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New law protects kids with DUI drivers

Reported by: Keidron Dotson
Email: dotson@kjrh.com
Last Update: 7/03 7:36 am

The faces represent a rainbow of backgrounds.

Mothers, fathers, children all dead from the actions of drunk drivers.

The picture of a smiling 16-year-old sits top right.

Liz Gifford's son, Greg Gifford was killed by a drunk driver while returning to Tulsa from Oklahoma City in 1997.

She now organizes Mother Against Drunk Driving.

A day doesn't go by that I don't think about my child and I am coming up to the 13th anniversary and it's still difficult for me," said Gifford.

In a four year span officials say 68 percent all children killed in alcohol-related crashes were riding with adults intoxicated above the legal limit of .08.

But no laws punished those adults with child endangerment as a felony.

Until now.

"It's amazing to know there was no law protecting kids in this instance. It's hard to even fathom," said parent Stephanie Shumaker.

Senate Bill 1138 punishes DUI drivers with children in the car with a $5,000 dollar fine and up to four years in prison.

Dozens of area law enforcement officers gathered Wednesday announcing strong enforcement.

Especially over the fourth of July weekend.

"I am convinced this is the most precious gift in our state. If this bill can save one child it will be worth all the hard work," said state senator Mary Easley who wrote the bill.

State legislators say the hard work is for victims like Gregg Gifford.

Plus thousands of others who lost their lives in a tragic ending.






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