADD's Tina Pasco asserts that "The only safe amount when you are mixing drinking and driving is zero -- double zero. No alcohol." 8

No one should drive after drinking, but defining drunk driving as driving after using mouth wash is counterproductive and impractical and a waste of limited resources. Zero tolerance isn't working in schools 9 and it won't work on the highways. For more, visit Zero Tolerance.

Most alcohol-related traffic deaths occur when other important causal factors are present, such as using a cell phone, fatigue, drug use, inexperience in driving, road rage, speeding, poorly lit roads, and failure to use safety belts. 10 And, of course, most traffic fatalities don't involve any alcohol at all. If MADD really wanted to reduce traffic fatalities, it would also care about these major causes of traffic deaths --- but it clearly doesn't. MADD is no longer a safety-promotion organization but an anti-alcohol organization.

Mothers Against Drunk Driving stigmatizes light or moderate alcohol consumption, even when it isn't associated with either being underage or driving. For example:

• MADD sells a graphic showing two empty glasses of alcohol surrounded by the words assault, drowning, burns, rape and suicide.

• MADD sells a graphic that equates beer with heroin by depicting a beer bottle as a drug syringe.

• MADD sells a television ad insisting that "if you think there's a difference" between heroin and alcohol, "you're dead wrong." 10a

Mothers Against Drunk Driving has clearly become not simply anti-drunk driving or even anti-impaired driving, but anti-alcohol.

Junk Science

Unfortunately, Mothers Against Drunk Driving often uses junk science to promote its agenda. For example, a very brief three-page study by MADD vice president Ralph Hingson asserts that a national definition of drunk driving set at .08 would save 500-600 lives per year. Although the U.S. Department of transporation has been unable to establish such a conclusion after 15 years of careful research, and although the General Accounting Office issued a report to Congress insisting that the Hingson claim is "unfounded," MADD continues to quote the unsubstantiated estimate as scientific fact. 11 And the MADD vice president continues to churn out junk science reports used by the organization and other anti-alcohol groups. 12

A MADD ad campaign against underage drinking included purported "facts" linking alcohol to weight gain, rape and sexually transmitted diseases that weren't based on good evidence, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Reduction of consumption leaders James Mosher and Robert Reynolds criticized MADD's misuse of statistics. After reviewing MADD's ads, Reynolds informed MADD that "this is really sloppy, inadequate and embarrassing.... It imperils the integrity" of MADD and other groups in the field.

MADD's assertion that underage drinkers are 50 times more likely to use cocaine than abstainers made James Mosher "cringe," according to the Wall Street Journal. Mosher stressed that there is no research "that shows there's a cause and effect and that's being implied" by MADD. 12a

When pioneering researcher Dr. Laurence Ross reported that increasing the severity of punishments for drunk driving has only a short-term impact on drunk driving, MADD turned on him with a vengeance usually reserved for drunk drivers themselves. It even accused Dr.Ross, an independent scholar with proven integrity, of being the drunk driver's best friend. 13 Actually, Dr. Ross is a strong foe of drunk driving who began studying the problem long before the existence of MADD. He has identified research-based evidence of what policies are most effective in reducing drunk driving. 14 Unfortunately for him, they are not always consistent with MADD's ideological and emotional agenda.

Lack of Integrity

The Center for Consumer Freedom has pointed out that Mothers Against Drunk Driving

...will sell out its principles to keep its coffers full. One noteworthy case was the 2000 battle over two California ballot initiatives (Propositions 30 and 31) that sought to permit an automobile accident victim to sue the at-fault driver's insurance company if legal claims weren't paid promptly. Considering that victims of drunk drivers stood to gain an important legal tool, most Californians expected MADD to lead the charge in favor of these new measures. However, MADD aligned itself with a group of out-of-state insurance companies, which collectively ran a $1 million-per-week advertising campaign against the proposiotions. MADD defended its position at the time by arguing that drunk drivers themselves, if convicted only of lesser charges, could sue insurance companies under the proposed law. Even after California's Attorney General disagreed, ruling that Propositions 30 and 31 could never give drunk drivers new rights, MADD never budged from its contradictory position. The organizations motive? Greed, plain and simple. MADD's 1999- 2000 annual report acknowledges Allstate Insurance Company for a gift in the "$250,000 and above" category. Nationwide Mutual Insurance gave over $100,000 for its share of the political cover. 15

MADD also has "cozy" relationships with its other major donors, including DaimlerChrysler, General Motors and Nissan. Actually, they're more investors than donors. GM is a good example.

"GM and MADD have formed a mutually profitable relationship: in return for GM's financial support, MADD stays conveniently silent on traffic safety issues outside of 'impaired driving.' GM, meanwhile, is vociferous in its opposition to any drinking before driving, buying itself immunity from MADD's potential criticism for encouraging speeding." 15a

Speeding is a factor in about 31 percent of all fatal crashes involving almost 14,000 fatalities each year and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that speed-related crashes cost over $40 billion each year in the U.S. General Motors very aggressively promotes speeding as a pleasurable activity in order to sell its cars. 15b

What does MADD say about speeding? Nothing. As the Executive Director of Ohio MADD said, "Speeding isn't our thing." 15c

General Motors produces three of what Consumer Reports calls the "Four Deadliest Cars of All Time." However, by giving millions of dollars to MADD, the auto giant appears to have bought silence on the subject of improving vehicular safety features. 15d

MADD-GM Timeline

"1991 General Motors becomes a corporate sponsor of MADD

1992 General Motors commissions a Gallup Poll to test public opinion on roadblocks

1995 General Motors donates $110,000 to MADD

1996 to 1998 GM General Counsel Charles Babcock serves as MADD's national chairman

1998 Babcock argues against drunk driving sensors for cars. MADD is silent.

1999 GM announces a five-year, $2.5 million "corporate partnership" with MADD, and gave $500,000 to MADD to kick it off.

2000 GM co-sponsors one of MADD's campaign and underwrites MADD's magazine, DRIVEN

2000 GM blocks an amendment to a highway bill that would have imposed criminal penalties on car-company executives who authorized faulty vehicles or equipment. MADD is silent.

2001 Former GM Vice Chairman Harry Pearce is appointed to MADD's National Advisory Board

2001 to 2002 GM donates $542,180 to MADD, and GM-subsidiary Chevrolet donates $120,000

2003 GM increases fatality risks with more distracting onboard telematics and infotainment devices in its cars. MADD is silent.

2003 GM introduces the new Cadillac 16 concept car, which features a 1,000 horsepower engine. MADD is silent." 15e

Coincidence? You decide

When a MADD leader was asked about 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." On CNN's Crossfire, the President-elect of MADD refused to discuss cell phones and the traffic fatalities they cause. She said "We're not here to talk about cell phones. We're here to talk about alcohol." Following more questions about how cell phones impair driving, the MADD leader snapped "I'm not going to talk about cell phones." Similarly, a MADD lobbyist was quoted on the program as saying "I don't care about deaths from cell phones."15f

Perhaps MADD's callous lack of concern for deaths caused by cell phone results from the fact that the Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association (CTIA) gave free wireless phones to MADD chapters throughout the country along with free airtime. As the President of MADD exclaimed, "This is a tremendous shot in the arm for our organization." 15g

Just another coincidence? Perhaps.

Another top donor to MADD is Takata, a manufacturer of seatbelts. MADD uncharacteristically but very aggressively promotes the use of seatbelts.

This might only be yet another in a long string of coincidences. But realistically....well, draw your own conclusion.

When deciding if these are only coincidences, consider MADD's pitches to potential "donors."

