On March 11, 2023, the night of her son’s 21st birthday, Beth McBride’s world was shattered.
Bobby Dewbre had just finished celebrating with friends and was crossing the street to catch a sober ride home when he was struck and killed by a drunk driver.
In the aftermath of the tragedy, McBride, 57, could barely face the outside world, spending nearly six weeks confined to her home, consumed by grief.
Each day, her daughter, Carli Seymour, 28, made the drive to be by her side, offering quiet comfort through the darkest moments.
One early morning, as Seymour was driving to see her mother, she passed a local bar and noticed several cars left overnight.
“I thought about pulling over and writing with my finger on their windshield, ‘Thank you for not drinking and driving,’” Seymour tells PEOPLE 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 grieving mother, and a new purpose began to take shape. Together, they started brainstorming, hoping to turn their pain into something meaningful.
It was Seymour who suggested that a cup of coffee might be a simple but kind gesture for someone returning to pick up their car the next day.
“Since I worked at a coffee shop at the time, I wondered if the owner might 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 that would honor Dewbre’s memory and encourage safer choices for others.
McBride and Seymour founded a nonprofit called Montana Bar Fairies “dedicated to preventing drunk driving, supporting grieving families, and advocating for stronger DUI laws.”
Since Jan. 1, 2024, volunteers have quietly carried out heartfelt missions each weekend in towns across Montana. “You never know where it will be,” McBride says. “It’s a fun surprise!”
Just before sunrise, two volunteers put on reflective vests and stroll through bar parking lots and nearby streets, looking for cars left overnight.
In areas like Central Avenue in Whitefish, Mont., where late-night parking is restricted, a parked car often signals that someone made the responsible choice not to drive drunk.
The team set out with a goal of leaving 20, $5 coffee gift cards on vehicle windshields – small tokens recognizing the choice not to drive under the influence.
“We don’t always know whose car belongs to who, but it doesn’t matter. We are spreading awareness and positivity anyway,” McBride shares.
“We’ve had employees tell us thanks for the card, but they weren’t out last night. However, they will keep it to pay forward to a friend or bar patron. I love that!”
Each card carries the face of a local person who died from drunk driving. Even when it lands in the hands of a stranger, it has the power to make someone stop, think and remember.
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
What began as a small weekend effort in Montana has now grown far beyond state lines, expanding into Missouri and Washington.
Thanks to a dedicated team of volunteers, board members and local directors leading efforts in their own communities, the mission has taken on a life of its own.
“Everybody works full time at their regular jobs and it has been an absolute labor of love,” Seymour says. “It’s been absolutely wild and so unexpected the amount of growth that has occurred in the last year and a half.”
The response has been overwhelmingly positive, with a number of people admitting they no longer drink and drive after receiving a card.
“I didn’t think when we went into this that it would do a whole lot. It turns out, a little positive reinforcement — a gold star for grownups — is a great incentive for people that they really connect with,” Seymour explains.
“It not only encourages safer choices but also keeps the memories of victims, like Bobby, alive. For grieving families, it gives purpose and hope. For our communities, it’s a reminder that choosing not to drive drunk matters. Bar Fairies feels like proof that even small, simple gestures can make a real impact!”
According to Forbes, Montana leads the nation in DUI-related fatalities as of January 2025, with over 40% of fatal crashes involving alcohol.
A significant portion of these incidents is caused by repeat DUI offenders, highlighting a persistent and dangerous pattern on the state’s roads.
“My son was killed by a drunk driver with a blood alcohol level (BAC) of .20,” McBride reveals. “But because Montana does not recognize a high blood alcohol content as inherently negligent, the driver was only charged and convicted of two misdemeanors: aggravated DUI and carelessness resulting in bodily injury or death.”
The driver was found guilty on both counts and received the maximum sentence of 18 months in county jail. He was released in April 2025.
“I told the county attorney it was ridiculous that driving with that high of BAC doesn’t matter and I was going to change that. He said ‘good luck’ — he’s tried. The Montana legislature does not support stronger DUI laws,” McBride says.
That, however, wasn’t a good enough reason for a heartbroken mother not to try. McBride contacted her representative, submitted a legislative concept 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 Law.”
Born from tragedy and driven by the Montana Bar Fairies’ determination, the law creates a new felony: aggravated vehicular homicide while under the influence.
It targets drivers with a blood alcohol level over .16 or those already under court-ordered DUI restrictions who take a life behind the wheel.
Under “Bobby’s Law,” offenders now face up to 30 years in prison, with a minimum sentence of three years.
“We now have a law that brings justice to victims’ families when drunk drivers kill someone when they are drunk as a skunk,” McBride says.
After introducing new DUI legislation earlier this year, McBride quickly learned that real change requires three key elements: a strong deterrent system, consistent enforcement by the courts and, most importantly, community support.
“The Bar Fairies isn’t just a cute little non-profit that makes people happy; we are making a real difference,” McBride emphasizes.
“We will be here as long as we have volunteers to help and the donations coming in to buy the cards. If the communities continue to support, we will continue to thank them.”
