I am wrapping up a three year stay in Utah County this summer. I've accepted a job that takes me up to the Salt Lake area and I'm feeling really great about it!! When I moved back to Utah over three years ago--I ended up staying with my sister for 6 weeks in SLC. My kids were in Utah county with their dad and his new wife so I needed to get closer--which I did.:)) Now I'm making some choices for me and moving in a direction that I choose--which is a great milestone and I've worked hard for it!!:)
A very important story is moving to another chapter this week and I want you to know about it. My friend, Jami Godfrey, lost her daughter in a terrible accident last August. Her name is Hailie. Hailie was very well known and on the drill team for Westlake High School in Saratoga Springs. Her coach was quoted in the news when she described her: “She had a big heart and was the type of good that you wanted to be. She was always quick witted and had something to say to you.” Hailie’s boyfriend was also taken in the accident--his name is Simon. Both of these students were wonderful and loved by their family, peers and teachers.
The driver of the vehicle that struck these kids only sustained minor injuries. The truck he was driving was "lifted" and that ended up being a factor in the accident but because Utah does not have lift laws, it didn’t matter. There was a reenactment of that accident but little was found to determine cause either way--so the charges are bottom lined to a traffic ticket--failure to stay in lane is most likely.
The lifted truck was totalled but the driver of that truck, now married, has purchased a new lifted truck---which he displays on his personal Facebook page. The driver of the truck continues to live in the same town as my friend Jami and her family---so they see him around. Jami struggles through those encounters because he is still driving and will continue to do so since charges being filed do not include a removal of license or driving privileges. Just a fine.
I've spoken with Chase, the district attorney, just to wrap my head around the why's of this situation. Chase acknowledged the tragedy of a minimal fine but states that there are no other laws on the book to fit. Our state does not have drowsy driving/distracted driving laws that enforce consequences on the level of the drunk driving movement, so again--the DA applies the law that is available for this situation and its just a ticket for changing lanes.
There is an arraignment this week on May 11 and the Godfrey familiy can not accept the minimal charges. We have been told by advocates and attorneys that it may be hard to get certain convictions through the courts in Utah County. The right to a fair hearing and trial process can not be disproportionately biased in one direction.
We want the right story to be told in this situation. We are not out to attack or target an individual. We want to improve the conditions for the families who have been impacted by this tragedy by creating safer communities.
Please consider the following action items as this case moves forward:
- We want a member of the community or defendants family to encourage the removal of his Facebook banner. It is a picture of a lifted truck similar to the one that took two lives in August, 2016. This is common decency (conformity to standards of taste, propriety or quality). THANK YOU FOR THE REMOVAL!
- We want Hailie Godfrey to be honored by a proper valuation of her life. We can not agree that a minor traffic ticket is accurate. We want to pursue justice with whatever legal process is made availiable.
- We want the laws to be changed as necessary.
Gov. Gary Herbert has signed a bill into law that lowers the maximum blood alcohol limit for drivers to .05 percent from the current legal threshold of .08 percent — giving Utah the strictest drunken driving law in the nation (npr.org, 2017)
We feel that time and money spent in legislation to keep our roads safe MUST be in proportion to accidents as they occur. For example, a recent change in drowsy driving laws (SB149) is only designed to “raise awareness” about drowsy driving and does not change penalties or criminal codes. SB149 designates August as Drowsy Driving Awareness Week, but the acknowledgement of the problem should include a change in penalty. A drunk driver and a drowsy driver behind the wheel can have a similar impact on victims so we would propose an addendum to SB149 that creates a stronger penalty.
4. We want communities of empathy, kindness and understanding. Families who have experienced tragedy and loss should never be held to a “just get over it” or "be forgiving" standard for the sake of those uncomfortable with anger and grief. Families who experience tragedy need support, time, space and connectivity. We want community training programs to offer resources and venues for expressing grief. The pressure to “be okay” can indirectly encourage conformity and censorship through silence.
5. It is our hope to bring these action items together to form Hailies Law. We will work towards this goal in an effort to honor Hailie’s life. “She had a big heart and was the type of good you wanted to be.”