"What MADD Can Do For You

Aligning with MADD gives your company added credibility and increased power by:

• Increasing store traffic and sales volume

• Connecting with customers on emotional and logical levels to provide incremental value to the consumer and sales lift to your company

• Increasing partner distribution channels

• Increasing shelf space and point-of-sale display space with key retailers

• Winning national marketing and media awards

• Increasing consumer and media awareness during key time periods

• Giving national promotions "local legs" through MADD's network of chapters

• Mentioning your company during interviews in national media

• Attracting national and regional media attention during sponsor-driven media events

• Delivering targeted media campaigns with other MADD partners

Call MADD's marketing department at 469-420-4518 to discuss how MADD can help your company meet its marketing and public relations goals." 15h

The organization brags that "during 2000, MADD delivered more than 102 million media impressions and exposure to over 500 legislators to DaimlerChrysler."15i As a former chapter President observed, MADD is big business.

Greed

Non-profit organizations typically permit their chapters to keep most of the money they raise. For example, Remove Intoxicated Drivers (RID) chapters get to keep 90% of all funds they raise. But MADD claims ownership of every penny raised by all its many chapters. Thus, after raising $129,000 locally and turning it all over as MADD demands, the Las Vegas chapter received a check from the national office for $1.29 as its share. 16 MADD's "focus is on greed," said the chapter President, who reported "I've never seen such bloodsuckers!" 16a How is "greed" spelled? Perhaps its "MADD."

But Mothers Against Drunk Driving is always hungry for more money. Although the organization's net worth exceeds $25 million dollars, MADD has paid telemarketers huge fees to raise tens of millions of dollars per year from hard-working Americans. MADD has spent almost two out of every three dollars raised on fund-raising, forcing the American Institute of Philanthropy (AIP) to downgrade its evaluation of the organization to a "D." MADD has spent twice as much on fundraising as the AIP finds acceptable. 16b It would appear that raising money has become an end in itself at the MADD bureaucracy, with high salaries ranging close to$200,000.00 per year, numerous employees, and huge retirement funds. 16c

Salaries/benefits for some at this "volunteer" organization are estimated at: 17

Dean Wilkerson	$311, 919.00
Bobby Heard	$189,489.00
Janice Bloom	$154,248.00
Kyle Ward	$152,619.00

Within a period of two decades, Mothers Against Drunk Driving has degenerated from a public service organization devoted to reducing traffic fatalities into an anti-alcohol bureaucracy largely focused on raising ever more money for itself. 17a

What Others Say About MADD

"Mothers Against Drunk Driving may soon have to change its name to Mothers Against Any Drinking Whatsoever -- that is, if it wants to avoid false advertising." Washington Times. 18

"At the forefront of the neo-prohibitionist movement is MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving)." Dr. Thomas J. DiLorenzo of Washington University and Dr. James T. Bennett of George Mason University. 18a

"Mothers Against Drunk Driving (has) decided to wage war on social drinkers." Radley Balko, Fox News columnist. 19

"MADD has morphed from an anti-drunk-driving organization into an anti-alcohol organization. Jim Reynolds, writer. 19a

Mothers Against Drunk Driving "engages in a form of neoprohibitionism." Christian Restifo, Carnegie Mellon University. 19b

Although Prohibition ended 70 years ago, "a new agenda of temperance is alive and well today at Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD)." Charles V. Penna, MADD‚s former Northern Virginia Chapter Executive Director and now Director of policy studies at The Cato Institute. 20

Mothers Against Drunk Driving's "ongoing push to compel states to adopt ever-lower standards for being legally drunk‚ is becoming a prohibitionist jihad driven by hysteria, not medical reality." Washington Times. 21

A "prohibitionist movement (is) propagated by MADD." National Motorist Association. 21a

"We believe their (MADD's) true agenda is prohibition." TalkLeft. 22

MADD has become "overzealous." Candy Lightner, founder of Mothers Against Drunk Driving. 22a

"MADD continues to inflate the number of people killed by drunk drivers to further its prohibitionist agenda." Center for Consumer Freedom. 23

MADD's report is "chock full of inaccuries and errors," but MADD officials have refused to comment on them. Jerry McCory, Director of the Governor's Council on Impaired and Dangerous Driving. 24

Its "inflated drunk driving statistics confirm MADD's relevance and help it raise funds." Radley Balco, writer. 24a

Mothers Against Drunk Driving "has basically become a propaganda mill churnig out false andmisleading statistics." Jay Caruso. 25

"MADD generally attempts to mask its radical, neo-prohibitionist agenda in the veneer of sound science and sober statistics." Charles V. Pena, former MADD official. 25a

"MADD has become a ruthless lobby more concerned with prohibitionist legislation and punishment of drinkers than with improving road safety." Iain Levison. 26

"Criticizing MADD is like criticizing the pope. They do not lightly tolerate disagreement." LeCuyer. 27

"Nobody wants to be in MADD's bad graces." Bruce Freidrich, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). 28

"MADD is just totally spiteful." Palmer Didion, attorney. 28a

Mothers Against Drunk Driving "threatened me." James Bostad, former MADD State Treasurer. 28b

"MADD is a hate group, without question." Darlene J. Dowling, AFA. 28c

"MADD is spiteful, vindictive, judgmental, holier than thou, self-righteous and obnoxious." Kevin. 28d

Mothers Against Drunk Driving "displayed its contempt for civil liberties, as well as the judicial system, by calling for (a) judge to resign because she criticized a MADD-backed program she felt violated the constitutional rights of young adults." Center for Consumer Freedom. 29

"One must wonder has MADD gone mad?" Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights. 29a

"MADD is out of control." Talk Left. 29b

Mothers Against Drunk Driving is guilty of "demogoguery." 29c

"MADD has allowed its emotions to preempt its common sense, hoping, therefore, to drive up support for its cause." S. G. Michalides. 30

Mothers Against Drunk Driving spends most of its time in "self-perpetuating fund-raising efforts." The American Institute of Philanthropy. 31

"MADD has become big bucks, and that's it." "It's a big corporation." Sandy Kaufman, former MADD chapter President. 31a

Mothers Against Drunk Driving is guilty of "dubious budget and fundraising tactics." (MADD deceptively lists fundraising mailings as educational activities rather than fundraising activities.) American Institute of Philanthropy. 32

"One of the worst performance records (on spending inordinately to raise money, then spending below-average amounts on their stated mission) goes to Mothers Against Drunk Driving." Daniel Puzzo describing MADD's low grade by the independent American Institute on Philanthropy. 33

"MADD uses viral e-mail to build (its e-mail) list." K. Brenner. 34

"MADD continues to deceive." National Motorists Association. 35

MADD in the News

Hostility to Constitutional Rights. Unfortunately, Mothers Against Drunk Driving has a long tradition of hostility toward the rights of the accused and apparently assumes them to be guilty unless they can prove their innocence. MADD has not identified a single instance in which it has ever, even once in its long history, defended the rights of an accused defendant, regardless of the circumstances. Here are some examples of MADD's antagonism toward fundamental human rights.

 MADD: Police Need Even More Power

The national President of MADD Canada is "calling for police to have more power to nab impaired drivers." The President complains that the burden of proof is on the police and prosecution to demonstrate that the accused is guilty.

MADD fails to understand that in North American systems of justice, accused individuals are innocent until proven guilty by the government. The burden of proof is correctly on the police and government. MADD leaders should take refresher courses in civics at their local middle schools.

