I have a lot of good things to say about Mother’s Against Drunk Driving (MADD). Even though I am a DUI defense lawyer, both MADD and I have the same goals. We want to end DUI. We want our roads to be safe. We want to save lives. Use a designated driver.

I also have a lot of bad things to say about MADD. I think their message has been hijacked away from its original laudable and simple goal: end drunk driving. Their legislative goals of pushing for non-scientific per se laws that punish those who are not drunk or those who are not drug impaired is against their original goal. Their court monitoring system of borderline stalking and intimidating judges and prosecutors into ignoring the merits of their case and prosecuting cases that have no merit is a large issue and anti-American. Also, it has been well published that their finances are questionable.

But I want to call to your attention the latest.

In Massachusetts, an admirable young lady who goes to North Andover High School named Erin Cox who is an honor student and the volleyball team’s captain was suspended related to her heroic and good actions. There was a party. A drinking party. It was not tied into a school event whatsoever. It was off school grounds. She did not go to it. However, she got a call from a friend. The friend had been drinking. The friend recognized that he or she should not be driving. So, this young person did the responsible thing. She called a sober driver–Erin–to come pick her up. Erin did. Who knows, Erin may have saved lives that night. Erin prevented a crime by doing the right thing. It’s the type of action that I would want my now almost 5 year old daughter to undertake when she is older. She is role model. For her good deeds, her school shamefully suspended her and suspended her from her volleyball activities.

You read that right. She was sober. She did not go to the party. Not a drop to drink. She heeded the call of her friend to prevent her friend from driving after drinking. She may have saved lives. She gets punished. What a bizzaro world we live in.

MADD was asked to weigh in on this whole situation. Given their original, simple and laudable goal— to end drunk driving. What do you think their response would be? I would have thought it would be to praise the young lady. Heck, maybe even give her an award.

Nope!

According to this report MADD Weighs in on Honors Student Punished for Trying to Help Drunk Friend — and Their Reaction Might Surprise You MADD had the opposite reaction. Here is MADD’s position statement:

Mothers Against Drunk Driving President Jan Withers told Fox News that North Andover High School was right to punish Cox, whom Withers said should have called an adult instead of driving to the party herself in an attempt to pick up her drunk friend.

“Underage drinking is so very dangerous, that’s why MADD appreciates this school’s effort,” said Withers, who nevertheless applauded Cox’s intentions. “I’m not there and I don’t know all of the details, but indeed, their efforts to prevent underage drinking through zero tolerance are admirable.”

SHAME ON MADD!

Justin McShane

PA DUI attorney Justin J. McShane is the President/CEO of The McShane Firm, LLC - Pennsylvania's top criminal law and DUI law firm. He is the highest rated DUI attorney in PA as rated by Avvo.com. Justin McShane is a double Board certified attorney. He is the first and so far the only Pennsylvania attorney to achieve American Bar Association recognized board certification in DUI defense from the National College for DUI Defense, Inc. He is also a Board Certified Criminal Trial Advocate by the National Board of Trial Advocacy, a Pennsylvania Supreme Court Approved Agency.