Police Actions Causing Teens to Drive Drunk

* As a senior at Mission Viejo High School, I am concerned with the problem of drinking and driving among teen-agers.

I am publicity chairman of Safe Rides for our school, but no matter how hard we stress to call the 800 number for a “Sober Ride Home,” it just doesn’t seem to work. Teen-agers are still driving after they have consumed alcohol.

I feel this problem is caused in part by the police of our city.

It would be ignorant to deny that teens aren’t drinking at parties, but at least they are all safe and in one specific place. I don’t think that the police understand what harm they are causing when they come to break up these parties.

The officers are rarely civil and they storm into the neighborhood forcing a number of people to drive drunk. Yes, police force kids to drive drunk! They will not let you wait for a ride or even stay in the house to call Safe Rides.

Every teen-ager in the area must leave as fast as they can before an officer stops to yell at them.

Many times the cars that pass them are filled with kids that have been drinking-- including the driver! Is it worth their time to crack down on parties and teen-age drinking if they are going to ignore the ones that drink and drive?

At least before the police came the teens were relatively safe and not out driving, causing an even bigger threat. I know that I don’t feel comfortable driving after a party has been broken up knowing that the driver of the car next to me has been drinking.

We need to solve this problem quickly before someone gets killed in a drinking-and-driving accident.

Unfortunately, I can’t offer solutions, just that the police should take this fact into serious consideration. I don’t want to see any of my friends die.

STEPHANIE ZAMBUKOS

Mission Viejo