Name switch on DUI bill criticized

Wednesday, June 4, 1997 | 10:33 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- A leader in the fight for tougher drunken driving laws has sharply criticized Assembly Judiciary Committee Chairman Bernie Anderson for trying to change the name of a bill on lowering the blood alcohol test level.

Sandy Heverly, executive director of Stop DUI based in Las Vegas, sent an open letter to the Sparks Democrat complaining that he tried to remove the name of Deena Marie Rizzo of Las Vegas from Assembly Bill 416.

Rizzo was a 19-year-old Las Vegas woman killed by a drunken driver. A bill to reduce the amount of alcohol allowed from 0.10 to 0.08 has been named after Rizzo.

But Anderson, at a hearing on May 22 of his Judiciary Committee, announced the measure would now be called the "D.J. Bernardis Bill," in memory of a Reno honor student who also died in a crash caused by a drunken driver.

Heverly said Anderson now holds "the distinction of being the first state legislator in the nation to remove an innocent victim's name from a bill against the wishes of the victim's family."

Anderson had no comment on Heverly's criticism, but he appeared to back off naming the bill after Bernardis.

"You can't name a bill after a person," he said, calling it irresponsible because of the large number of people who have suffered losses to drunken drivers.

He said he got his motivation in pushing the bill from the Bernardis accident and the Rizzo family can call it what they want.

Heverly said there were proclamations and letters of appreciation in September 1994 in the fight by Deena's parents, Nick & Cecile Rizzo, for their efforts against drinking and driving.

"With the permission and participation of the Rizzo family, it was announced that all future .08 legislation within the state of Nevada would bear the name of their only daughter Deena," Heverly said.

And that name has been associated with the legislation since that time. Heverly said Anderson never discussed his decision with the Rizzo family.

She said Bernardis deserves his own bill. "But why do you want to steal from one victim to give to another," she said.

Her open letter said, "A bill that carries a victim's name does not become a used car, Mr. Anderson. They are not traded in each legislative session for a newer model i.e., 'The Brady Bill,' 'Megans Law,' 'Miranda,' 'Son of Sam,' etc."

The bill to reduce the alcohol level was referred to a subcommittee headed by Anderson.