The Yates County STOP DWI Program sponsored a Yates County Drunk/Impaired Driving Victim Impact Panel (VIP) on Wednesday night at the County Office Building auditorium.
Sheriff Ron Spike, who chairs the Task Force VIP said, “Our mission is to assist our courts in the mandate for driving under the influence by alcohol or drugs offenders to understand the human factor of victimization that impaired driving can cause others when bad choice to drink or take illegal drugs, and then drive a motor vehicle.” The County and all Town and Village courts, as a part of the disposition of a DWI related case orders the attendance of a VIP.
22 court ordered offenders attended. All offenders appeared for check-in, magnetometer screening, and breath testing by Sheriff’s Deputies, Court Security, and Penn Yan Police Officers before the panel commenced. Yates County Probation Officers were also present for registration and assistance including Director Alyssa Palmer at reception. Penn Yan Police Chief Thomas Dunham issued the rules for the session. The STOP programs VIP Coordinator Linda Wright organized the event. CSO Robert Quayle operated the audiovisual presentation. Sheriff Spike served as emcee and made opening remarks that emphasized awareness that the legalization of marihuana does not make it legal to drive drugged or stoned. Driving while one’s ability is impaired by marihuana or drugs remains illegal in NY State.
The first speaker was the Yates County District Attorney Todd Casella who spoke on making bad choices, and the legal consequences when creating crime victims in the CJ system. The evening’s panel speaker was Michelle Curtin, a teacher in the Wayland-Cohocton Central School District in Steuben County. She presented a story about her mother who was a kindergarten teacher that lost her life in a tragic head-on collision with a 29 year old drunk driver who had a 0.32% BAC; and how that loss victimized her and family, as well as her Mothers young elementary school students never to see their teacher again. Ms. Curtin has turned her grief into a campaign of awareness for parents and teens in an effort to prevent similar tragedies.
Sheriff Spike said, “Those in attendance certainly realized how her life and family was forever impacted by someone not thinking, and driving at an unsafe speed being drunk”.
The attendees completed an evaluation form and received a certificate of attendance for their submission to the courts for verification of attendance. The event lasted about 70 minutes.
“If we make good choices instead of bad ones, the consequences won’t be deadly,” said VIP Coordinator Linda Wright
