LAKE COUNTY ? Team DUI would like to wish all of Lake County a happy and safe New Year”s holiday.
The team has been busy informing youth and residents of the region of the consequences of drinking and driving throughout the year and would like to remind motorists this New Year”s Eve to designate a driver if they plan to drink alcohol.
“New Year”s Eve celebrations traditionally include the consumption of alcohol. Team DUI is committed to reducing the DUI-related incidents and fatalities in Lake County and urges the public to drink responsibly and designate a driver if they must consume alcohol this New Year”s Eve,” Judy Thein, Team DUI founder said.
Thein said that the team enjoyed a full-schedule in 2008 delivering its message to thousands of students throughout the county. “We hope that our youth will remember the important message that Team DUI has brought to them in 2008 and will continue to keep in mind that the decisions they make will affect them and others for the rest of their lives,” Thein said.
Team DUI is an outreach program designed to help people understand the consequences of the decisions they make. The team promotes prevention through education. “Team DUI has been in existence for approximately one year and has already had a major impact on the lives of people in Lake County, changing the way they think regarding the responsibility of being accountable when they chose to drink,” Thein said. “Our goal is to educate people on the dangers of driving while intoxicated with our focus aimed on underage drinking prevention.”
Team DUI delivers its valuable message to students throughout the county. Team speakers share with students first-hand accounts of alcohol-related experiences in effort to illustrate the consequences of drinking and driving. “We share personal, emotional stories that allow our youth to understand that the decisions they make now will affect them for the rest of their lives,” Thein said.
New Year”s Eve will be a maximum enforcement period for the California Highway Patrol. All available officers will be on duty looking out for DUI drivers. “I hope everybody takes the advice of Team DUI to designate a driver and if you”re going to drink, do so responsibly,” CHP Officer and Team DUI member Adam Garcia said. “It is our goal for everybody to make it home safely when the holiday season is over.”
Team DUI will is looking forward to the new year with new incentives and invocative ideas ahead. Anyone wishing to join Team DUI, or for further information, contact Thein at 994-8201, ext. 155.
Contact Denise Rockenstein at drockenstein@clearlakeobserver.com or call her directly at 994-6444, ext. 11.
