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Show Locals join battle against drunk driving I he Newspaper Thursday, October 14, 1982 Page A3 by David Hampshire On Friday evening, April 16, eight-year-old David Johnson of Park City was standing on the sidewalk on the corner of Second South and Main in Salt Lake City. With him was his father, Raymond C. (Craig) Johnson, John-son, nine-year-old Megan Holcomb, and her father, Stephen Holcomb, also of Park City. Without warning, a small delivery truck traveling at high speed missed the intersection inter-section and jumped the curb. David Johnson was killed. The driver of the truck, Donald Eugene Rogers of Salt Lake City, had been drinking heavily. It has been six months since the accident. Rogers, now serving a prison term for automobile homicide, will be eligible for parole in December. Craig and Fran Johnson are trying to pick up the fragments of their lives which were shattered by the loss of their only child. Unfortunately, David Johnson's case is far from unique. In Utah last year, drinking was listed as a contributing factor in 29 percent of the fatal accidents. acci-dents. In many states, the percentage is significantly higher. According to one estimate, more than 250,000 people have been killed by drunk drivers in the past 10 years. Shortly after David's death, two Brighton High School teenagers were killed in an alcohol-related crash. In reaction to this tragedy, Salt Lake City resident Jack Wignall founded Parents Against Drunk Driving Driv-ing (PADD) to lobby for tougher penalties. Following the death of their son, the Johnsons considered starting a Utah chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Drivers (MADD), the organization which started in California in 1980, but then decided to throw their support sup-port behind Wignall organization. or-ganization. "They (MADD) are extremely ex-tremely well organized," Fran Johnson told The Newspaper. "But Jack was so effective on his own, we thought that (his group) was preferable. "He's sort of a one-man ball of fire." Wignall and the Johnsons share a common goal: to see tougher penalties for drunk driving offenses, and to see controls placed on plea bargaining in the 'court system. They soon found a forum, n May a Governor's Com-Tiission, Com-Tiission, on Drinking and Driving, composed of 18 epresentatives of all facets 3f the criminal justice system, sys-tem, held its first meeting. Ray Johnson, David's grandfather, grand-father, was named to one of the subcommittees. When the group asked for input at public hearings, PADD was C&JflJDD a LAND CO. there. According to Fran Johnson, PADD wanted to make sure that the Governor's Gover-nor's Commission went far enough in its recommendations. recommenda-tions. "There are some areas where PADD is not satisfied that it goes far enough," she said. "But some of the PADD recommendations are not things that can be legislated." legis-lated." One area where PADD and the Governor's Commission disagree is on mandatory sentencing for individuals convicted of driving under trie influence of alcohol. "The whole Governor's Commission is resisting anything any-thing mandatory," Johnson said. "They want the judges to have discretion." Circuit Court Judge Larry Keller, a member of the Commission, explains why. "Traditionally, the judiciary is one place where an individual can be treated as an individual by society... I think that inherent in our constitutional rights is the right of a person" who is accused of a crime to be treated as an individual." Keller says that, while jail sentences may be appropriate appro-priate in many drunk driving cases, they may be inappropriate inappro-priate in others. He argues that the judge must retain the right to make that decision. Although they disagree on this point, the members of PADD and the Governor's Commission see eye-to-eye on many of the group's recommendations, which will be presented to the Governor in November. Included in the Commis sion's recommendations are these: That the blood alcohol level above which a person is considered impaired be lowered from 0.08 percent to 0.05 percent. If passed into law, that would make Utah unique among the 50 states. That the maximum fine for driving under the influence influ-ence be increased from $299 to $1,000, and the maximum jail term increased from six months to one year. That the maximum fine for automobile homicide be increased from $5,000 to $10,000 and the maximum jail term from five years to 15 years. That the legislature consider con-sider a law allowing police to impound vehicles being driven by individuals found driving with a revoked license following a D.U.I, conviction. "I get people in court on their ninth, 10th and 11th drunk driving offenses," Keller says. The Governor's Commission Commis-sion also recommends that more emphasis be placed in drivers' education courses on the impact of alcohol and drug abuse. It calls for the Attorney General to publish guidelines on the use of plea bargaining in D.U.I, cases, and it calls for more money to be allocated to law-enforcement law-enforcement agents to help catch drunk drivers. These last two recommendations recommen-dations have Fran Johnson's wholehearted support. She believes that plea bargaining is used far too often in re :cing drunk driving charges in exchange for guilty pleas to lesser offenses, of-fenses, such as reckless driving. And she believes that the key to cutting down on alcohol-related deaths is more law enforcement. "All the strict penalties in the world aren't going to mean a thing if they continue to plea bargain and they don't expend the effort to catch people." According to Keller, the recommendations formulated formu-lated by the Governor's Commission will be presented pre-sented to a legislative committee com-mittee on Nov. 17. Meanwhile, the Johnsons have taken their case to the civil courts. They are suing Rogers and his employer, the Newspaper Agency Corporation, for $13 million. The Johnsons contend that the NAC knew about Rogers' problems with alcohol and a prior conviction for driving under the influence in Oregon. Ore-gon. Rogers was on the job at the time of the accident. "We feel they are at least as guilty as Donald Rogers himself," says Fran Johnson. John-son. The lawsuit also contends that several of Rogers' fellow employees were aware he had been drinking that evening, but made no attempt to stop him from driving. Fran Johnson is encouraging encourag-ing Park City people to involve themselves in Parents Against Drunk Driving, Driv-ing, either by joining the organization, or by purchasing purchas-ing t-shirts and bumper stickers. Those interested may reach the Johnsons at 649-9624 or write to P.O.Box 1984. 614 Main Street Park City, Utah 6499066 PARK PLACE CONDOMINIUMS it mm mm 1378 PARK AVENUE EXCELLENT LOCATION 8 quality built condos 2, 3 and 4 bedroom units. Individually treated, custom furnishings, designated covered parking, whirlpool baths, outdoor jetted spa and laundry facility. Within walking distance 10 the Park City Ski Area, City Park, and Holiday Village Cinemas and Shopping Center. Reasonably priced all offers considered. Open House Wed., Oct. 20th 10-12:30 Contact Maureen 649-1218 or 649-9066 How City Coun WOTffiDD Thursday, Oct. 7 MOTIONS C)1 Alvarez -1 , I. ('WIS Coleman Wlm- I Slielleiileiner To approve the following requests and petitions: 1. From the Kimball Art Center for a temporary beer license Oct. 15 2. From the Hot Tub Club to reverse denial of Class C beer license 3. From Mountain Fuel for easement over city land to Aerie Subdivision 4. From Utah Power and Light for easement for power line in City Park 5. From Wasatch Electric to waive electrical permit for cemetery lighting To approve a plat for the first six units of Silver Bird Condominiums To approve the appointment appoint-ment of Janet Scott as deputy recorder To amend Ordinance 82-9 to eliminate city control of commercial trash collection absent absent absent absent yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes mi r mm I m limit) M Wells pcS m wM abstain wh: m i K I s I I K N at Prospector Square 649-8060 If you are having a party, Please call us for Catering 649-8060 ask for Sue 649-8060 Prospector Square, Highway 248, Park City Sue Haywood, Cfiefat the Grub Steak Restaurant, invites vou to Sunday Brunch, every Sunday all year round ... Adults $7.95 Children $4.95 10:00 a.m. -2:00 p.m. We will be closed November 1st and 2nd for preseason cleaning, maintenance and repairs. LUNCH SERVED 11:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday - Saturday ft i? m m mi mi |