St. Clairsville H.S. Seniors Learn,
“ Booze and Cruise, ” How You Can Lose

February 26, 2008

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On Tuesday afternoon, the Booze and Cruise, You ' ll Lose program visited with more than 120 seniors at St. Clairsville High School to discuss the legal, personal, financial, and criminal consequences of drinking and driving. Sponsors of the program are Gold, Khourey & Turak, the Wheeling Nailers, the West Virginia State Police, and WTOV TV-9.

The program began with Brendan Burke, “ the Voice of the Nailers, ” and Ahley Koe of WTOV TV 9, asking a variety of questions from the Booze Buster Quiz, a quiz the students completed weeks prior to the program. Burke and Koe would ask for volunteers, then select a student to answer a question selected from the quiz. If the student answered the question correctly, he or she was awarded a prize, such as a Booze and Cruise, You ' ll Lose t-shirt or a pair of tickets to a Nailer game. The prizes were delivered to the students by Wheeling Nailer Curtiss Patrick.

However, it didn ' t stop there. Knowing the answer is one thing, but understanding what it means is another. Gold, Khourey & Turak attorney and program coordinator, Christopher Turak, explained in detail each issue. While most students knew they had a right to not submit to a breathalyzer, few knew the consequences. Turak explained, “ When you sign your drivers license, you are agreeing to submit to a breathalyzer when pulled over on suspicion of driving under the influence. This is called ‘ implied consent. '” Turak continued, “ However, the consequence of declining to take the test is an automatic suspension of your license of 6 months in Ohio. The law is an automatic 1-year suspension in West Virginia. ”

Veteran West Virginia State Trooper, Sgt. Jason Laing, may have provided the most memorable segment of the program. With the use of “ fatal vision ” goggles, student Brian Duvall was able to simulate 0.10 intoxication, and was taken through a series of field sobriety tests by Sgt. Laing. Duvall miserable failed each test. “ These tests aren ' t designed for you to fail, ” offered Trooper Laing. “ If you haven ' t been drinking, you won ' t fail the test, it ' s as simple as that. In addition, the tests are only one small piece of the puzzle that I use to build a case against you, ” explained Laing.

At the conclusion of the program, Turak commended the students for their efforts on the Booze Buster Quiz and awarded Chasity Hoffman an autographed, game-used hockey stick from the Nailers, tickets a an upcoming Nailer game, and a Booze and Cruise, You'll Lose t-shirt. “Peer pressure would say to get in the car after drinking, or get in the car with someone who has been drinking, or maybe peer pressure would even deter someone from answering the questions on the quiz seriously,” said Turak. “Chasity didn't give into that peer pressure and we hope you won't either.”

Note: Curtiss Patrick of the Wheeling Nailers has attended every program this year, and has made more visits to high schools with the Booze and Cruise, You ' ll Lose program than any other Wheeling Nailer player since the program began in 1992. Although Patrick has been sidelined for several months with a hand injury, he is hopeful he will return to the ice within the next few weeks in an effort to help the Nailers make a push to get into the playoffs.

For more information on the Booze and Cruise, You'll Lose program, or to view photos from this program, visit www.gkt.com. For tickets to a Nailers game, call 234-GOAL.