Latest news with #MontanaBarFairies
CNN
03-05-2025
- Science
- CNN
100 Men vs. 1 Gorilla: An Expert's Take on Viral Debate - CNN 5 Good Things - Podcast on CNN Audio
100 Men vs. 1 Gorilla: An Expert's Take on Viral Debate CNN 5 Good Things 16 mins When disaster struck in California, these young robotics engineers refused to quit, and their hard work paid off. A primatologist weighs in on the viral 100 men vs. silverback gorilla debate. After losing a loved one to drunk driving, the Montana Bar Fairies helped pass a new state law. An Australian miniature dachshund survived over a year in the wild. Plus, could we grow food in space?
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Yahoo
Governor signs Bobby's Law, imposing tougher drunk driving penalties
Apr. 29—Gov. Greg Gianforte put Bobby's Law on the books Friday, increasing statewide penalties for drunk driving. The legislation was introduced by Rep. Braxton Mitchell, R-Columbia Falls, to address what proponents of Bobby's Law considered a loophole in the felony prosecution of drunk drivers involved in fatal collisions. The issue came to the forefront in 2023, after Columbia Falls resident Robert "Bobby" Dewbre was struck and killed by a drunk driver days after his 21st birthday. The driver was eventually charged with two misdemeanors for the incident and received the maximum sentence of 18 months. Flathead County Attorney Travis Ahner alluded to the requirement to prove negligence as a reason the county decided against pursuing felony charges. While the driver boasted a blood alcohol content of 0.20, he had reportedly followed all traffic laws leading up to the incident. Under Bobby's Law, any driver involved in a traffic fatality can be charged with a felony if their blood alcohol content is equal to or above 0.16, regardless of whether they otherwise acted negligently. Offenders face a state prison term of between three and 30 years, a fine between $10,000 and $50,000 or both. Dewbre's mother, Beth McBride, was among the bill's staunchest supporters. She said the law's signing felt surreal after months of legislative hearings and convoluted amendments. She is grateful that the work paid off. "It means Bobby didn't die in vain," said McBride. "It means other families won't have to suffer injustice. We can't turn back the clock, but we can make it right for future families." After her son's death, McBride and her daughter, Carli Seymour, founded a grassroots advocacy group called the Montana Bar Fairies. Volunteers with the group deposit coffee gift cards on cars left in bar parking lots overnight, with the goal of encouraging safe transportation options after drinking. The group also played an instrumental role in the passage of Bobby's Law. Dozens of members attended hearings in the Montana House and Senate to voice support for Bobby's Law, including the family and friends of several other Flathead County residents killed in drunk driving incidents. Data collected by the Montana Department of Transportation shows that about 42% of all roadway fatalities in Flathead County involve a drunk driver. As a whole, Montana has more drunk driving fatalities per capita than any other state, according to a 2025 report from Forbes. McBride knows these statistics well. She plans to continue working through Montana Bar Fairies to promote a safer drinking culture in communities throughout Montana. McBride said she regularly fields inquiries from people across the state interested in forming their own local chapter of Montana Bar Fairies. The organization recently started hosting educational booths at brewery festivals and other local events. "We're growing gigantic. It's really, really exciting," said McBride. "What it goes to show is people are ready for change." Reporter Hailey Smalley can be reached at hsmalley@ or 758-4433.
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Yahoo
Legislature passes ‘Bobby's Law,' increases penalties for drunk driving fatalieies
Photo illustration by Getty Images. A bill strengthening Montanan's DUI laws had its first hearing before a committee in mid-January, and is now inches away from crossing the legislative finish line. House Bill 267, known as 'Bobby's Law,' has passed both chambers and been sent to Gov. Greg Gianforte, who is widely expected to sign it. The bill, carried by Rep. Braxton Mitchell, R-Columbia Falls, establishes the crime of aggravated vehicular homicide while under the influence. A conviction would mandate a three-year minimum prison sentence, a minimum fine of $10,000 and prevents a judge from delaying or suspending the sentence. 'This bill sends a clear message: If you kill someone in this state while driving, and you're extremely impaired, that you will finally face real justice,' Mitchell said during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing last month. A recent Forbes rating of the worst states for drunk driving, based on the percent of traffic deaths caused by drunk drivers, ranked Montana No. 1, with 8.57 DUI-related fatalities per 100,000 drivers. Data from the Montana Department of Transportation shows that during the last decade, between 33% and 45% of all car crash fatalities in the state involve alcohol impairment, with Yellowstone, Big Horn, Missoula and Flathead Counties having the highest percentage of roadway fatalities involving alcohol. But beyond the data, the bill was personal for Mitchell, who was friends and neighbors with Bobby Dewbre, who was killed by a drunk driver in 2023. 'The worst part of all this is that the person who killed him barely faced any consequences,' Mitchell said. '…I've worked with Bobby Dewbre's family to craft a law to seek justice for other families who may face this horrific experience.' More than 80 people testified in favor of the bill during its hearing before the House committee, and dozens showed up again to testify in the Senate. Elizabeth McBride, Dewbre's mother, and other members of his family testified about getting the call about her son's death and what her family and community went through when the driver was charged with two misdemeanors. 'We're not suggesting that people stop drinking, but we are imploring you to send the clear message that getting drunk and then getting behind the wheel will not be tolerated,' McBride said. '…Drunk driving is a choice. It is not legal, and it is 100% avoidable.' McBride helped found a nonprofit called Montana Bar Fairies, dedicated to 'change the drinking and driving culture in Montana.' The organization, which has chapters in four counties, strongly advocated for Bobby's law and works with local communities and bars to boost DUI awareness. One part of the group's outreach involves sending out volunteers every weekend to leave $5 gift cards to local coffee shops on cars left in bar parking lots overnight, a small incentive they hope builds big results. Patricia Hinchey, director of the Bozeman chapter of Montana Bar Fairies, said that growing up in the state, she always had an earlier curfew than her friends due to the high number of impaired drivers on the road. 'As I've gotten older, I've come to realize how unsafe Montana's roadways are. Driving should not be something that makes me so fearful, but I'm scared to drive, not just at night, but at any time of the day,' Hinchey said. 'This needs to change.' The law, Mitchell said, fixes a gap in the legal system and increases accountability for individuals who make the choice to drive under the influence. 'We've heard from the Department of Transportation, law enforcement agencies, police groups, from county attorneys, bar owners, business owners and just average everyday residents across the state,' he said. The new law will show that 'our state is finally committed to reducing these incidents and making roads safer for all residents and visitors.'
