Schools Ask Hotels, Motels to Deny Rooms to Students

Alarmed by reports of drug and alcohol use at parties held in rented rooms, parents and school officials of Camarillo and Rio Mesa high schools have sent letters to the managers of 24 Ventura County hotels and motels asking them to deny rooms to students on prom night, May 2.

“We are trying to prevent any tragedies,” said Sue Eastman, president of the Camarillo High School Parent Teacher Student Assn.

The owners of 14 limousine companies in Ventura County have also been asked by letter to prevent the use of drugs or alcohol by students who are driven to and from the prom, Eastman said.

Camarillo High School Principal Donald Bathgate said this is the first time that the two schools have taken any action to prevent students from using drugs or alcohol away from the site of the prom.

“The concern is that young people who are too young to purchase alcohol will be at a place where alcohol is served,” Bathgate said.

Students who are caught either in possession of or under the influence of drugs or alcohol during school dances are turned over to parents or police, Bathgate said.

Although Bathgate said there were no specific cases of his students renting hotel or motel rooms that he was aware of, several Ventura County lodging managers said the problem is a growing one. And although they said they routinely deny rooms to persons under 18, it is sometimes difficult to prevent the practice.

“We have in the past had high-school age kids stay in rooms after someone over 21 rented the room for them,” said Ron Ensley, manager of the Las Posas Plaza Motel in Camarillo and the Best Western Camarillo Inn. “It’s pretty tough to combat that.”

Last fall, Ensley said, a group of “adult-looking” high school students rented several rooms at the Las Posas motel for homecoming. After midnight Ensley had to call police because of complaints about noise from other guests and the students were sent home, he said.

“Now, if there is any question regarding age, we will ask for identification,” Ensley said.

But not all parents are happy with the new plan, said PTSA President Eastman.

“A couple of parents have said that they would rather know where their children were going to be because they’re going to party anyway,” Eastman said. “But my reaction is that drinking for anyone under the age of 21 is illegal.”