John Marshall High School Students Learn
“Booze & Cruise, You’ll Lose”

April 1, 2008

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On Tuesday afternoon, 100 seniors at John Marshall High School gathered in the school’s auditorium to learn about the consequences of impaired driving from participants of the Booze and Cruise, You’ll Lose program. The sponsors of the program are Gold, Khourey & Turak, the West Virginia State Police, the Wheeling Nailers, and WTOV TV 9. John Marshall’s S.A.D.D. program organized the presentation.

Christopher Turak, an attorney with the law firm of Gold, Khourey & Turak and the program’s coordinator, encouraged the students to use this opportunity to ask questions. “We are not here to lecture you or to talk about statistics,” explained Turak. “Instead, we’re going to focus on the law and talk about how the law relates to certain situations you face as young adults and any answer questions you may have about driving under the influence.”

Brendan Burke, the “Voice of the Nailers,” and WTOV’s Jackie Cain, served as the emcees of the program. Burke and Cain went out into the audience with the Booze Buster Quiz searching for volunteers to answer questions about impaired driving and the law. Completing the quiz is a prerequisite for attending the program. Students who participated and answered questions correctly were awarded a Booze and Cruise, You’ll Lose t-shirt or tickets to the Wheeling Nailer’s final home game of the season. Matt Dias, one of the newest members of the Nailers, was on hand to deliver prizes to the students who participated in the discussion.

Trooper Nick Nolder, a veteran of law enforcement and a member of the West Virginia State Police, teamed with Turak to further explain each answer taken from the quiz and any follow up questions from the students. Nolder is considered an expert in D.U.I. detection and enforcement.

“Most teenagers, and most adults for that matter, don’t realize you can be arrested for D.U.I. without having a drop of alcohol or other drugs in your system. In fact, you don’t even have to be in the car,” said Turak. “If you give your keys to someone you know to be intoxicated or under the influence, you too can be charged for D.U.I. even though you may not even be near the vehicle. This is called permitting D.U.I., and the penalties are just as serious if you were pulled over for D.U.I.”

Trooper Nolder discussed the b.a.c. level and reminded students that you don’t have to be over the limit to be arrested. “Remember, the charge is driving under the influence,” said Nolder. “That means any substance, including narcotics, prescription medication, or alcohol, among other things. And if you are under the influence of any of these items, you will be arrested, and you don’t have to be over the legal limit to be arrested. Being over the limit strengthens our case, but if we determine you are a danger to yourself or to others, you will be arrested.”

After the question and answer session, Turak selected student Tommy Francis to participate in a mock D.U.I. arrest. Trooper Nolder discussed how most D.U.I. arrests occur, then took Francis through a series of field sobriety tests as he would during an actual traffic stop. With the use of Fatal Vision Goggles, Francis was able to simulate 0.10 b.a.c. level during the tests. It was obvious to the students in attendance, including Francis, that he had failed each test miserably. Trooper Nolder read Francis his rights, then handcuffed him and placed him “under arrest.”

At the conclusion of the program, student Amanda Beckett was recognized for her efforts on the Booze Buster Quiz. Beckett was presented with a t-shirt, tickets to an upcoming Wheeling Nailers game, and a game-used autographed hockey stick from the Wheeling Nailers.

The Booze and Cruise, You’ll Lose program is sponsored by the law offices of Gold, Khourey & Turak, the West Virginia State Police, WTOV 9, and the Wheeling Nailers. For more information on the program, contact the law offices of Gold, Khourey & Turak at (304) 845-9750.