Yates holds victim impact panel

Yates holds victim impact panel

Penn Yan--The Yates County STOP DWI Program sponsored its annual spring Yates County Drunk/Impaired Driving Victim Impact Panel (VIP), Wednesday, April 24 at the County Office Building auditorium. Yates County does two panels a year and this was recognized as the 22nd session since the program originated.
Sheriff Ron Spike, who chairs the Task Force VIP said, "Our mission is to have driving under the influence by alcohol or drug offenders understand the human factor of victimization that impaired driving can cause others affected by a related crash and how lives, families and friends are forever altered by a bad choice to drink or take illegal drugs and then drive a motor vehicle." All courts in the county in sentencing offenders make attending the panel a condition of the sentence as required by the state Vehicle and Traffic law.
Over 55 court ordered offenders attended along with several guests including Legislator Carlie Chilson. All appeared for check-in, magnetometer screening and breath testing by Sheriff's deputies, court security, and Penn Yan Police Officers before the panel commenced. Yates County Probation Officers were also present for registration and assistance, including Director Sharon Dawes at reception. Court Officer Derek Christensen assisted with audiovisual equipment. Penn Yan Police Chief Thomas Dunham issued the rules for the session and provided security. The STOP programs VIP Coordinator Linda Wright organized the event. Spike served as emcee and opening remarks were from District Attorney Todd Castella, on consequences and creating victims. Also attending was a representative from FLACRA for support and brochures.
The evening's panel speaker was Sarah Palermo from Monroe County. Palermo shared how her 26-year-old daughter Lindsay was killed in 2003 in Rochester when the car she was operating was struck from the rear by a drunk driver traveling at a high speed who left the scene on foot and was later arrested for vehicular homicide.
The attendees then completed an evaluation form and received a certificate of attendance for their submission to the courts for verification that they attended as ordered.
"If we can change attitudes then good choices can be made as the consequences otherwise can be deadly," said Wright in concluding the event.