It's in totalitarian societies that the accused are assumed to be guilty and must prove their innocence. Perhaps MADD leaders would be happier living in a totalitarian society more in keeping with their apparent beliefs and values. 36

Disregarding Constitutional Rights

A new law in South Carolina requires law enforcement officers to read suspects of impaired driving their Miranda rights before administering field sobriety tests. The law is intended to prevent cases from being thrown out of court because officers didn't make suspects aware of their Constitutional rights.

MADD has strongly opposed this effort to safeguard rights provided by the law. 37

Defending Unconstitutional Blood Tests

The Indiana State Court of Appeals has declared as unconstitutional mandatory blood tests without cause after traffic accidents.

It's important that Sheriff John Marvel says the ruling won't have any substantial effect on drunk driving law enforcement. Officers can still require a blood test of drivers if probable cause exists. Probable cause is anything that suggests a person may have consumed any alcohol, such as slurred speech or the odor of alcohol.

Nevertheless, MADD is angry. A spokesperson appears upset that protecting Fourth Amendment rights guaranteed by the United States Constitution might make it "hard to prosecute people who've caused pain in the lives of others." This assertion is consistent with a large study of MADD members that found the organization to focus on "the demand for justice and vengeance" against those they believe have caused them loss and pain. 38

MADD: Would Deny Right to a Trial

Chante Mallard, charged with murder after striking a pedestrian and failing to seek medical help for him, claimed the charge should not be murder because she had been drinking and drugging before the accident and was in a "haze."

A MADD official was outraged at the defense and said "when Mallard entered her defense, the judge in the case should have taken it as a guilty plea to murder and immediately proceeded to the punishing phase of the trial."

Intoxication should never be accepted as a defense for any action, but to deny a citizen the right to a trial because of that defense is, itself, indefensible, and reflects MADD's extreme hostility to individual rights. 39

MADD Opposes Need for Evidence to Convict

A Texas state appellate court ruling, known as the "Stewart case," has caused questionable breath test estimates to be thrown out of courtrooms in 32 South Texas counties. The court held that authorities must provide reasonable evidence that a person's blood alcohol content (BAC) was at an illegal level at the time the person was driving. Civil libertarians and civil rights supporters have praised the Stewart case for not permitting questionable test estimates to be used to convict individuals who may be completely innocent.

It is very important to remove drunk drivers from the road, but most people recognize that innocent people shouldn't be victimized in the process. However, the Stewart case, which protects the innocent, has been strongly criticized by Mothers Against Drunk Driving. 40

MADD's Irresponsible Vigilantism

The local chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving has engaged in "reckless and irresponsible public behavior," according to the District Attorney General of Anderson County, Tennessee, Jim Ramsey. Among other things, the MADD chapter has interfered in ongoing criminal investigations, including irresponsible vigilantism, according to the Attorney General.

The MADD chapter accused a local retailer of selling beer to a teenager who later had an auto accident that killed two people. However, a judicial hearing found that the beer hadn't come from the business accused by MADD of this illegal behavior. There is no report of an apology.

The MADD chapter defends its attacks and other questionable activities as being "within the policies and guidelines of MADD." 41

 

Money. Unfortunately, MADDs original concern with preventing drunk driving has largely been replaced with an emphasis on raising ever-larger sums of money and building an ever-larger bureaucracy. Raising money has become an end in itself and the national office of MADD insists that every penny raised by local chapters belong to the main office of the bureaucracy, instead of the chapter that raised it. Here are some examples of MADD's obsession with money.

 

MADD Opposes Free Speech Decision

A United States Court of Appeals has overturned a Pennsylvania law that prohibited paid alcohol ads in college newspapers. The Court said the prohibition violated First Amendment rights to free speech guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution.

Dr. Clay Calvert, Penn State professor of media law said "it's a great victory for the college-level press in Pennsylvania." He emphasized that the case sets a good precedent for college newspapers elsewhere. Three other states (Utah, New Hampshire, and Virginia) still prohibit alcohol ads in college newspapers, according to the Student Pres Law Center.

"The idea of making it a crime to publish lawful information in a newspaper is just incredible," says a director of the Pennsylvania Civil Liberties Union, which supported the case. Also supporting the defense of free speech rights were the Pennsylvania Newspaper Association, The Students Press Law Center, and the Reports Committee for Freedom of the Press.

Characteristically, MADD says the court‚s decision is "irresponsible," "a step in the wrong direction," and believes that Pennsylvania should appeal the ruling. The state has decided to accept the decision, which it believed it could not overturn because it‚s so firmly based on the United States Constitution. 41a

 

MADD's Main Goal: Fund-Raising

All items in some issues of Mothers Against Drunk Driving's MADD E-Newsletter are devoted entirely to MADD's primary mission of fund-raising. There are no pleas for sober driving, no calls for more sobriety checkpoints, no news reports, no petitions for legislation to reduce impaired driving and improve traffic safety ---- just fund raising appeals. Most issues of the MADD E-Newsletter usually have at least one or two items not devoted to soliciting money.

MADD's national web site lists all local chapters. Each listing is followed by a plea to "Donate Locally." This is clearly deceptive because it implies that funds given to local chapters will be handled differently than funds given to the national office. In reality, all funds, wherever donated, must go directly and completely to the national office for use as it sees fit.

MADD Victim Impact Panels are Big Business

Mothers Against Drunk Driving received $2,657,293 in a single year from its Victim Impact Panel business. MADD reported on its non-profit tax form that This revenue is earned from DWI offenders who must pay a donation to MADD" to attend a meeting in which they learn the impact that impaired driving accidents have on those who suffer as a result.

MADD has a clear economic incentive to increase the number of DWI/DUI convictions because that increases its income from the required "donations." MADD determines exactly how much must be donated to itself by convicted drivers to sit through the court-mandated meetings.

Although they are a very profitable business for MADD, there appears to be little evidence that they are effective at all in reducing the incidence of either impaired or intoxicated driving. 42

For more on Victim Impact Panels, visit "1066931173.html".

Congressional DWIs Ignored

It appears that dozens of members of Congress each and every year escape DWI arrests by invoking their congressional privilege of immunity (Article one, Section 6). The privilege was originally provided over 200 years ago to protect members of Congress from politically-motivated arrests made in an effort to prevent then from voting or otherwise performing their official duties.

The privilege of immunity serves no useful purpose today and is an affront to law-abiding citizens. There are many pressures that could be applied to discourage its outrageous misuse. For example, the use of the privilege by a senator or representative from a state could be used to lower that states score used by Mothers Against Drunk Driving in calculating the state's MADD "grade."

Unfortunately, MADD insists on remaining completely silent on the issue. Apparently, the organization, which receives massive taxpayer funding from Congress, doesn't want to ruffle feathers and jeopardize a rich source of income.

MADD Official's Biggest Crime: Cheating MADD's National Office

The founder of a chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving was found guilty of stealing about $45,000 from the organization after a two-week trial. The actual theft may have been as high as $48,000. And she had also been charged with systematically forging a police officers signature to forms submitted to MADD's national office.

Although she stole money earned by her chapter, the money is considered to have been stolen from the national office of MADD. That's because the national office considers all monies earned by local chapters, or donated to them, to belong to it rather than the local chapter.

"From our point of view, this is a particularly egregious offense," said a senior MADD official. The money should have gone to the national office. He said MADD headquarters is considering a civil lawsuit to get its money. 43

 

Anti-Alcohol. It appears that MADD has been gradually moving from a position of anti-drunk driving to one of anti-alcohol. Even the founder of the organization has rejected MADD's neo-prohibitionism. MADD insists that it's not anti-alcohol, but the following examples suggest otherwise.

