Eloquently put by the individual who experienced personal loss - "My cousin, Justin Diaz, was killed on 02/26/2025 by a drunk and high driver. The driver, remarkably an FDNY firefighter, had his bail set at $50,000 but was released by paying only $5,000. He now enjoys the comfort of his home, as my cousin rests in a coffin. Due to bail reform, remanding individuals is no longer at the discretion of Judges."

This heartbreaking narrative affirms the need to examine and modify the current bail reform laws. License, insurance, and lives are at risk when intoxicated individuals take the road. In the US, nearly 29 people lose their lives to drunk driving daily - that's one person every 50 minutes (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 2017).

Given these alarming statistics and the harrowing reality faced by innocent victims, it becomes an urgent necessity to change bail laws to incorporate stricter norms. Specifically, for cases involving DUIs, potentially putting public life at risk, bail amounts should reflect the severity of the crime and not be undercut by unaccommodating bail reform policies.

A reassessment of these laws – to make them more just, fair, and primarily to safeguard the public against repeated offenders – is of paramount importance. It is a plea for justice for the victims whose voices have been silenced; it is a call to action to protect potential victims from a similar fate.

Let's make sure that these tragic events serve as a wake-up call for our society to take concrete action. Stand with us in our call for reforming bail laws. Please, sign this petition now.