MADD returns to the Panhandle

SANDPOINT — Mothers Against Drunk Driving is restoring its presence in the Panhandle.

The group’s Idaho headquarters in Boise received a grant from the Idaho Council on Domestic Violence & Victim Assistance under the Victim of Crimes Act. The stimulus money is funding victim advocate positions in Twin Falls and Coeur d’Alene.

MADD victim advocate Carolyn Mattoon said an all-volunteer MADD group had been working in Kootenai County, but it folded.

“That disbanded quite some time ago, so there hasn’t been a MADD presence here in the region for about 10 years ago,” Mattoon said.

MADD representatives assist drunken driving crash victims and survivors with counseling, legal assistance, navigating the civil and criminal justice system, and identifying resources.

“It doesn’t make any difference when the crash occurred, whether it was something that happened 30 years ago or whether it was something very recent. If the victim has not had an opportunity to work through those issues and still feels that there are things that they need help with in resolving from a crash, we want to hear from them,” said Mattoon.

MADD cannot give funding assistance to crash victims, although it can help people locate financial resources.

Mattoon is also interested in hearing from volunteers who are looking for a way to give back to the community.

“One thing I want to get started is victim support groups where folks that have been involved in a DUI crash or are victim survivors by virtue of being family members of someone who was injured or killed in a crash can meet with other people who have been through the same experience,” she added.

The Sandpoint Police Department is supportive of MADD’s renewed efforts in the Panhandle.

“We’ll do what we can in assisting her in getting that group started,” Chief Mark Lockwood said.

Statistics kept by the Idaho Transportation Department’s Office of Highway Operations & Safety highlight the problem of impaired driving in the region.

In 2009, the five northern counties had 306 impaired-driving crashes. Down south, the region encompassing Ada, Boise, Elmore and Valley counties had 334 such crashes despite having double the population as the Panhandle.

Impaired-driving crashes dropped by 12 percent from 2008-2009.

“The bottom line is that with enforcement, outreach and education they should go down. That’s what you hope for,” said Lockwood.

• For more information about MADD or to lend your support, contact Mattoon at (208) 660-6390 or e-mail her at carolyn.mattoon@madd.org.