MADD: "An Organization of Prohibitionists"

Mothers Against Drunk Driving is increasingly finding itself "fighting off critics who say the once all-powerful group has become an organization of prohibitionists."

The founder of MADD, Candy Lightner, believes it is moving in the wrong direction. "It has become far more neo-prohibitionist than I ever wanted or envisioned," said MADD's founder. "I didn't start MADD to deal with alcohol. I started MADD to deal with the issue of drunk driving."

MADD has been calling for bans on alcohol advertising, widespread sobriety checkpoints, increased taxes on alcohol beverages, and other measures that have drawn sharp criticism not only from the organization's founder but also from consumer-rights advocates and civil liberties supporters, among others. 44

MADD Deception

MADD's National President has implied that all alcohol-related crashes are actually drunk driving crashes, although only a minority really are.

The anti-Saloon League, the Prohibition Party, and similar temperance groups made no distinction between moderate drinking and alcohol abuse. To such anti-alcohol activists there was no difference....all drinking was alcohol abuse. Similarly, the leader of Mothers Against Drunk Driving appears to make no distinction between "alcohol-related" and "drunken" accidents. The Women's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) would certainly be proud.

But alcohol-related only means that the driver, a passenger, pedestrian, or anyone else associated with the accident had consumed at least a sip of alcohol or was believed to have done so.

On the other hand, a drunk driving crash occurs when an involved driver has an estimated blood alcohol content (BAC) reading high enough that the person is considered legally intoxicated. There's an enormous difference between "believed to have had a sip" and "drunken."

This is a very important distinction and confusing people by equating the two is not in the public interest, although it may be in the interest of MADD and its fund-raising efforts. 45

Parental Rights Challenged

A Wisconsin legislator is trying to change state law to prevent parents from serving their own children any alcohol beverage, even within their own home. This is in spite of extensive evidence that those who learn to drink in moderation with their parents tend to have fewer alcohol-related problems. At a public hearing, it was pointed out that the law would cause the loss of "an important educational opportunity."

However, Mothers Against Drunk Driving supports the bill, which denies common-law rights of parents. It insists that it's unacceptable for parents to provide their children "a drug that can harm them." 46

Life-Saving Alcohol Test Kits Opposed

To prevent unnecessary alcohol-related traffic crashes among young people, the Arizona State Department of Public Safety plans to supply high-school students with Guardian Angel Personal Alcohol Test strips. "Don't let your friend be dead wrong. Test your friend before it's too late" is the message accompanying the kit.

The test strips, which are activated by being placed in the mouth, indicate blood alcohol concentration (BAC) within three ranges that experts report are highly indicative of risk. The package conspicuously states that it is best not to drive even at low BAC levels. The Governor's Office of Highway Safety promotes the plan as the first part of an aggressive campaign to reduce alcohol-related traffic accidents.

Although it is praised by many parents, Mothers Against Drunk Driving is strongly opposed to the plan, which it sees as inconsistent with the organization's strict abstinence message. 47

Anti-Alcohol Bias Apparent

A new service in Orlando, Florida, delivers alcohol beverages to individuals of proven legal drinking age.

The coordinator for Responsible Education and Actions for Campus Health at the University of Central Florida supports the idea because it could reduce drunk driving. " If it takes one drunk driver off the road, it's a good thing," she said, adding that the service is "really trying to be pro-active."

To prevent underage purchases, the service requires buyers to show their drivers licenses, which are digitally photographed.

Although the service sells only to adults of legal age and may reduce drunk and impaired driving, the president of the Central Florida chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving calls it "frightening" because there is no sure way to make certain that none of the beverage ever falls into the hands of a person under the age of 21. Of course, that's also true of alcoholic beverages purchased in a liquor store, wine shop, grocery store, or elsewhere.

MADD's opposition appears to have more to do with its anti-alcohol attitudes than with logic. 48

 

Drinking Seen as Irresponsble

The Tampa Bay Lightning offered patrons free beer during playoff hockey games if they purchased season tickets.

The offer was limited to four beers, beverage servers are all trained to detect intoxication and won't serve to anyone who appears to be intoxicated, and the club offers free taxi rides home for anyone who thinks they may have had too much to drink. About 25 patrons took advantage of the marketing offer and no complaints were made against the marketing promotion.

Nevertheless, officials at Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) were outraged. "It's advertising irresponsible behavior. It's a huge insult to our community," insisted one MADD leader. Another MADD official said "they're obviously using alcohol to get business."

They were offering alcohol, not cocaine, heroin or other illegal drugs. Apparently MADD believes that drinking is irresponsible, an insult to others, and that alcohol is an unacceptable consumer product.

The notorious anti-alcohol activist, Carrie Nation, who used her hatchet to destroy bars and intimidate both beverage servers and consumers, would be proud of MADD. 48a

 

Miscellaneous. Mothers Against Drunk Driving has drifted far from its original goal of preventing drunk driving, as its founder has explained. News reports reflect some of the many ways in which big and bureaucratic Mothers Against Drunk Driving has become vindictive, exploitive, greedy and intolerant. Here are a few examples.

Punishment Preferred to Rehabilitation

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. 49

Shameless Exploitation

Mothers Against Drunk Driving exploits tragedy after tragedy to advance its own agenda and it does so with remarkable disregard for the victims of those tragedies.

For example, shortly after the death of Diana, the Princess of Wales, MADD actually produced an advertisement exploiting the event in an effort to promote its legislative agenda. 1 Following the mass murder at Columbine High School in Colorado, MADD issued a press release arguing that the number of students shot was "insignificant" compared to those killed in alcohol-related traffic accidents! After 9/11, the President of MADD expressed frustration that the events of that day had shifted some of the limelight away from the organization. Attempting to capitalize on the tragedies of 9/11, she insisted that "if anybody knows terror, I think the victims of drunk driving certainly do." 50

It is difficult to imagine that such insensitive words and actions come from an organization that claims to be an advocate for victims. Apparently, the only victims who count are those of drunk driving; other tragedies and their victims are trivialized. MADD has the right to believe as it wishes, but it should learn to be less blatantly self-promoting at the expense of others.

People should be outraged at MADD's insensitive, self-serving exploitation.

Don't Ever Disagree with MADD (If You Know What's Good for You!)

Mothers Against Drunk Driving has asserted on its national website that "the Speaker of the (Virginia) House and the House leadership are strong opponents of DUI legislation...and are the main obstacle to the passage of lifesaving DUI countermeasures in the legislature." That's a strong charge.

However, the Speaker of the Virginia House "has been a strong proponent of drunken-driving legislation. He introduced 'use and lose' legislation creating zero tolerance for underage drinking and driving. He supported legislation to lower blood-alcohol content limits, which define 'per se' impairment, from 0.1 to .08 percent and another measure making third-time DUI offenses a felony. He advocated mandatory jail time for two-time DUI offenders and supports ignition interlocks for convicted drunk drivers." This, according to Virginia's Free Lance-Star newspaper, a strong supporter of dui legislation.

Why the attack by Mothers Against Drunk Driving? Perhaps it's because the Speaker of the House was displeased with MADD's "report card" for the state. MADD has a long history of attacking anyone, even friends and supporters, who disagrees with it in any way.

Mothers Against Drunk Driving has refused to issue a retraction about its erroneous assertion to correct the record and clear the Speaker's good name. A word to the wise. No matter who you are, never ever disagree with MADD. 51

MADD Chapter Founder Arrested

The founder of the Citrus County (Florida) chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving has been arrested and charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. According to witnesses, MADD activist Leigh Gonzalez pulled out a gun and put it in the face of a man outside a bar.

