[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 148 (2002), Part 11]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 15227]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                               JOHN'S LAW

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. FRANK A. LoBIONDO

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, July 26, 2002

  Mr. LoBIONDO. Mr. Speaker, this week marks the second anniversary of 
the tragic death of one of my constituents. U.S. Navy Ensign John 
Elliott, who had just received his commission to Naval Flight School in 
Pensacola, Florida, was struck and killed by a drunk driver on July 22, 
2000. The accident instantly killed Elliott and seriously injured his 
passenger, Kristen Hohenwarter.
  Sadly, it was later discovered that Michael Pangle, the driver 
responsible for Elliott's death, had been arrested for drunken driving 
earlier that evening. Having called for a ride, he was picked up by a 
friend and returned to his car. Elliott was on his way home for his 
mother's birthday party when he crossed paths with Pangle and both were 
killed.
  Two years after that tragic accident, John's parents continue the 
fight to save other families from the grief they have endured. Lobbying 
the New Jersey State Legislature, the Elliotts saw to fruition the 
drafting, passage and ultimate enactment of John's Law. The law ensures 
that individuals who pick up an arrested driver sign a document 
accepting custody. Additionally, it gives State Police the 
authorization to impound the automobile of an arrested driver for up to 
12 hours.
  Today, I am introducing a resolution expressing the sense of the 
House that funding should be made available from the Highway Trust Fund 
to encourage all states to enact legislation to require law enforcement 
officers to impound motor vehicles of those charged with driving while 
intoxicated and to issue responsibility warnings to those who take 
custody of suspects driving while intoxicated. We are making important 
strides to eliminate the senseless deaths caused by the lethal mix of 
alcohol and automobiles. Annual deaths from drinking and driving have 
decreased from approximately 28,000 in 1980 to 16,068 in 2000. In 1982, 
57 percent of all traffic fatalities were alcohol-related. In 2000, 
that percentage fell to 38 percent. However, much work remains to be 
done. Each death is a preventable one and I am sure this resolution 
will go a long way in ensuring deaths like Ensign Elliott's are 
prevented and families are saved from the pain the Elliotts and other 
families across the nation have endured.
  I urge my colleagues in the House to support this resolution.

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