MADD Pacific Northwest and Law Enforcement Partners to Launch Unprecedented Crackdown on Drunk Driving This Labor Day

   MADD Joins National Effort With Tens of Thousands of Law Enforcement
    Officers Warning Drivers: If You Drive Drunk, You Will Be Arrested

  When:   Friday August 18, 2006 at 10:30 am

  Where:  News Conference: Seattle Center (5th Avenue Parking Lot)

  What:   Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), in partnership with the
          Washington State Patrol and the Washington State Traffic
          Commission, will hold a news conference to kick off a statewide
          drunk driving crackdown that aims to keep our streets safe at a
          historically dangerous period -- Labor Day weekend. MADD is
          working with law enforcement this holiday weekend, to send the
          message: if you drive over the legal limit, you will be under
          arrest.

          The Washington state effort, Drive Hammered. Get Nailed, is part
          of a national drunk driving crackdown sponsored by the National
          Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in partnership with
          MADD and the Governors Highway Safety Association. During the
          national crackdown, law enforcement officials will intensify
          enforcement of drunk driving laws by conducting high visibility
          enforcement efforts such as saturation patrols.

  Who:    Attending the press conference will be:

          * Brian Ursino, Assistant Chief, Washington State Patrol
          * Glynn Birch, MADD national president
          * Judy Eakin, regional executive director, MADD Pacific Northwest
          * Harry Bailey, Assistant Chief, Seattle Police Department
          * Karen Minahan, victim of drunk driving crash
          * Ernest Sickey, Washington MADD regional councilmember

  Why:    Drunk driving is the nation's most frequently committed violent
          crime. In 2004, more than 220 people were killed in Washington in
          drunk driving crashes, and nationally, the problem appears to be
          getting worse. Research shows that the aggressive enforcement of
          drunk driving laws will help reduce deaths and injuries due to
          drunk driving. The two-week enforcement wave in Washington, which
          runs from August 18 through the Labor Day weekend, is based on a
          proven public health model that reduces deaths due to drunk
          driving.

MADD's mission is to stop drunk driving, support the victims of this violent crime and prevent underage drinking. MADD is a 501 (c) (3) charity with approximately 400 affiliate offices and 2 million members and supporters nationwide. Founded in 1980, MADD has helped save more than 300,000 lives. For more information, visit http://www.madd.org/.

PRNewswire -- Aug. 11