High School To Start Random Breathalyzer Tests

CBS 13
Dec. 29, 2006

Los Gatos High School plans to join a growing number of high schools that perform random breath alcohol tests on students at dances and other events.

Principal Doug Ramezane said he would institute the new policy after winter break because several students were found to be under the influence of alcohol at football games, the school's Coronation Ball and even during class this year.

"It isn't OK that any of these kids are doing it," Ramezane said. "It probably isn't going to eliminate the problem completely, but we want to minimize alcohol and drug use."

Although Los Gatos High has had a Breathalyzer alcohol detector available at school dances for several years, campus officials have only used it when they suspected a particular student was drunk. In the future, students will be tested at random, he said.

Los Gatos police are training teachers on how to identify the use of alcohol or drugs in school and have contacted teen groups on campus about participating in an upcoming meeting in January, said Los Gatos-Monte Sereno Police Chief Scott Seaman.