This week marks the 24th anniversary of the death of Navy Ensign John R. Elliott of Egg Harbor Township, NJ, who was killed by a drunk driver while driving home for his mother’s birthday celebration early on the morning of July 22, 2000. He had graduated just two months earlier from the United States Naval Academy and was planning to enter Naval Flight School in the fall.
In his memory, New Jersey enacted John’s Law in the summer of 2001, which requires police to impound the cars of those arrested for DUI for 12 hours. The legislation closed the loophole that allowed the drunk driver who killed Ensign Elliott to continue driving three hours after he was arrested by police, then released to a friend who put him back behind the wheel while still intoxicated. The NJ State Police estimate 30,000 cars of DUI suspects are impounded annually under John’s Law.
The John R. Elliott HERO Campaign, established by his family and friends, has prevented drunk driving in a number of states by promoting the use of safe and responsible designated drivers in partnership with schools and colleges, police departments, bar and tavern owners, and NFL and Major League Baseball stadiums.
In 2017, the section of U.S. Route 40 in Salem County where Elliott was killed was renamed the John R. Elliott Memorial Highway. N.J. legislation to name the new connector between I-295 and Route 42 in Camden County in memory of Ensign Elliott passed both houses of the legislature in May and is now awaiting the signature of Governor Murphy.
The HERO Campaign also is sponsoring the “HEROtini Challenge,” a non-alcoholic mocktail competition this summer between 27 bars, restaurants and casinos at the Jersey Shore. The public will be able to donate and vote for their favorite mocktail through Labor Day at www.herotini.org. Donations benefit the HERO Campaign and its mission to promote responsibility and designated driving.
Bill Elliott, the father of Ensign Elliott, said the HEROtini® competition was his wife’s creation to promote and recognize designated drivers who don’t drink alcohol while providing safe rides home for their friends and families. “They’re the real ‘Life of the Party’ and the cure for drunk driving,” noted Muriel Elliott, John’s mother.
On July 6, the Cape May Police Department became the 26th in New Jersey to unveil its HERO Patrol car, a Tahoe SUV wrapped with the HERO Campaign’s navy blue and gold symbol and message: Be a HERO. Be a Designated Driver. The cruiser will be a rolling reminder to residents and visitors to always have a safe and sober designated driver whenever they consume alcoholic beverages.
