Williams News Logo
Grand Canyon News Logo

Trusted local news leader for Williams AZ and the Grand Canyon

Program challenges youth not to drink

Preventing kids from endangering themselves by drinking and driving is what the Challenge program is all about, said John Cardani, Williams police chief.

“Our challenge to you is don’t drink and drive,” he said to a group of juniors and seniors at Williams High School on Thursday, two days before the prom. “If you find you’ve made a bad decision (to drink), don’t compound that bad decision by getting behind the wheel.”

In the past, the time between prom and graduation is a deadly period for teens.

“Since the inception of the Challenge program we have had zero alcohol-related accidents or fatalities between the prom and graduation,” Cardani said.

The program started in 1987 in Flagstaff with Citizens Against Substance Abuse, northern Arizona law enforcement, insurance companies, the judicial system and emergency medical personnel all working together to educate teens. Williams started its program nine years ago.

“We believe the benefits of the Challenge program have played a significant role in reducing these accidents,” Cardani said.

The Challenge program is twofold. The first challenge is not to drink. The second challenge is not to drive or get into a car with someone who has been drinking. Cardani said if students do drink, the right decision is to call parents for a ride.

The program started out with a graphic video, which included pictures of teens who had died in alcohol-related crashes, all from the Flagstaff area.

Williams High School principal Mike Fleishman told the students his firsthand experience.

“I’ve been a teacher since 1976 and I average one fatality a year,” he said. “I don’t like to bury a student a year.

“Most of the students (who died) went out Saturday night and had too much to drink.”

A teen’s death is hardest on the family, Cardani said.

“One of the worst parts of my job is notification of the family,” he said.

It’s the people left behind who suffer, Cardani said.

Death is just one of the things that can happen to a person who’s been drinking and driving, said paramedic Dora Ratzlaff.

“It’s not always if you die,” she said. “Nine times out of 10 you’re maimed, crippled or disabled — think about that the next time you drive. People kill. Speed kills.”

Williams magistrate Bill Sutton said even the first offense is costly.

“Fines can be up to $2,500, six months in jail, five years probation,” he said. “One night in jail is mandatory.

“The second DUI (driving under the influence) is 90 days that can be reduced to 30.”

Sutton said when he first started his job, nine and a half years ago, he didn’t understand the effects alcohol has on people.

“Families are being destroyed, marriages are being destroyed, lives are being destroyed,” he said. “I sometimes see it on a daily basis.”

Sutton drove home the reason for the Challenge program.

“We’re here because we care,” he said. “Never get into a car with someone who’s been drinking or get into a car if you’ve been drinking.”

During the program, officer Mike Russell, who also works as the school resource and Drug and Alcohol Resistance Awareness officer, held a mock arrest of student Donya Hasiak. Russell had Hasiak perform some of the tests used by police to see if people are under the influence of alcohol. Then Hasiak was sent before judge Sutton. Any person under age 21 can get arrested if they have been consuming alcohol. After the legal issues were discussed, increases in insurance rates were next.

Farmers Insurance Group agent Randy Broderick said the easy way to figure out what your insurance rates will be after a DUI is to take the amount they pay now and multiply it by seven.

“That’s if the insurance company will continue to carry you,” he said. “It’s really financially devastating.”

This increase will last at least five years and parents’ insurance rates will probably increase also, Broderick said.

The DUI will also follow you, Cardani said.

“If you want to do something with your life, you can’t get a DUI,” he said. “There are a lot of things you can’t do with a DUI on your record.”

Becoming an airline pilot or getting a military clearance after joining the Armed Forces, are two things that people with DUIs can’t do.

Fleishman said the most important part of the program is for students to always remember the Challenge.

“It’s a message that goes beyond this weekend,” he said.


Donate Report a Typo Contact