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18May 2017

Social Attitudes Then and Now

If you did business decades ago you may remember the Three Martini Lunch. Business people would think nothing of getting in their car after a few drinks during the noon hour and driving back to the office. Everybody was doing it so nobody paid it much mind.

Then, in 1980 a drunk driver killed a girl, Cari Lightner. Her mother, Candy Lightner, founded Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) which became a powerful force for social change. It no longer became acceptable to drink and drive, putting others and your own life at risk. Penalties became more severe and juries were less willing to let people walk. DUI would begin to become the pariah it now is.

Recently, with the almost universal use of the smart phone, another phenomenon is taking place - that of texting while driving. All the recent studies virtually prove beyond any reasonable doubt that texting while driving is as dangerous as drinking and driving.

When will social attitudes catch up? They appear to be doing so already. Iowa just passed a law making texting while driving a primary offense. Let's hope our society doesn't need a Cari Lightner to keep is all safe from those who would text and drive. If you live in Burlington, Essex, Colchester, Winooski, Williston, Shelburne or anywhere in the State of Vermont, and have been arrested or charged with DUI or any crime, call Handy Law for aggressive and experienced legal defense.