Recently, Ada County Prosecuting Attorney Jan Bennetts was among those recognized by Idaho's Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) for the efforts of her Office in the handling of DUI cases. Specifically, the victim of an aggravated DUI, expressed appreciation to Ms. Bennetts for the deputy prosecutors (Heather Reilly and Robby Bleazard) and victim-witness coordinator (Susan Ledford) who handled her case.
This recognition came during MADD's first ever National Day of Remembrance, which took place on December 3 as part of the national MADD 35th anniversary celebration. The National Day of Remembrance honored those who have been killed or injured in crashes that resulted from drunk/drugged driving or underage drinking, as well as law enforcement officers and prosecutors who work diligently to keep impaired drivers off of our roads.
“As we work with those in law enforcement across Ada County, it becomes very evident that driving under the influence is an incredibly devastating crime,” stated Bennetts. “It impacts not only the victims who are injured, but also the families. It ripples through our community. That's why we work so hard with law enforcement to not only prosecute these cases, but to educate people about drunk and impaired driving.”
Victims and survivors gathered together on December 3 to present blankets in honor of loved ones who are victims of impaired driving crashes, each tied with a ribbon and tag labeled with the name of their loved one. The blankets will be placed in Idaho State Police (ISP) patrol cars for future victims in need.
MADD indicates that December is one of the most dangerous driving months due to alcohol and drug-related crashes. As the holidays approach, this serves as a good reminder to plan ahead and designate a sober driver before you celebrate, and to encourage others to do the same.
For more information, visit http://www.madd.org/local-offices/id/