Although Ms. Gonzalez had falsely claimed to be a law enforcement officer, there's no evidence that she was attempting to prevent the man from driving while intoxicated or under the influence of alcohol.

The MADD founder recently stepped down from her post at the MADD chapter, claiming that national MADD officers demanded too much of the local chapter. 52

Remember that the national office of MADD insists that local chapters raise large amounts of money, all of which must be turned over to the national MADD headquarters for use as it sees fit.

MADD Intolerant of "Competition"

Mothers Against Drunk Driving keeps suing Dads and Mad Moms Against Drug Dealers (DAMMADD) in the wrong courts in an effort to bully the non-profit anti-drug organization into changing its name, according to legal papers filed by he defendant.

Earlier, MADD filed its lawsuit in Texas, where it was dismissed for lack of jurisdiction. It has now filed suit in the Southern District of New York, instead of in the Northern District, where the defendant organization is located.

Repeatedly filing the suit in the wrong district "is part of a continuing effort to wear down a small defendant by dragging it thought the court system and draining its limited resources" argues DAMMADD's attorney.

DAMMADD's income last year was $80,000, during which time MADD took in over forty-six million dollars. DAMMADD was started two years ago by a self-employed electrician who operates the small organization from the basement of his home.

A long-time financial supporter of MADD was distressed by its action. "Haven't you some drunk drivers to catch? I am so embarrassed about this lawsuit.... I am so ashamed of MADD -- I was always a contributor to the organization, but (now instead) I will contribute to DAMMADD." 53

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Additional Information

 

MADD's Ads Cause Anger
(http://www2.potsdam.edu/hansondj/InTheNews/DrinkingAndDriving/20060705091228.html)

MADD Fights Legal Ads
(http://www2.potsdam.edu/hansondj/InTheNews/DrinkingAndDriving/1140548876.html)

MADD Money-Maker
(http://www2.potsdam.edu/hansondj/InTheNews/DrinkingAndDriving/1133276407.html)

MADD: Lower the Legal BAC for Drivers
(http://www2.potsdam.edu/hansondj/InTheNews/DrinkingAndDriving/1131552693.html)

MADD: "All They Care About is the Money"
(http://www2.potsdam.edu/hansondj/InTheNews/DrinkingAndDriving/1131387339.html)

MADD Becoming Even More Anti-Alcohol ad Neo-Prohibitionist?
(http://www2.potsdam.edu/hansondj/InTheNews/DrinkingAndDriving/1125515759.html)

MADD Accused of Harassment
(http://www2.potsdam.edu/hansondj/InTheNews/DrinkingAndDriving/1114795925.html)

Another MADD Leader Quits
(http://www2.potsdam.edu/hansondj/InTheNews/DrinkingAndDriving/1111690174.html)

MADD Again Sues Anti-Drug Group
(http://www2.potsdam.edu/hansondj/InTheNews/DrinkingAndDriving/1095208918.html)

Ethics Complaint against MADD
(http://www2.potsdam.edu/hansondj/InTheNews/DrinkingAndDriving/1090862438.html)

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Summary

MADD's original goal was an enormously important one -- to reduce drunk driving and the deaths and injuries that it causes. However, as its founder observed, the group has become neo-prohibitionist. As a former MADD chapter president explains, it's "a big corporation" and "all about money." Unfortunately, what began as a dedicated volunteer group of caring women has become an indifferent and self-serving bureaucracy.

MADD Statistic $20,000 Challenge Mothers Against Drunk Driving asserts that 17,970 people were killed in the U.S. by drunk or impaired drivers in 2002. Several traffic safety organizations charge that this statistic is grossly inflated by MADD in order to mislead the public. They are publicly challenging anyone to prove that the number is accurate. The first person who can prove the statistic correct is being offered $20,000 by those organizations. To learn more about the challenge, visit $20,000 Drunk Driving Facts Challenge

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Mothers Against Drunk Driving Contact Information Mothers Against Drunk Driving National Office 511 E. John Carpenter Freeway, Suite 700 Irving, TX 75062 Phone 800-GET-MADD MADD Canada 6507C Mississagua Rd. Mississauga, ON Canada L5N 1A6 800-665-6233 MADD Canada does not have provincial offices but rather local chapters, which can be identified at the website of MADD Canada (http://madd.ca/main.htm) MADD Japan 5-8-8-8 Minami Hatsutomi Kamagaya Chiba, Japan State Offices Alabama MADD, maddal@bellsouth.net Alaska MADD, info@maddalaska.com, www.maddalaska.com Arizona MADD, azmadd@winstarmail.com, www.madd.org/az Arkansas MADD, tbelew@armadd, www.armadd.org California MADD, info@maddcalifornia.org Colorado MADD, maddcolorado@aol.com Connecticut MADD, madd@aol.com, www.madd.org/ct Delaware MADD, madd@dmv.com Floriada MADD, madd@earthlink.net, www.madd.org/fl Georgia MADD, cnoe@maddga.com, www.maddga.com Guam MADD, maddguam@netpci.com Hawaii MADD, maddhawaii@maddhawaii.org, www.maddhawaii.org Idaho MADD, madida.com Illinois MADD, www.maddillinois.org Indiana MADD, maddin@prodigy.net, www.madd.org/in Iowa MADD There is no statewide MADD office but rather local MADD chapters. Kansas MADD, maddkansas@parod.com Kentucky MADD, maddky@fewpb.net, www.madd.org/ky Louisiana MADD, madd_louisiana@yahoo.com Maine MADD, director@maddmaine.org Maryland MADD, madd.md@verizon.net, www.madd.org/md Massachusetts MADD, info@madmass.org Michigan MADD, madmi@michcom.net Minnesota MADD, edcomm@maddmn.org, www.maddmn.org Mississippi MADD, maddmississippi@yahoo.com Missouri MADD, maddstate@aol.com. www.madd.org/mo Montana MADD There is no statewide MADD office but rater local MADD chapters. Nebraska MADD, staff@maddnebraska.org, www.maddneb.com Nevada MADD There is no statewide MADD office, but rather local MADD offices. New Hampshire MADD, info@madd-nh.org New Jersey MADD, maddnj@erols.com, www.madd.org/nj New Mixico, maddnm@aol.com New York MADD, maddnewyork@aol.com North Carolina MADD, jarrett@madd-nc.org, www.madd-nc.org North Dakota MADD There is no statewide MADD office , but rather local MADD offices. Ohio MADD, info@maddohio.org, www.maddohio.org Oklahoma MADD, maddok@gbronline.com, www.madd.org/ok Oregon MADD, ormadd@coho.net, wwwmadd.org/or Pennsylvania MADD, madd@paonline.com, www.maddpa.org Puerto Rico 787-763-7291 Rhode Island MADD, gabbate@maddwi.com, www.madd.org/ri South Carolina MADD, maddsc1@maddsc1.com South Dakota MADD, maddPennCo@resumore.com Tenessee MADD 615-360-8055 Texas MADD, maddtx@swbell.net, www.madd.org/tx Utah MADD For assistance call 1-800-GET-MADD Vermont MADD For assistance call 802-897-7300 Virginia MADD, office@maddva.org, www.maddva.org Washington MADD, info@maddwashington.org, www.maddwashington.org Washington, DC MADD For assistancwe, call 1-800-GET-MADD West Virginia There is no statewide MADD office, but rather local MADD offices. Wisconsin MADD, maddwi@TDS.net, www.maddwi.org Wyoming MADD, maddwyo@cs.com Note: Mothers Against Drunk Driving inserts a "donate locally" link with each chapter listing. However, none of the locally-raised funds actually ever belong to the local chapters but are immediately owned by the national office of MADD. Thus, the "donate locally" plea is very deceptive.

