At the end of a year, it’s typical to reflect on all that transpired over the past twelve months. For members of VOID, this year we were involved in many events that show positive momentum in the effort to reduce fatalities and injuries caused by the crime of DUI.
So much of the time we interact online and many of us have never met each other face to face. In 2025, we held several events which were open to everyone in the group. It is always a highlight of ours when our VOID group gets together in person. Here’s a glimpse into what our year included:
-
VOID 1st Quarter Meeting: On January 19th, we held a meeting for our members at the Rustic Rose Barn in Guthrie. Bruce and Stephanie Temple graciously donated the use of their venue, and we had about 50 VOID members in attendance. Our focus was on the legislative session beginning in February.
-
On February 17th, we hosted our 2nd Annual DUI Victims Awareness Day at the Capitol in Oklahoma City. We stopped counting at ~ 350 attendees. This is the largest gathering of DUI victims’ families that Oklahoma has ever seen. This event helped lay the foundation for our five bills that were introduced in 2025, four of which passed and have either become law or will soon in 2026.
-
On April 6th, we held our 2nd Quarter Meeting, this time in Tulsa. Thanks to the generosity of the Tulsa County DA’s office, we were able to meet at the Tusla County Courthouse. Senator Gillespie, DA Kunzweiler and Tulsa Police Chief Larson were in attendance and spoke to our group.
-
April 29th marked our 2nd Fill the Seats Event. We met at the Capitol in OKC again and this time filled the seats of the House and Senate galleries to be introduced. This sends a direct message to every legislator that victims’ families are watching them and expecting them to pass DUI legislation to help make the streets safe. Senator Darrell Weaver and Representative Brian Hill made introductions of our VOID group, and we all stood together and were recognized. Also, in April we participated in the National Crime Victims’ Rights week and had families speak at a DUI Prevention program at Mulhall-Orlando High School.
-
During the summer of 2025, Tom Robins with Work Zone Safe, partnered with VOID to add an impaired driving emphasis to the training required by all newly licensed drivers in Oklahoma. Approximately 5000 teens every month are now learning about the dangers of impaired driving before being issued their Graduated Drivers License. This program is required by law and is available to students online. After they pass the quiz, they are issued a certificate of completion which must be provided to Service Oklahoma.
-
One of the biggest highlights of 2025 was the journey through the legislature of SB54. For more information, see the June 5th, 2025, post on this VOID Newsroom page.
-
Our summer months stayed busy with speaking/training opportunities at the OHSO Traffic Safety Summit, as well as two Sheriff’s Youth Cadet Academy presentations and a DUI panel at the ODAA Conference, where District 21 hosted 3 VOID families to share their experiences.
-
As Fall approached, VOID was given the opportunity to record Public Service Announcements that are being played by iHeart Radio. The Radio Oklahoma News Network also invited VOID to record PSA's for the Holiday season. VOID leaders and families spoke to students at Francis Tuttle, Minco HS Traffic Safety Day and at the Cleveland County Sheriff's SFST Refresher training. We also held our 3rd Quarter VOID Meeting to discuss new potential legislative ideas for next session.
-
In September, VOID members attended Mothers Against Drunk Driving's 1st Annual Law Enforcement Recognition Event at the Mayo Hotel in Tulsa. Many Law Enforcement officers were recognized for their commitment to ending DUI. Additionally, Vanessa Blain and Jeff & Kristy Murrow were awarded the Heart of MADD Award.
-
In December, VOID was invited to participate in both the Tree of Life Oklahoma City, and the Tree of Life Tulsa sponsored by the Able Commission and the Tulsa Health Department respectively. Special thanks to Vanessa Blain and Emily Brown of MADD for all the work putting them together. These events have become very special to our VOID families, and we appreciate the city leaders that continue to honor and remember our loved ones.
- Throughout this year, we continued to attend various court proceedings in support of VOID families. In all, VOID was present in 15 counties at 56 hearings, trials, and sentencings for 48 different families. There is a saying by Stephanie Sparkles that says, “I love when people who have been through hell walk out of the flames carrying buckets of water for those still consumed by the fire.” That sums up our Court Support Program very well. We appreciate Rob Scholl who leads this program and all the VOID members who have volunteered their time in support of other families enduring the additional hardship of the criminal justice system.
- DUI Checkpoints: In December, VOID took part in three DUI Checkpoints in Norman, Mustang and, on New Years Eve we were in Muskogee. Special thanks to the Cleveland County Sheriff's Office, the Norman Police Department, the Mustang Police Department, the Muskogee County Sheriff's Office, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol and the Chickasaw Lighthorse Police Department K-9 Unit. VOID members had the opportunity to share our stories with law enforcement as well as to provide them with coffee, cold drinks and snacks throughout the night. We also helped to keep track of all the vehicles that processed through the checkpoints. In all, the Impaired Driving Liaisons of the OHP conducted 8 ENDUI checkpoints in December for the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over Campaign. There were a total of 129 DUI arrests.
As the years continue to come and go, we learn how gratitude and grief can coexist. We will continue to work towards a time when our state sees a great reduction in the fatalities and injuries caused by the crime of DUI. And we will be grateful to all who share our vision and work with us to prevent these tragedies from impacting other innocent families. Here's to lives saved in 2026!