Mom honors son by leaving gifts to those who choose not to drive intoxicated (exclusive)

On March 11, 2023, the night of her son’s 21th birthday, Beth McBride’s world was crushed.

Bobby Dewbre had just finished with friends and crossed the street to catch a sober travel home when He was beaten and killed by a drunken driver.

In the aftermath of the tragedy, McBride, 57, could barely meet the outside world and spent almost six weeks limited to his home, consumed by grief.

Every day, her daughter, Carli Seymour, 28, made to be by her side and offered silent comfort through the darkest moments.

An early morning, when Seymour drove to meet her mother, she passed a local bar and noticed several cars left overnight.

“I thought about pulling over and writing with my finger on the windshield,” Thank you for not drinking and driving, “Seymour tells exclusively.

Instead, she called McBride and said, “Mom, I wish there was a way to thank people for not driving home drunk.”

Her words lit a spark inside the mourning mother, and a new purpose began to take shape. Together, they began to brainstorm in the hope of turning their pain into something meaningful.

It was Seymour who suggested that a cup of coffee can be a simple but kind gesture for someone who returned to pick up their car the next day.

“Since working in a cafe at that time, I wondered if the owner can be willing to donate coffee cards so we could leave people with a free cup of coffee and a small memorial to my brother,” she says.

At that moment, a movement was born – one who would honor Dewbre’s memory and encourage safer choices for others.

McBride and Seymour founded a non -profit Montana Bar Fairies “Dedicated to preventing intoxicated driving, supporting mourning families and advocating for stronger DUI laws.”

Since January 1, 2024, voluntary silent has carried out heartfelt assignments every weekend in cities over Montana. “You never know where it will be,” says McBride. “It’s a fun surprise!”

Just before the sunrise, two volunteers took on reflective vests and walk through bar parking places and nearby streets and looked for cars left overnight.

In areas like Central Avenue in Whitefish, Mont., Where late at night is limited, a parked car often signals that someone made the responsible choice not to drive intoxicated.

The team set out with a goal to leave $ 20, 5 coffee gift cards on the vehicle’s windshields – small tokens that admit the choice not to run under the influence.

“We don’t always know who belongs to whom, but it doesn’t matter. We spread awareness and positivity anyway,” shares McBride.

“We have got employees to tell us the card, but they were not out last night. But they will keep it paying to a friend or bar protector. I love it!”

Each card carries the face of a local person who died of drunken driving. Even when landing in a stranger’s hands, it has the power to get someone to stop, think and remember.

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What started as a small weekend effort in Montana has now grown far beyond state lines and expanded to Minnesota and Washington.

Thanks to a dedicated team of volunteers, board members and local board members who lead efforts in their own communities, the assignment has taken their own lives.

“Everyone works full -time on their regular jobs and it has been an absolute love work,” says Seymour. “It has been completely wild and so unexpectedly the amount of growth that has occurred over the past six months.”

The answer has been overwhelmingly positively, with a number of people who admit that they no longer drink and drive after getting a card.

“I didn’t think when we went into this that it would do a lot. It turns out, a little positive reinforcement – a gold star for adults – is a great incentive for people they really join,” explains Seymour.

“It not only encourages safer choices, but also keeps memories from the victims, such as Bobby, alive. To mourn families, it gives purpose and hope. For our communities, it is a reminder that it is a reminder that it is not a real impact!”

According to ForbesMontana leads the nation in DUI-related fatal accidents from January 2025, with over 40% of fatal accidents involving alcohol.

A significant portion of these incidents is caused by repeated DUI criminals, which highlights a persistent and dangerous pattern on the state’s roads.

“My son was killed by a drunken driver with a blood alcohol level (BAC) at .20,” McBride reveals. “But since Montana does not recognize a high alcohol content in blood which in itself was negligent, the driver was only charged and convicted of two wrongdoing: worsened DUI and carelessness which resulted in bodily injury or death.”

The driver was found guilty on both bills and received the maximum penalty of 18 months in the county. He was released in April 2025.

“I told the county lawyer that it was ridiculous to drive with such high BAC does not matter and I would change it. He said” good luck ” -he has tried. The Montana legislator does not support stronger DUI laws,” says McBride.

However, it was not a good enough reason for a heart -broken mother not to try. McBride contacted his representative, submitted a legislative letter and “Bobby’s law” was born.

In June 2025, Montana -Governor Greg Gianforte came to Kalispell, Mont., For the ceremonial signing of House Bill 267, now known as “Bobby’s team.”

Born from tragedy and is run by Montana Bar Fairie’s decision, the law creates a new crime: aggravated vehicle murder under influence.

It is aimed at drivers with a blood alcohol level above .16 or those already under judicial DUI restrictions that take a life behind the steering wheel.

According to “Bobby’s law”, criminals now meet up to 30 years in prison, with a minimum penalty of three years.

“We now have a law that gives justice to the victims’ families when drunk drivers kill someone when they are drunk like a skunk,” says McBride.

After introducing new DUI legislation earlier this year, MCBRIDE quickly learned that real changes require three important elements: a strong deterrent system, consistent enforcement of the courts and, most importantly, community support.

“The bar’s elves are not only a cute little non -profit that makes people happy; we make a real difference,” emphasizes McBride.

“We will be here as long as we have volunteers to help and the donations that come in to buy the cards. If the communities continue to support, we will continue to thank them.”