It is more philosophical than anything you'll find in Webster. You said yourself "unless the driver EXPECTS or intends to crash." Anybody that (sic) drinks has GOT to know that their (sic) chances of a crash are much higher than if they (sic) had not been drinking.

MADD's belief is obviously based on philosophy and ideology instead of reality. Knowing that we assume some additional risk if we consume alcohol before driving clearly doesn't mean that we expect a mishap. MADD's position seems a ludicrous distortion of reality. (The quoted material is an e-mail from the Public Policy Office at Mothers Against Drunk Driving's national office dated 8-6-03.)

2. Simpson, H. M., and Mayhew, D. R. The Hard Core Drinking Driver. Ottawa, Ontario, Canada: Traffic Injury Research Foundation, 1991, pp. 23-24.

3. Simpson, H. M., and Mayhew, D. R. The Hard Core Drinking Driver. Ottawa, Ontario, Canada: Traffic Injury Research Foundation, 1991, p. 12.

3a. The strong anti-alcohol sentiment of MADD expresses itself in many ways. For example, the international professional school, Johnson and Wales University, includes the study of wine in its culinary curriculum because that is an important part of much food preparation and service around the world. A bill introduced in the Florida legislature at the request of the university would permit adult students age 18 and older to participate fully in any curriculum requiring such courses. No alcohol would ever be consumed because the beverage would be savored and spit out in a supervised classroom environment. In spite of these strong protections and lack of any danger whatsoever, Mothers Against Drunk driving has steadfastly refused to support this education bill. (Florida bill would allow wine tasting by underage. Alcohol Beverage Control, 2-15-99, p. 4.)

4. Bresnahan, S. MADD Struggles to Remain Relevant. Washington Times, August 6, 2002, B1-2. Center for Consumer Freedom, "How Low Can You Go?"

4a. www.consumerfreedom.com/oped_detail.cfm?OPED_ID=137/. Incredibly, MADD has now gone out of its way to try to minimize the role of Ms. Lighter as the founder of the organization. It poses the question "Who founded MADD?," to which it replies "Although Candy Lightner is probably the best known of MADD's organizers, MADD was established by a group of women in California outraged after the death of a teenage girl killed by a repeat offender drunk driver."(www.madd.org). MADD does not deal kindly with anyone who dares to disagree with the organization's anti-alcohol agenda. Although it may now try to deny that Ms. Lightner founded and ran the organization for eight years, she was recognized by the President of the US. as the founder of MADD when he bestowed upon her the Presidents Volunteer Action Award. Candy Lightner was recognized as the founder of MADD by the movie "Mothers Against Drunk Drivers: the Candy Lightner story." Candy Lightner was recognized as the founder of MADD by researchers when they prepared her biography for The Biographical Dictionary and other reference works. And Candy Lightner appears to have been recognized as the founder of MADD by everyone except MADD, which is angry at her for not agreeing with its radical new agenda.

5. The name was changed on the recommendation of a marketing consultant. (MADD - Mothers Against Drunk Driving web site, www.madd.org) "Mothers Against Drunk Drivers" seems to be the honest name, conveying the hostility toward alcoholics and others characteristic of the group. On the other hand, "Mothers Against Drunk Driving" conveys a humane image, and that's much more useful for fund-raising.

6. Ross, H. L. Reflections on doing policy-relevant research: How to cope with MADD mothers. The American Sociologist, 1987, 18(2), 173-178; A study of 212 local MADD chapters found very high support for strong legal penalties for drunk drivers (vengeance) but little support for rehabilitation (compassion) (Ungerleider, S., et al. Assessing the Effects of Grass Roots Drunk Driving Prevention Programs: First Facts. Report from the Drunk Driving Project.Eugene, Oregon: Integrated Research Services, 1986 . ERIC ED286102). Also see Weed,F.J. Grass-roots activism and the drunk driving issue: a survey of MADD chapters. Law and Policy, 1987 (July). Vengeance is also directed toward MADD members and officers who ask too many questions about the organization's questionable fundraising practices. They may be forced to resign or find their positions eliminated (MADD Money investigative report, K5 News, Seattle, WA). Blacklisting by MADD is also reported (personal communication).

7. Center for Consumer Freedom, "Mothers Against Drunk Driving - Overview. www.consumerfreedom.com/activistcash/org_overview.cfm?ORG_ID=17

Perhaps MADD should care. A study in the New England Journal of Medicine found that drivers who used mobile phones while driving were four times more likely to crash than those not, a rate equal to that for drunken driving. MADD doesn't care that cell phone use is as dangerous as drunken driving! Although MADD may not care about fatalities cause by cell phone use, at least 25 countries restrict or prohibit cell and other wireless technology/ Israel, Japan, Portugal and Singapore all prohibit mobile phone use while driving. Australia, Brazil, Chile, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Poland, the Phillippines, Romania, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the United Arab Emirates prohibit the use of hand-held cell phones while driving. Drivers in the Czech Republic, France, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom may use cell phones but can be fined if they are involved in crashes while using such a phone.

8. Center for Consumer Freedom, "How Low Can You Go?" www.consumerfreedom.com/oped_detail.cfm?OPED_ID=137

9. Zero Tolerance, Zero Evidence (Bloomington, IN: Indiana University, Indiana Education Policy Center, 2001), an analysis of zero tolerance programs since their inception in the 1980's, found no credible evidence that zero tolerance is effective; to the contrary, it is often counterproductive.The author of the report emphasized that "Zero tolerance is a political response, not an educationally sound solution." AScribe News, May 15, 2001; www.jointogether.org/May 17, 2001.

10. Ross, L., and Hughes, G. Getting MADD in vain: Drunk driving -- what not to do (preventive measures). The Nation, 1986, 243, 663.

10a. Center on Consumer Freedom. Memo to MADD's New Celebrity Board, 9-17-03 (www.consumerfreedom.com)

11. Center for Consumer Freedom, "Mothers Against Drunk Driving" -www.consumerfreedom.com/activistcash/org_blackeye.cfm?ORG_ID=17

12. Hingson, R., et al. Magnitude of alcohol-related morbidity, mortality, and alcohol dependence among U.S. college students between the ages of 18 and 24. Journal of Studies on Alcohol, 2002, 63(2), 136-144; Milloy, S. College Drinking Study is Intoxicating Scam. Fox News (April 12, 2002), www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,50104.00.html; College Drinking and Junk Science. In citing Hingson's estimates, which MADD presents as solid, factual evidence, it never mentions the important fact that Hingson is part of MADD. The problem of integrity is a recurring one for the organization.

12a. MADD over the edge? Advocacy group heats up the rhetoric as drunk driving statistics continue to fall. Alcohol Issues Insights, 1999, 16(6), 1-2.

13. Ross, H. L. Reflections on doing policy-relevant sociology: How to cope with MADD mothers. The American Sociologist, 1987, 18(2), 173-178.

