| Leticia and the others were here to offer young
party goers a cool, hip and safe place to ring in the new year. They also were alerting
teens that police will be out at the border in full force on New Year’s Eve. "Thousands of under 21 year olds are expected to head south of the
border to celebrate the new year if the cops let them," said Craig Levitt, a San
Diego State University student. He is also active with MADD’s Youth in Action.
"Alcohol related traffic crashes kill more people between 16 and 24 than any other
single cause," he added. "We support these enforcement efforts by police because
it really will save lives."
"If you are under 18 don’t even try it," said San
Diego Police Southern Division Lieutenant Vince Villalvazo "Operation Safe Crossing,
a multi-agency law enforcement initiative will be in full force that night checking IDs
and turning back underage party goers," he added.
As part of Operation Safe Crossing, police will arrest drunk
drivers. "So if you are drinking and driving expect to spend the night in jail and
spend over $6,000 in attorney fees and other related costs," said Villalvazo.
"Police will enforce California’s Zero Tolerance law which means that if you are
under 21 and driving with any alcohol in your system you will loose your license,
on-the-spot, for up to a year. Less than one beer will put a drinker over the .01 legal
limit for someone under 21," he added.
Local teens have a better idea- ring in the New Year at ICE
JAM-5! "Hundreds of young people won’t be heading south," said Sean Bentz, ICE
JAM-5 Event Director and a San Diego State University student. "Instead, they
will party with us at the ICEOPLEX in Escondido. We’ll be dancing to music provided
by Cabana Boy Jeff, one of the hottest Djs from Channel 93.3 who is one of the event
sponsors. We’ll also climb the Velcro Wall, skid the Gigantic Slide and munch on
Little Caesars Pizza and Pepsi until 1:00 a.m.," he added.
"Most of us under 21 are really just
looking for somewhere cool to go dancing on New Year’s Eve," said Dynasty
Salter, a junior at El Cajon Valley High School. "Last year’s ICE JAM attracted
over 1,300 young people. This year we expect even more! We want everyone to know that they
can party without all the risks involved in using alcohol".
"In addition to alcohol-related car crashes, teen
drinking-regardless of where it occurs-is a primary contributor of other public health
problems and crimes of violence, date rapes, unwanted pregnancy and transmission of HIV
and other STDs (sexually transmitted diseases)," says James Baker, Executive Director
of the Institute for Health Advocacy. Baker and other community health advocates have long
supported law enforcement as one component necessary in reducing the incidence of teen
drinking. Other strategies implemented throughout the county to reduce teen drinking
include responsible service practices, educating parent and teen about the dangers of
alcohol and community zoning ordinances.
According to the San Diego Union, last
year a swarm of more than 9,000 New Year’s Eve revelers returning to the US from
Tijuana (many bandaged, bleeding and passed out) gave the appearance of "a war
zone". "The attraction - the legal drinking age in Mexico is 18 rather than 21
in California," said Lieutenant Villalvazo. "This year young adults together
with law enforcement are taking the necessary steps to prevent it from happening
again," he added.
This non-profit and alcohol-free party is
sponsored by a variety of youth groups, public health and education officials, as well as
corporate sponsors. They include: United Youth of the World; San Diego County Office of
Education, Friday Night Live/Club Live Programs, KSWB5/SanDiego 69; Channel 933; ICEOPLEX;
PEPSI; Little Caesars Pizza; Dino Jump; Communities Against Substance Abuse; Apex Music;
Police Athletic League; Prevention Coalition; and Youth Leadership Council. |