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Upperclassmen attend an eye-opening assembly

Photography, video, and audio recordings were not allowed in the assembly. Photo by Kat McDermott.

A real court case was held in the big gym for upperclassmen to observe

By KAT McDERMOTT
fhspress.com Editor
Posted May 5, 2016

Foothill High hosted a court case in the big gym on April 15. Juniors and seniors attended to watch a real court case; it was not scripted.

First a spokeswoman from the court gave a short introduction to the court case. The defendant was charged for driving under the influence. She explained that the purpose of the DUI court was to show young drivers the dangers of drinking and driving. Over 10 thousand people die every year because of drinking and driving.

Student Reactions to the DUI Court:

"What they were talking about was very true, a lot of people don’t take drinking and driving seriously, and they don’t think they will caught.”
Denaeja King
Class of 2017

“I thought it was very eye opening and scary because these things happen every day. People just need to realize it’s not just their lives are put into danger while driving drunk.”
Diana Selleshi
Class of 2017

“I learned a lot during the DUI conference because people mostly drink and drive and they don’t care about the other’s life. Drinking and driving can kill you and another or maybe both. People need to understand if you’re drunk just take Uber or Lyft.”
Cheyenne Tomasso
Class of 2017

“I thought it was cool I learned a lot.”
Timmy Canale
Class of 2017

“The DUI Court was interesting because we got to interact and ask why he did what he did.”
Michael Kolosey
Class Of 2017

“The DUI Court was interesting and educational. It gave a real impression of a real DUI, which was cool. We asked question and got information we didn’t know. It was a good experience.”
Jennie Vongnlay
Class of 2017

“The DUI Court was interesting because we got to interact and ask why he did what he did.”
Michael Kolosey
Class Of 2017

“The DUI Court was long and educational. We got to experience being inside of a court by listening quietly. We then got to ask questions. It was great!”
Natalya Golub
Class Of 2017

“The video was very eye-opening.”
Anthony Eustace
FHS Staff

“I thought it was very interesting and it made me realize the magnitude of the danger of drinking and driving.”
Sean Golden
Class of 2016

“The DUI court was a great opportunity to see what happens in a real courtroom.”
Fernando Orozco
Class of 2017

“The DUI case showed me slightly how it would be in that situation.”
Jon Marich
Class of 2017

“I found the DUI court very informative, but I think it fell apart during the last 20 or 30 minutes.”
Alejandro Montes-Reyes
Class of 2017

“The information was good to know in case I or someone else gets a DUI.”
Brandon Mallory
Class of 2016

“The DUI court was very interesting and it was good to know the information that comes with an arrest due to a DUI.”
Cruz Barrera
Class of 2017

”I thought it was cool and very informational.”
Daniel Lozano
Class of 2017

“I thought it was very helpful.”
Isaac Sheemar
Class of 2017

“I thought the DUI court was interesting, I hope many students learn from the guy’s mistake and never drink and drive.”
Tania Jiménez
Class of 2017

“The DUI court was interesting and showed us that it can happen to anyone if you drink and drive.”
David Carrera
Class of 2017

“I thought it was very informative and good because it taught us the dangers of driving drunk or under anything that can make you cause an accident.”
Erick Zamora
Class of 2017

Next, a graphic video was presented on an overhead behind the judge. It was a montage of different young people having drinks and then driving. All of them either died, were severely injured or hurt, or killed other people while drinking and driving. The video shocked some students and definitely left an emotional impact.

Then, a highway patrol officer introduced himself and explained his job and why he chose it. He explained that he truly believes that whenever he removes a drunk driver from the road he is saving at least one life. The officer explained the steps he takes when he assesses a suspected drunk driver.

Finally, the court case began. Some students moved from the bleachers onto chairs on the floor for a closer view of the action. The defendant, Jim Smith, was pulled over on October 27, 2015 for a missing break light on North Watt. After being pulled over, the officer discovered that his registration had expired two years ago and Smith was obviously under the influence. Smith failed his sobriety tests and later confessed to having approximately 10 drinks before driving.

Smith was sentenced to an informal probation, to attend 12 AA meetings, to car searches with or without consent, two nights in jail, an interlock ignition device installed in his car during probation, and to join the first offender program, and $2,292.54 in fines and expenses.

After the case was closed, the judge gave his opinion on drinking while driving. According to the judge, the legal blood alcohol content of <.08 is outrageously high and it should be reduced to <.013. Next, the prosecutor gave a short lecture. In Sacramento County, there are only two prosecutors who work for the DUI office. Every year they work on over 6000 cases, all in Sacramento.

The last and most interesting part of the DUI court was the interview with the defendant and Q&A with the entire court.

“The DUI Court was long and educational. We got to experience being inside of a court by listening quietly. We then got to ask questions. It was great!” said Natalya Golub, a junior at FHS.

Smith told the students about how he was on his way to his ex-girlfriend’s house while he was drunk. Some other consequences was the increase in his insurance bill, he could lose his job, and he now has a DUI on his criminal record. Smith explained that the worst part of the entire experience was letting down his family. He has been arrested four years ago for being intoxicated in public. Ironically, Smith works as a security guard whose main job is to make sure no one drives while under the influence.

kat.mcdermott@fhspress.com

The Defendant

By TERESA GOSS
fhspress.com Staff
Posted May 5,2016

The defendant, Jim Smith, was wearing a light blue button-up shirt with tan pants. He had black hair and a short haircut. When Smith walked in he seemed very calm. Smith was pulled over because his tail light was out when he was on his way to his girlfriend's house. The police asked him if he knew that his tail light was out. He didn’t know so the police decided to do a couple sobriety tests on him. The police had found out that Mr. Smith had consumed some 16 ounce beers and his blood alcohol level was .13.

Smith had to pay many fines and because he consumed alcohol and was driving he was put into Sac county jail for 48 hours.

His insurance is going to go up and he may lose his job because he has a DUI on his criminal record. This wasn’t his first time drinking and driving. He claimed to have driven under the influence five-10 times. Smith also had been arrested because he was once drunk in public.

Smith said he won’t do it again that it was very stupid of him. So now he knows how serious and dangerous it is to drink and drive.

news@fhspress.com

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