From Deseret News archives:
Cedar Hills mayor aims to avert DUI deaths
McGee aims to prevent any more tragedies like Dec. 24's
Had it not been Christmas, he probably wouldn't have waited that long to pick up the phone.
"There absolutely needs to be something done, because things are not as they should be, it appears," McGee said of his determination to present a resolution to Utah County's mayors to suggest a legislative change.
McGee said he is already researching ways to change legislation in three areas: the consequences of driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol, illegal immigration and prosecution approaches to DUI cases.
The specifics of what proposed changes McGee will suggest are still in the works, but McGee says he is sure of one thing he's not going to take no for an answer.
"I'm at the point now where I feel very strongly about this and I'm not going to just let it go silently into the night," McGee said. "I've been told by many people that this isn't a state issue, but I think it should be."
On Dec. 24, Cheryl Ceran, her son Ian, 15, and daughter Julianna, 7, were killed when they were hit by Carlos Rodolfo Prieto, 24. Police say Prieto ran a red light and crashed into the Ceran family's vehicle.
Prieto does not have a driver's license and is believed to be an illegal immigrant. He was charged last week with several misdemeanors and felonies, including three counts of automobile homicide.
McGee says one of the reasons he's exploring changing Utah's laws is because he feels responsible for the residents of his city, but his emotional connection to DUI-related deaths runs much deeper. McGee says he has never met the Ceran family, but while growing up in New Mexico he endured several friends' deaths from DUI-related accidents.
"I'm very, very familiar with the devastating effects on a family when they lose someone from a DUI accident," McGee said. "It has devastating consequences on families. I think something needs to be done about it because a DUI-related death is completely avoidable."
Recent comments
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Ms Smith | May 12, 2008 at 9:12 p.m.
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