RID Citizen Action Network

Empowering and Connecting with Victims

What inspired Doris Aiken to start RID (Remove Intoxicated Drivers) the first grass roots, Anti-DWI organization in America? It was the news of two dead sibling teenagers killed by a drunk driver in her home town of Schenectady, NY.

The victims, Timothy and Karen Morris were the same ages (19 and 17) as her own children. She couldn’t fathom the loss which their mother, Bonnie Morris was dealt. Aiken was angry when she called the district attorney on behalf of Ms. Morris. But she really hit the roof when the district attorney told Aiken to “mind her own business. That phone call was the genesis of RID.

When Doris Aiken held her first RID meeting at the SchenectadyUnitarianChurch, the response of victims was overwhelming. Aiken recognized the power victims’ had with their stories of loss without receiving justice. Aiken, who has never been a victim of drunk driving herself, has led RID with the idea of empowering the victim. She was responsible for helping get the first victim impact statements in New YorkState to be read at sentencing of the defendant. Her most active chapter leaders were victims of drunk driving. Aiken has been quick to put the focus on their stories as the catalyst driving legislation and changing the attitudes toward drunk driving.

RID-CAN is the latest plan of attack to empower the victims of drunk driving by providing victims with the contact information needed to pursue justice. Each county has a Judge, District Attorney, Court Clerk, Police Chief and in some states a stop-dwi coordinator. Through RID-CAN, victims can be informed as to who they should call and what role these different officials have in relation to their case.