In January 1999, three families who incurred the consequences of red light runners founded The Red Means Stop Coalition. RMSC founding families, Hinds, Marquis and Philippi came together in late 1998 to begin forming the Coalition, dedicated to their children, Jennifer Hinds, Sam Marquis and Krystal Philippi.

On March 16, 1997, seventeen year old Jennifer Hinds died as a result of her injuries suffered in an automobile crash six days earlier. On April 25, 1998, Sam Marquis and Krystal Philippi were seriously injured in an automobile crash while on their way to Krystal's high school prom.

Red Light runners caused both incidents leaving Jennifer, Sam and Krystal as innocent victims. Jennifer and Krystal both suffered traumatic brain injuries, common in these kinds of side impact crashes. While Jennifer did not survive, Krystal, who remained in a coma for nearly 10 weeks, has battled back and is recovering. Sam has also recovered.

The Red Means Stop Coalition is the only known grassroots organization of its kind in the United States. Our long-term goal is to have the message about the dangers and consequences of red light running spread throughout the country until red light running is significantly reduced everywhere.

If a driver runs a red light which results in a crash causing serious physical injury to another person, the driver is subject to a civil penalty of up to $500, must attend and successfully complete approved drivers training and educational sessions and may have their license suspended for 90 days.

If a driver runs a red light which results in a crash causing the death of another person the driver is subject to a civil penalty of up to $1,000, must attend and successfully complete approved drivers training and educational sessions and may have their license suspended for 180 days.

* ARS 28-672 was amended by the legislature in 2001, adding a provision for the court to impose community service as an additional penalty.

This law was amended again in 2006 changing the civil penalty to a class 3 misdemeanor - which is criminal. The court can now impose jail time instead of the $500 or $1000 fines. The amended law also allows for restitution to victims of up to $10,000.

Representatives of the Red Means Stop Coaliton have been featured on numerous national televison programs, including the NBC Nightly News, ABC World News Tonight, Good Morning America, Fox News Live, CNN News, MSNBC and appeared in a 30 minute documentary on CNBC. Feature stories have appeared in Phoenix Magazine, Family Circle and Ladies Home Journal. In April 2004, Senator John McCain acknowledged the work of Red Means Stop with a presentation in his Washington, DC office.

Sen John McCain & Frank Hinds

Frank Hinds, Governor Jane Dee Hull
and Phoenix Mayor Skip Rimza