Underage vs DUI; Emory's dilemma

[adpiucf]

Originally Posted by macallan25

Its college, give me a break. Underage kids are going to drink. Why punish them for doing the right thing and not driving.

Being in college doesn't exempt you from the law. People drink underage, yes, but having a bus that travels through town to and from the bars presents a liability for the university because the police are more likely to bust the kids on the bus, and as I mentioned earlier, there's a lawsuit waiting to happen the minute Frankie the Freshman binge drinks, hops on the bus and chokes to death on his own vomit. Mom and dad aren't going to sue Benny's Backwater Bar. They're going to go after the private university with its millions of dollars.

[macallan25]

Originally Posted by adpiucf

Being in college doesn't exempt you from the law. People drink underage, yes, but having a bus that travels through town to and from the bars presents a liability for the university because the police are more likely to bust the kids on the bus, and as I mentioned earlier, there's a lawsuit waiting to happen the minute Frankie the Freshman binge drinks, hops on the bus and chokes to death on his own vomit. Mom and dad aren't going to sue Benny's Backwater Bar. They're going to go after the private university with its millions of dollars.

As far as I know, SafeRide in Norman doesn't have anything to do with the University, and from what I recall, they won't take you straight to a bar.

Its the Bar's responsibility to control who drinks, not the University....so I can't see a lawsuit against ______ University holding up, at all.

[ISUKappa]

To my knowledge, in the 20+ years the Moonlight Express route has been in existence at Iowa State, the cops have never pulled it over and ticketed the riders on the bus. They have enough on their hands dealing with other issues. There have been fights on the bus, yes, and those people involved are dealt with by the police (if necessary) but it never turns into a free-for-all MIP/PI ticket writing session.

Also, the Moonlight Express won't drop you off at the front door of a bar or house party, but it will get you close.

[sugarplumfairy]

Originally Posted by adpiucf

Being in college doesn't exempt you from the law. People drink underage, yes, but having a bus that travels through town to and from the bars presents a liability for the university because the police are more likely to bust the kids on the bus, and as I mentioned earlier, there's a lawsuit waiting to happen the minute Frankie the Freshman binge drinks, hops on the bus and chokes to death on his own vomit. Mom and dad aren't going to sue Benny's Backwater Bar. They're going to go after the private university with its millions of dollars.

There wouldn't be any liability on the university, even if someone died on the bus. The University didn't supply the alcohol, nor sell it, neither did the SGA. That would fall on the restaurant that sold it to them.

Otherwise, as I stated previously, ever cabbie that ever picked up a drunk that anything happened to would be held liable, and that doesn't even remotely make sense.

Now, on the issue of the University's reputation getting tarnished if a busload of kids were pulled over and underage drinkers were cited? That sounds more like the REAL reason that they stopped the service.

[KDMafia]

Well if the school pays for the buses they can cancel them whenever they want. They also will have the authorization to come on them at any time and apparently breathalize the riders for any reason.

It happens at my undergrad all the time. A sober driver is pulled over for a routine traffic stop, all the passengers are breathalized and arrested..nothing happens to the driver.

There are many ways that schools will try to cut down on underage drinking, unfortunately the only way kids will not drink is if the booze is too expensive. It has been proven that the only way to cut down on use of anythign is the raise the price, it prevents people from starting or continuing. The fact is, when not faced with a sober driver option pepole will attempt to get a DD but many will not. It's sad but true and also there is is the issue of having girls walking home from the bars due to lack of a ride/common sense to call for a taxi.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by sugarplumfairy

Now, on the issue of the University's reputation getting tarnished if a busload of kids were pulled over and underage drinkers were cited? That sounds more like the REAL reason that they stopped the service.

**ding ding ding ding** thank you, we have a winner.