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Couple attends OWI checkpoints to bring awareness

Posted at 2:29 PM, Jul 29, 2018
and last updated 2018-07-29 15:29:23-04

If you’ve ever driven through an OWI checkpoint, you’ll notice the orange cones, bright lights and big police mobile command center.

Though, you might not see another pair of watchful eyes in the distance. 

On Friday at the checkpoint on West Congress Street in Lafayette, Pat Taylor and her husband Tom were also keeping tabs.
  
"Sometimes, we have a lot, and sometimes, we don’t have as many," said Pat. "Tonight, we’ve only had one so far."

The Taylors are passionate about the work police are doing. "We see how hard they’re working to get the impaired drivers off the road," said Pat.

Twenty-six years ago, their son Mark was killed by a drunk driver. 

"The man got off with a $500 fine and 30 hours of community service," said Pat. "The judge said that was adequate. Give me all the money in the world, and it wouldn’t be enough. I would be rich, but that wouldn’t cover Mark’s death."

Pat has dedicated more than 20 years of her life to Mothers Against Drunk Driving. Since her son’s death, Pat and her husband park their RV near checkpoints and take care of the men and women in blue.

"We have sandwiches from Chops, cookies and drinks of all sorts: water, cold drinks, so they can stay hydrated in this hot weather," said Pat.

The Taylors goal is solidarity and the strength to influence change. 
 
"There should be more testing done I think," Pat said. "They should spend more time in jail. Something that cost them something, not just a slap on the hand."

The couple wants everyone to start making better decisions before getting behind the wheel.
     
"Everybody should do that because you can’t get a loved one back," said Pat. "They don’t come back. Everyone should do that; that’s all we’re asking."