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Senate Supports
DUI Victims' Memorial Day
HB 200 Makes July 3 "Drunk Driving Victims Remembrance Day"

(JUNEAU) - The Senate today gave the Legislature's final approval to a bill establishing July 3 as Drunk Driving Victims Remembrance Day in Alaska.

House Bill 200, sponsored by the House Judiciary Committee, gives Alaska the nation's first holiday dedicated to remembering those who are victims of drunken drivers, said Rep. Norman Rokeberg (R-Anchorage), chairman of the committee.

"This bill came about through the efforts of people who have had the lives of their friends or loved ones impacted by the selfish and short-sighted actions of total strangers," said Rokeberg. "I hope that by honoring the victims of drunk drivers we can help the healing process. But just as importantly, I hope we can get people to stop for a minute and think about the possible consequences of drinking and driving."

Rokeberg said July 3 was selected partly to honor a young girl in Anchorage who was riding her bicycle on the sidewalk last year when she was killed by a drunk driver, and also because it comes just one day before the Independence Day holiday, which all-too-many Alaskans use as a pretext for irresponsible drinking. He credited Cindy Cashen of Juneau, who lost her father in a drunk driving tragedy last year, for bringing the idea forth for consideration.

Passage of House Bill 200 is one part of the Republican Majority's efforts to address alcohol-related problems in the state. Rokeberg has sponsored legislation now moving through the Legislature to significantly increase the penalties for driving under the influence, to lower drivers' allowable blood alcohol content; to recriminalize consumption of alcohol by minors, and to reduce liability for cab drivers driving inebriated bar patrons' vehicles home.

Other members of the Majority have sponsored bills to allow bar owners to file civil suits against minors entering their premises, to standardize bar hours, to bar repeat DUI offenders from buying alcohol and to establish special substance abuse courts.

HB 200 moves next to the governor.

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