Inderkum High program spotlights the stiff penalties for Driving Drunk

--- Published on January 20th 2016 ---
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While most of Inderkum High School looked on, Krushnell Singh pleaded no contest before Superior Court Judge Michael G. Bowman Friday (Jan. 15) and learned precisely how stiff the penalty is for a first-time drunken driving offense:

  • More than $2,000 in fines and penalties

  • Two days in jail custody, with one of them spent in a work program

  • Complete a three-month first-offender DUI class

  • Informal probation for three years

  • Installation of an interlock device in his car

For Singh, 24, it could have been much worse: The maximum fine for a first-time DUI is six months in jail and a $10,000 fine. Toss in the cost of a defense attorney, plus loss to reputation, plus cloud on future employment and, clearly, drunken driving is not taken lightly by courts even when no crash or injury occurs.

Inderkum’s Friday Night Live Club hosted today’s sentencing of a real drunken driver by a real judge as part of “DUI Court in Schools,” made possible through grant funding from the California Office of Traffic Safety. Hundreds of Inderkum sophomores, juniors and seniors packed the Tiger gym to watch.

The goal was to make students think about the potential consequences before they drink, drive, and potentially endanger themselves and others. Flyers for the event said that someone in the United States is injured every 90 seconds in a drunken driving crash, and that drunk driving costs the nation $132 billion per year.

Singh was arrested Dec. 14 on Highway 99 near Mack Road when officers spotted him driving 80 to 90mph shortly after midnight. He exhibited signs of intoxication and failed a series of field sobriety tests. His breath sampled revealed a blood alcohol content of .13, well above the legal limit of 0.08.

After Friday’s court proceeding, Singh told students that his 20-year-old cousin had been a tragic victim of drunken driving about eight years ago. He talked about how easy it is to climb behind the wheel impaired, after drinking, when you’re not thinking straight.

“When you’re drinking, you’re so loose that you don’t think about safety,” Singh said.

Students had plenty of questions for Judge Bowman, prosecutor Brian Morgan, defense attorney Richard Dudek, California Highway Patrol Officer Robert Smith, and program Director Angela Kellogg:

  • After getting caught for drunken driving, how long do you have to wait until you can drive again?

  • Wasn’t Singh’s sentence a little harsh?

  • Are there differences in consequences between age groups?

  • Do programs like this really work?

Melanie, 17, Inderkum Friday Night Live president, said that students already know that driving impaired is dangerous, but Friday’s presentation will make them acutely aware of the consequences.  Will the 90-minute assembly impact students? If it changes even one teen’s drinking or driving habits, it’s absolutely worth presenting, she said.

“I know a lot about drinking and driving – and I wasn’t going to do it in my life,” said Carrington, 15.

Adrian, 17, vowed not to drink and drive. If he ever were impaired, he said, “I’d call a friend or my parents. I’d rather take the consequences with my parents than take a life.”

“At the end of the day, people are going to do what they’re going to do,” said Anthony, 16. “But I hope (the program) has an impact.”

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