14. Ross, H. L. License plate confiscation for persistent alcohol impaired drivers (with S. Simon and J.P. Cleary). Accident Analysis and Prevention, 1996, 1, 53-61; Confronting Drunk Driving: Social Policy for Saving Lives. New Haven, Connecticutt: Yale University Press, 1992; The Deterrent Capability of Sobriety CheckpOOints: Summary of the American Literature. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 1992; Are DWI sanctions effective? Alcohol, Drugs and Driving, 1992, 8(1), 61-69; Administrative License Revocation for Drunk Drivers: Options and Choices in Three States. Washington, DC: AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, 1991; License deprivation as a drunk-driver sanction. Alcohol, Drugs, and Driving, 1991 7(1), 63-69; Drunk driving among American blacks and hispanics. Accident Analysis and Prevention, 1991, 23(1), 1-11;The effectiveness of legal sanctions in dealing with drinking drivers (with J. L. Nichols). Alcohol, Drugs and Driving, 1990, 6(2), 33-60; Deterrence-Based Policies in Britain, Canada, and Australia. In Social Control of the Drinking Driver. Chicago, Illinois: University of Chicago Press, 1988; Effects of license revocation on drunk-driving offenders. Acident Analysis and Prevention, 1988, 20(5), 379-391; Administrative license revoaction in New Mexico. Law and Policy, 1987, 9(1), 5-16; Deterrring the Drinking Driver: Legal Policy and Social Control. Lexington, Massachusetts: Lexington Books, 1984; Liberalization and rationalization of drunk-driving laws in Scandanavia. Accident Analysis and Prevention, 1984, 16(5-6), 3-7; Deterring the Drinking Driver: An International Survey. Washington, DC: National Technical Information Service, 1981; Two Experimental Studies of Traffic Laws: Final Report (with M. Blumenthal). Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Transportation, 1973; The British Crackdown on Drinking and Driving: A Successful Legal Reform (with others). Boulder, Colorado: University of Colorado, Laboratory of Educational Research, 1969.

15. Center for Consumer Freedom, "Mothers Against Drunk Driving" www.consumerfreedom.com/activistcash/org_blackeye.cfm?ORG_ID=17

15a. GM's Hidden Agenda. MADD at GM. www.maddatgm.com

15b. GM's Safety Record. MADD at GM. www.maddatgm.com "GM openly advocates speed. Its summer 2003 marketing campaign is called 'Summerdrive 2 the max,' with a commercial encouraging viewers to 'Take it 2 the limit,' and 'Put the pedal 2 the metal.' The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety recently found that 'Print ads for [GM] Pontiacs are even less subtle, encouraging potential buyers to 'unleash your nasty little urges.' The ad copy promoting the new ZO6 Corvette is equally speed-focused, calling it the 'quickest, most agile … ever,' and bragging that the car 'accelerates 0 to 60 mph in 4 seconds, [and] handles 1 g of lateral acceleration.' GM doesn't flinch at using the macabre phrase 'new level of overkill' to hawk the Z06. The company even boasts that it has decreased the windshield weight by two pounds to produce a speed-enhancing extra."

15c. GM's Safety Record. MADD at GM. www.maddatgm.com

15d. MADD at GM. www.maddatgm.com

15e. GM-MADD Relationship. MAD at GM. www.madatgm.com

15f. MADD Pushes for New Measures. CNN Crossfire, aired June 28, 2002.

15g. Bouvet, S. CTIA joins MADD to Aid Victims of Drunk Drivers with Phones, Airtime (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) CTIA press release, January 19, 1998; Sundeem, M. Cell Phones and Highway Safety: 2002 State Legislatures Update. Denver, CO: National Council of State Legislatures, 2002.

15h. Mothers Against Drunk Driving. Becoming a MADD Corporate Sponsor. MAdd national web site. www.madd.org.

15i. Mothers Against Drunk Driving. Becoming a MADD Corporate Sponsor. MADD national web site. www.madd.org. Mothers Against Drunk Driving aggressively seeks financial support from it's "corporate partners" and is pleased to describe what it can deliver for these investors:

"MADD has a track record of helping our corporate partners meet their goals:

• For a $.15 per case donation, MADD chapters obtained premiere product placement for Coca-Cola products in more than 400 Wal-Mart stores, increasing Coke's case sales volume by 490 percent over same store sales.

• Working in partnership with General Mills, MADD helped the Bugles brand enjoy the highest sales promotion in the company's history, with a six-fold increase in weekend sales.

• DaimlerChrysler presented MADD the opportunity to help achieve two key objectives: increase public knowledge of their safety initiatives and interact with members of Congress. During the MADD National Youth Summit to Prevent Underage Drinking 2000, MADD delivered more than 102 million media impressions and exposure to over 500 legislators to DaimlerChrysler.

• In a unique retail merchandising partnership, a MADD connection increased Stonehenge Limited neckwear sales by more than 270 percent over its previous product launch.

• Together, MADD and Allstate Insurance distributed more than 5 million red ribbons, 86 percent of their managers reported the MADD relationship was "extremely valuable" to their corporation after their involvement in MADD's holiday campaign. 58 percent of Allstate field managers agreed that the program increased consumer recognition of Allstate."

Of course, unspoken is what MADD can deliver by remaining silent on issues that its investors want ignored and supporting what they want to promote. For example, silence in the face of blatant promotion of speed to sell cars, on the one hand , and active support of the use of cell phones while driving, on the other.

It would appear that corporate "donations" are really corporate investments on which MADD can deliver.

16. MADD Money. Investigative report., K5 News, Seattle, Wa., n.d.

16a. MADD Money. Investigative report., K5 News, Seattle, Wa., n.d.

16b. Center for Consumer Freedom, "Mothers Against Drunk Driving" www.consumerfreedom.com/activistcash/org_motivation.cfm?ORG_ID=17/. Even the Mothers Against Drunk Driving web site (www.madd.org) is full of requests for money. As an official of the American Institute of Philanthropy said, "we'd like to see MADD spend a lot more money on things other than asking more more money." (MADD Money investigative report, K5 News, Seattle, WA). Not surprisingly, Dean Wilkerson, head of Mothers Against Drunk Driving refused to talk with a television station about MADD's fundraising practices. (MADD Money investigative report, K5 News, Seattle, WA). Apparently he refuses to be accountable to the same public from which MADD aggressively solicits money.

16c. BBB Wise Giving Alliance (www.give.org). Mothers Against Drunk Driving lobbies Congress to allocate more money to its mutual supporter, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). In turn, NHTSA gives more money to MADD. (Pena, C.V. The Anti-Drunk Driving Campaign: A Covert War Against Drinking. www.maddatchevy.com/downloads/whitepaper_MADD.pdf).

17. Estimates based on past salary/benefits increases reported by MADD over time on federal tax form #990.

17a. Peters, E. MADD house. National Review, 1998, 50(18), 36-37. The author observes that "Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) is evolving from a well-intentioned lobbying group to a self-perpetuating Washington institution" which is already "one of the most powerful and well-funded lobbying groups in the country."

18. Power MADD (editorial), Washington Times, 3-6-00

18a. DiLorenzo, T.J. and Bennett, J.T. The U.S. is becoming a nanny state. USA Today (Magazine), 1998 (May), 126(2636), 12-15.

19. Balko, R. Targeting Social Drinkers is Simply MADD, 12-10-02. www.consumerfreedom.com/headline_detail.cfm?HEADLINE_ID=1704
Perhaps because of its desire for revenge, Mothers Against Drunk Driving repeatedly opposes actions that protect peoples' individual rights under the US Constitution. See, for example, MADD May Fight Ruling, MADD and Protecting the Innocent, End Justifies Any Means? , and Alcohol Ad Ban. MADD has contempt for those who defend the rights of the accused, who are assumed by it to be guilty. Describing one defense attorney, a MADD leader said "He's infamous. Everybody in MADD knows about him. We don't welcome him in the community" because he's "spreading out his poisonous influence" in protecting basic constitutional rights. (Nolin, R. "Infamous" DUI lawyer expands into Volusia. The News Journal, 8-17-87.) On the other hand Mothers Against Drunk Driving has failed to identify a single instance during its entire long history when it ever defended the constitutional rights of even one individual (personal communication, MADD).

