As an organization we have several goals. The number one top priority at this
time is to get the federal government to drop the .08 mandate that has forced
so many states, against their will, to lower their legal BAC limit to .08%.
So how do we do this?
We MUST show a strong showing to our Represenatives and Senators AT THE FEDERAL
LEVEL. Many of us have sent letters and made phone calls to our state represenatatives
and senators. But after talking to mine here in Michigan, I've come to realize
that their hands are basically tied. They have a figurative gun to their collective
heads called "you don't get federal highway funds if you don't do this".
It's outright blackmail and it's a blatant violation of the Constitution of
the United States Of America.
It's very easy to sit back and read the "RIDL Me This" emails where
I talk about our progress and feel good about being part of an organization
that IS trying to fight back. But we're still a relatively small organization
at this time. We KNOW that 1.6 million people are getting arrested each year
for DUI, so after 20 years of draconian laws our potential membership pool is
HUGE. And what do our Representatives and Senators fear most? Being voted out
of office, of course. So if we can get enough people to back us up we can have
an enormous impact on our elected officials. Because all we have to do is let
them know that if they continue to pass illegal laws, we won't vote for them
and we will back candidates who will do the right thing while in office. But
those 1.6 million+ people don't know about us yet because we're still in startup
mode. We're growing at a significant rate, and we have quite a few people who
are very active in helping. And for them we are EXTREMELY grateful. But at this
time we can't afford to have anyone sit back and let other people do all the
work.
And that's where YOU come in. We need each and every member of RIDL to take
the initiative to do two things.
Write or call you US Representative and Senator. Tell them you're a member of
RIDL and that you want this law repealed.
Tell as many people as you can about us. Send email to everyone on your email
list and tell them about us, ask them to tell as many people as possible. Or
volunteer to pass out brochures in your area. Or do both.
I realize that some of you may not know exactly what to say in your letters.
So in the next few days expect to see a link on our web page called "Write
To Your Congressperson". In there you will find examples of letters that
you can copy and use to send to your Senators and/or Representatives as well
as links to their addresses and phone numbers. Many even have email and they
DO read it.
So let's all join together and use our collective power to stop these laws in
their tracks. It's up to us to take the steps necessary and I know that we can
do this.
Jeanne
Jeanne M. Pruett
President and CEO
R.I.D.L.
Responsibility In DUI Laws, Inc.
http://www.ridl.us
jeanne_pruett@ridl.us
734-306-7883