December 30, 2010

Ethel M. Burnett
Victim-Witness Coordinator
Office of the State’s Attorney for Montgomery County

VIA ELECTRONIC MAIL: ethel.burnett@montgomerycountymd.gov

RE: Stanton Miller Case, Community Impact Statement

Dear Ms. Burnett:

I write on behalf of the Washington Area Bicyclist Association (WABA) in an effort to express the
profound importance to the cycling community of the sentence to be handed down to the driver, Quinzy
Fraser, who killed the cyclist, Stan Miller, on Ridge Road in June of this year. Mr. Miller was a capable
and experienced cyclist accustomed to riding safely in traffic. And the roadway where he was struck is
clear, with broad, paved shoulders and excellent visibility.

There is no explanation for Mr. Miller’s death aside from actions of Mr. Fraser, whose drunken and
reckless driving exhibits a disregard for consequences. And as we now know, those consequences
include the taking of another man’s life.

By law, cyclists have a right to use the roadways of Maryland and the region. But unlike the automobile
drivers with whom we share the roadways, cyclists receive no significant measure of protection from
our vehicles. We may wear helmets or reflective items—as Stan Miller did—but those will not truly
protect us when assailed by a motor vehicle of such greater mass and speed. There is no protection a
cyclist can assume, no tactic he can employ, no lesson he can draw upon, when a driver is so impaired
and lacking control of his vehicle that it can veer outside its bounds and strike its victim with such force
that the cyclist’s body is propelled fifty feet away—only stopped by the presence of the fence where his
memorial now stands.

Such a situation could have a chilling effect on the willingness of cyclists to ride, and the willingness of
newcomers to begin biking. But we ask that the Court do its part in counteracting and overcoming that
potential chilling effect by instead sending a contrary message to those who use the roads under its
authority. We ask not only that Mr. Fraser be held accountable for his reprehensible disregard for the
consequences of his actions, but also that a message be sent to all drivers who will choose whether to
drive while impaired or distracted. We need drivers to know that disregarding the life-threatening
consequences of their actions upon others will bring serious, life-altering consequences upon
themselves. And in that way, the law can help to proactively protect our roadways’ vulnerable users in a
way that no helmet or reflector can.
In short, we ask that the Court sentence Mr. Fraser in a manner that fully accounts for the gravity of Mr.
Fraser’s actions, as well as the significance of its own message to all of us—cyclist, pedestrian, and
driver--who attempt to behave responsibly and who put ourselves at risk everyday on these same
roadways.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Shane Farthing

Executive Director