19a. Reynolds, J. Electrolite, 1-6-03.

19b. Restifo, C. neoprohibition gone mad. The Tartan, 9-23-02.

20. Prohibition Ends! (70 Years Ago Today): Has Anyone Told MADD?. PR Newswire Association,
press release, 4-11-03.

21. Power MADD(editorial), Washington Times, 3-6-00

21a. National Motorist Association. Alcohol-Related Deaths Increase. National Motorist Association press release, 10-2-01.

22. MADD is Out of Control. TalkLeft: Liberal Coverage of Crime-Related Political and Injustice News, 1-12-03. www.talkleft.com/archives/001908.html

22a. The Washington Times. Power MADD. The Washington Times, 3-6-00.

23. Center for Consumer Freedom, Drunk on Power, www.consumerfreedom.com

24. Linder, C. MADD study criticizes Indiana, but state officials call report inaccurate. States News Service, press release, 11-21-02

24a. Balco, Radley. Targeting the social drinker is just MADD. Los Angeles Times, 12-9-02.

25. Caruso, J. DAMM - MADD, www.jaycaruso.com

25a. Pena, C.V. The Anti-Drunk Driving Campaign: A Covert War Against Drinking. Available at www.maddatchevy.com/downloads/whitepaper_MADD.pdf

26. Levison, I. In defense of drunk driving or at least an attack on drunk driving zealots, who want us to become a nation of teetotalers. Philadelphia Magazine, March, 2003, pp. 37-38.

27. LeCuyer, R. MADD is wrong about this one. North Country Times, 12-23-00. www.nctimes.com/news/122300/x.html

28. Green, S.D. "Client Profile: MADD's efforts continue to drive into new territory" PR Week, 1-21-02, p. 8.

28a. MADD at lawyer. National Law Journal, 1992 (March 9), 14(27), 2.

28b. MADD Money investigative report, K5 News, Seattle, WA.

28c. Dowling, Darlene J. MADD a Hate Group!. Armed Females of America (www.armedfemalesofamerica.com/freedomwatch/MADD.htm)

28d. Kevin, personal communication, 1-30-04. Kevin must remain anonymoous in order to protect his livlihood.

29. www.consumerfreedom.com

29a. Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights. MADD's Stance on Insurance Iniatives Hurts Victims of Drunk Drivers, Violates Nat'l Policy. Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights press release, 12-30-99.

29b. Talk Left, www.talkleft.com, 1-12-03.

29c. The Washington Times. Power MADD (House editorial). The Washington Times, 3-6-00.

30. Michalides, S. G. MADD from hell. Wine Trader, May, 1997.

31. LeCuyer, R. MADD is wrong about this one. North Country Times, 12-23-00. www.nctimes.com/news.122300/x.html

31a. MADD Money investigative report, K5 News, Seattle, WA.

32. Doyle, J. Tiny group grown into behemoth gone MADD. Pasadena Star-News,12-4-02.

33. Puzzo, D.P. Give and Taken. Restaurants and Institutions, 11-15-97.

34. Brenner, K. MADD uses viral e-mail to build list, DM News, 12-23-02.

35. National Motorists Association News, 3, #1. (www.nma.org)

36. Drinkwater, R. Pot power to police: MADD. The Edmonton Sun, 5-17-03.

37. Peras, A. Miranda rule in DUI law sparks debate. The Greenville News, 8-15-03.

38. MADD may fight this ruling all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court. Source: "MADD May Fight Court Decision" WTWO TV, Terre Haute, IN, 6-18-03; "Ruling Could Mean Retrial for Drunk Driver" WISH TV, Indianapolis, IN, 6-11-03

39. Forsyth, J. Winshield killing defense outrages MADD. WOAI Radio, 6-25- 03, www.waoi.com

40. Rodriguez, I. DWI cases handcuffed, San Antonio Express-News, 6-7-03

41. Fowler, B. Anderson official critical of MADD chief. KnoxNews.com, 7-18-03.

41a. Shaffer, Tyler. Court: Alcohol ads law unconstitutional. The Digital Collegian, August 3, 2004; Snyder, Susan. Ruling could put alcohol ads back in college newspapers. A federal court overturned a Pa. law that banned paid alcohol ads. Schools and their student papers are assessing the impact. Philadelphia Inquirer, August 4, 2004.

42. Sources: DWI Convictions are an Important Source of Income ("Donations") for MADD. (IRS form 990) www.getmadd.com .

43. Sources: Mellas, K. Joliet MADD official on trial: Woman accused of taking $45,000. Chicago Tribune, 1-6-04; Mellen, K. State cop testifies in MADD trial. Chicago Tribune, 1-8-04; Mellen, K. State rests case in MADD trial. Chicago Tribune, 1-15-04; Mellen, K. MADD leader blames illness (and tries to implicate her son). Chicago Tribune, 1-17-04; Mellen, K. Ex-MADD leader guilty of stealing fees. Chicago Tribune, 1-21-04; Rozek, D. Will County woman found guilty of stealing $45,000 from MADD. Chicago Sun-Tribune, 1-21-04; Will County MADD chapter founder convicted of theft. WRRN news radio, 1-21-04; Lipman, J. MADD director guilty of theft. Chicago Daily Southtown. 1-21-04.

44. Bresnahan, S. MADD Struggles to Remain Relevant. Washington Times, August 6, 2002, B1-2.

45. Ad Campaign Suggest (sic) Drinking & Driving OK. "Money & Markets" show, Cable News Network, 4-17-03

46. Lawmaker wants an end to drinking with parents. www.madison.com, 8-0-03; Bill seeks to prevent parents from buying kids alcohol in taverns. Associated Press, 8-20-03.

47. Ariz. Students to Receive Alcohol-Test Kits. MADD Online, 5-1503; Downs, H.G. Law Enforcement Will be Out in Force. The Southern Illinoisan, 7- 1-03.

48. Source: Baumann, C.S. Call for beer run answered. Orlando Sentinel, 7-20-03.

48a. Snel, Alan. Lightning's use of beer as bait irks police, MADD. Tampa Tribune, 5-12-04; After free-beer stunt, NHL team finds itself answering to MADD. Washington Post, 5-16-04.

49. Jail useless for drunk, judge says. Winnipeg Sun, 8-9-03; Alcoholic in treatment avoids jail for 14th drunk driving offence, Edmonton Sun, 8-9-03.

50. Barr, A. Drink: A Social History of America. New York: Carrol & Graf, (1999), p. 281; MADD over the edge? Advocacy group heats up the rhetoric as drunk driving statistics continue to fall. Alcohol Issues Insights, 1999, 16(6), 1-2; Bresnahan, S. MADD struggles to remain relevant. Washington Times, 8-6-02, B1-2.

51. MADD about him: MADD web site takes an unfair punch at Virginia's Speaker of the House. The Free Lance-Star (Fredericksburg, VA), 10-30-03.

52. Stevens, C. MADD founder charged with assault. Citrus County Chronicle 1-21-03.

53. MADD files lawsuit against DAMMADD. The Battalion Online, 6-10-03; Moretti, K. Feedback on 7-13-03 to MADD files lawsuit against DAMMADD. The Battalion Online, 6-10-03; Anti-drug group claims it's being bullied by MADD. WXSA TV, Albany, NY, 7-18-03; Glover, L.D. Hearing in lawsuit filed against DAMMADD delayed until July 25. The Sayre Evening Times, 6-18-03.