May 2, 2014

The Honorable Morgan Carroll

President of the Colorado Senate
200 East Colfax Avenue
Denver, CO 80203

Please pass HB 1036 to create a felony DUI provision in Colorado Law

Dear President Carroll,

Drunk driving is considered a violent crime. And as such, Mothers Against Drunk Driving
asks the Colorado General Assembly to support HB 1036, legislation that will create a felony
DUI provision in Colorado law. This legislation has already been passed by the House of
Representativeswe urge the Senate to take action and pass HB 1036.

The next few days are very critical and your support is of the utmost importance to ensure
that drunk drivers receive a charge that fits the crime. The bill must be passed by three Senate
CommitteesJudiciary; State, Veterans, & Military Affairs; and Appropriationsand by the
Senate Committee of the Whole by Wednesday. With this compressed timeline, your vote in
favor of HB 1036 is crucial.

Drunk driving deaths are 100 percent preventable. Yet in 2012, 133 people in Colorado were
killed in crashes caused by a drunk driverrepresenting 28 percent of all traffic fatalities in
the state. In addition to the extraordinary emotional burden for victims, drunk driving deaths
are an unnecessary economic hardship for Colorado, costing the state and taxpayers over
$704 million in 2012.

Colorado is currently one of only four states that do not have a felony DUI law. This means
that repeat drunk drivers continue to be charged with misdemeanors no matter how many
times they are arrested for driving drunk. Passage of this bill would make driving drunk a
felony upon a third offense in seven years or after a fourth offense in a lifetime.

Our organization works with hundreds of families who were impacted by drunk driving
crashes caused by repeat offenders. Too often families who have lost loved ones ask Why
wasnt something more done on an earlier DUI offense? How did this person get to four,
five, or six DUIs?

HB1036 is Colorados opportunity to strengthen our drunk driving laws and hold accountable
those who continue to drive drunk in hopes of sparing families from tragedies caused by
repeat drunk driving offenders.



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I grew up in Jefferson County and my family actually homesteaded in Freemont and Chaffee
Counties. Even though I dont live there at the moment Colorado is home to me. My
daughter, who was killed by a drunk driver is buried, there with my brother and daddy.

Colorado residents are depending on you to vote yes on HB 1036. Make a difference for your
constituents and for all of the residents of Colorado. MADD urges you to move House Bill
1036 forward in the Senate. For me, for your family and mine and for all the residents in
Colorado, I ask that you pass HB 1036. If you have any questions or need more information,
please contact Fran Lanzer, MADD Colorado Executive Director, at 303-425-5902 ext. 6852
or francis.lanzer@madd.org.

Thank you in advance for your consideration of this request.

Sincerely,


Jan Withers
MADD National President