HIGHLANDS RANCH - When Grier Laughlin, a 37-year-old husband and father of three young children, was killed in a head-on collision, a lot of people in the community could do little but mourn his loss.
On Feb. 20, 2011, Laughlin's SUV was hit by a car driven by Odean Wheetley, an 89-year-old woman, who was going the wrong way on E-470. Both Laughlin and Wheetley died in the crash.
Within days of the accident, a 13-year-old girl decided something needed to be done. Avery Sweeney started researching laws regarding the licensing of senior drivers in other states. What she found was some states have laws that require drivers over the age of 75 to take eye exams and road tests when renewing their driver's license.
Sweeney set out to change Colorado's law.
Currently, drivers over the age of 65 have to renew their driver's license in person at a Colorado motor vehicle office. If a Motor Vehicle Department employee observes an older person having a difficult time while approaching the counter, they can require the individual get clearance from their physician before issuing the license.
In addition, if a family member, doctor or law enforcement officer is concerned about an older person's ability to operate a vehicle, they can report them to the Department of Motor Vehicle.
The Department of Motor Vehicles will then require the individual to get clearance from a doctor before re-issuing a license.
Sweeney is hoping to see the Colorado legislature adopt a law similar to one on the books in Illinois. It would require individuals over the age of 75 to renew their driver's license every five years. In addition, those individuals would be required to take a vision and road test.
Dubbed Grier's Law, Sweeney has been contacting Colorado representatives and senators in hopes of finding a sponsor for the bill. While a handful of legislators did return Sweeney's calls, none are willing to sponsor the bill at this time.
The bill does have the support of Laughlin's family.
"It is important if it can help one person and keep one person safe, the elderly as well as other people," Karen Laughlin, Grier's widow, said. "I think nobody wants to hurt somebody else like that and sometimes we need other people to step in and help us make better choices."
9NEWS contacted Morie Pierce, state director for AARP, for reaction to the proposed law. Pierce says it is the policy of AARP to not comment on proposals until the organization can review the language of the bill.
Sweeney says if Grier's Law does not find a sponsor in this legislative session, she will try again in the future.
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