WASHINGTON
- U.S. Senator Tom Udall and U.S. Representative Martin Heinrich today led the Delegation's introduction of legislation to designate New Mexico's DWI Victims Memorial of Perpetual Tears in Moriarty as the nation's first and only memorial of its kind. For photos of the memorial, click
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"As a senator from New Mexico, I am proud to seek this official designation for the DWI Victims Memorial of Perpetual Tears to further elevate awareness of this completely preventable killer," Udall said. "It is fitting that such a national memorial be located in the state that once led the nation in DWI and now leads the way in combating drunk driving."
"Having visited the DWI Victims Memorial of Perpetual Tears in Moriarty, I'm confident it will make an outstanding national memorial to raise awareness about the tragic epidemic of drinking and driving," Heinrich said. "With dedicated volunteers like Sonja Britton, the memorial has increased DWI public education and prevention and with this designation will continue to serve an important purpose in the community and around the country."
The legislation, called "The National DWI Victims Memorial Designation Act of 2010," would require that any reference to the Moriarty memorial in a law, map, regulation, document, record or other official paper of the U.S. government refer to the site as the "National DWI Victims Memorial."
The bill is strongly supported by Senator Jeff Bingaman and Representatives Ben Ray Luján and Harry Teague, who are original co-sponsors of the measure.
The Memorial of Perpetual Tears, located on a four-acre site next to Interstate 40, resembles a veterans' cemetery with markers representing the most recent five-year period of deaths in New Mexico attributed to DWI. It was created in 2008 to help raise awareness of the devastation caused by DWI crashes by recognizing their victims, educating the public, and encouraging preventive measures. The memorial was made possible through the dedication of local volunteers, in particular Sonja Britton, whose son Monty was killed in a DWI-related crash in 1991.
"This national designation is a significant step in our mission to build a memorial that will to pay tribute to and recognize all of our national innocent victims of DWI, and provide public awareness through education and prevention of DWI," Britton said. "My dream will be realized when this mission is achieved and when our loved ones will no longer be injured or killed by alcohol related traffic crashes."
Introduction of the legislation comes one day before Torrance County declares Thursday, May 27, the "Torrance County Day of Remembrance and Celebration for the Victims of DWI" and names a road after the memorial. And on Saturday, the Memorial of Perpetual Tears will host a day of remembrance and celebration for the victims of DWI, with all day activities that include a DWI Memorial run in the morning and a candlelight vigil at dusk.
In 2008, drunk driving killed about 12,000 Americans, including 143 people in New Mexico. While the death toll from drunk driving accidents has decreased dramatically over the past two decades, drunk driving still accounts for one third of all traffic fatalities nationwide.
"MADD commends Senator Tom Udall and his leadership to help eliminate drunk driving. Because of New Mexico's progress in the fight against drunk driving, it is only fitting that a national DWI memorial be placed in your state," said MADD National President Laura Dean-Mooney.
As New Mexico Attorney General from 1990-1998, Udall successfully fought to reduce the number of drunk drivers on the road and has continued to champion the cause in the Senate.
Earlier this year, Udall introduced legislation designed to reduce the number of drunk driving crashes and fatalities on America's roads by funding the development of new technologies to prevent drivers from operating vehicles while under the influence of alcohol. And last December, Udall joined Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) in introducing legislation that would make states require the use of ignition interlock technology for all convicted drunk driving offenders. This legislation would essentially make New Mexico's current DWI ignition interlock mandate the national standard.
