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Folsom High students see first-hand consequences of drunk driving
“All rise. The DUI Court is now in session.”
These are not the words you would expect in a high school gym. But earlier this year, Folsom High School’s juniors and seniors participated as audience members to an actual drunk driving court hearing.
This DUI court was no reenactment or rehearsal; the live “mobile” court room set up in Folsom High’s gym gave teens a first-hand look at the consequences of drunk driving and taught valuable lessons about making responsible decisions, protecting their own lives and the lives of others.
Students of Folsom High’s Bulldogs Reaching Out (BRO) club, an anti-drug and anti-alcohol coalition, collaborated with the Traffic Safety Awareness Program to bring the powerful event to campus. Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
“It’s a really innovative program,” said Abby Mixson, a sophomore BRO member.
During the hearing, a young, anonymous defendant was sentenced - including a heavy fine and other penalties – in front of the students.
Afterward, the defendant captivated students in the hushed audience as he talked about his regrets, the consequences that weighed on him, and his commitment to a more responsible lifestyle. Students were even given the unique chance to ask questions directly to the defendant. He received an enthusiastic round of applause for his candor.
To conclude the event, a father who lost his son to a drunk driving collision shared his story.
“Think about how that one decision could change your life. We thought it would never hit us. But it does.” he said.
The gravity of the experience followed students as they exited the auditorium and continued sparking discussions among each other.