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Sunday, May 12, 2002
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

Stop DUI helps victims of drunken drivers rebuild their lives

Organization also offers educational and awareness programs as well as lobbies the Legislature

It was a family tragedy that led to Sandy Heverly becoming an anti-DUI activist.

"My entire family was very nearly annihilated by a drunken driver who had two prior DUIs," Heverly said.

It was in 1974, at Flamingo Road and Pearl Street. Her husband, mother and four children were injured.

"My mom got the worst of it," Heverly said. "She had so many medical complications; she was literally held together by mesh and wire.

"The offender received a $100 fine and walked out of the courtroom laughing."

But times have changed -- in large part because of the efforts of groups such as Stop DUI, of which Heverly is executive director.

"Today, that person would be facing seven counts of felony DUI," she said.

Heverly, who also was injured in a DUI-related crash in 1983, was involved with Mothers Against Drunk Driving for more than 10 years before philosophical differences led to her co-founding Stop DUI a little more than eight years ago.

"Our main purpose is to help the innocent victims of this crime -- through the grieving process, through the recovery, through the adjudication, the whole criminal justice system, parole board hearings," she said. "Anytime they need our assistance, we're there to help."

The group provides temporary financial assistance as well, in terms of mortgage payments or rent, utilities, food, medical equipment or transportation.

"Many times we have victims who do not have financial support in terms of providing a funeral," Heverly said.

Part of the financial assistance comes from those who drive under the influence themselves. First- and second-time offenders, she said, are required to pay $30 to attend a program by a Stop DUI victim impact panel, at which victims tell how someone driving drunk or under the influence of narcotics affected their lives. The program, she said, has a 92 percent success rate, which means that 92 percent of those who attend a session do not become repeat offenders.

The funds, Heverly said, are used for victim assistance. Other funding comes from private and corporate donations. Stop DUI does not conduct telemarketing campaigns or seek grants.

The group also conducts educational and awareness programs and works toward legislative reform, which currently is focused on changing Nevada's legal definition of a DUI-level blood-alcohol reading from the current .10 to .08, as it is in 30 other states.

Heverly said there's some resistance that the change would lead to more DUI arrests.

"They think they can only have one glass of wine and they're going to go to jail," she said. "That's just not true. It's certainly not going to affect social drinkers."

A 120-pound woman with an empty stomach would have to consume four drinks in an hour for her blood-alcohol level to reach .08, she said.

And as to the belief that alcoholism is a disease, making the DUI problem nearly unsolvable, Heverly applies simple logic.

"There are many alcoholics who don't drink and drive," she said. "They drink, but they don't drive."

Heverly said both volunteers and volunteer donations are always welcomed.

"All services are free," she said. "We don't charge for anything that we do."

To volunteer or make a donation, call 456-7867.