WHAT A CRAZY WEEK

[FarmDogMamma]

Graduation is over, kids are bailed out of jail, I made the plane on time, and got the car from Las Vegas delivered in one piece to South Dakota, nephew got married Saturday, and I was finally able to return home last night.
I did have a few highlights tho on my drive from Las Vegas to SD, I had never been through Utah, or the Rockies, and all I can say is WOW!!! what a beautiful drive.
Hoping this week will be better than last, and that attorneys will have good news, (making a long story short, group of kids having a bonfire, people over 21 showed up with beer, total of 21 people hauled to jail, altho most were not drinking, and could have proved it but cops would not give them a breath-alizer, (asked for it but they were denied) cuffed and stuffed and hauled to jail)
apparently in Nebraska, you have no rights, and that you are Guilty by association. Anyway after talking with over 10 parents, we have decided to see if we can do something about this, as we feel that someone needs to stand up for these kids. We went to the site and found 7 empty beer cans, and 3 Mt Dew bottles. So we are wondering how 21 people over 18, and 5 under the age of 18 could have been drinking.
OK, I feel a little better now that I have ranted and raved a bit, Thanks for listening!!

[Oldtimer]

FarmDogMomma-- Montana had that "guilt by association" law for underage drinkers and for drug possession- no showing of intent or proof of knowledge....Created a can of worms for enforcement involving defining boundaries of association- and created some innocent people suffering...

Finally came to a head when one legislator, with the assistance of the AG, took an ounce of cocaine out his pocket one day and sat it in on his desk during regular session- at which toward the end of the day, he brought attention to it and informed his colleagues that they had all been "in association" with it all day- so therefore were all guilty of felony drug possession of more than an ounce of cocaine Didn't take them long to rewrite the laws and go back to a more standard definition of possession.....

[FarmDogMamma]

With the laws the way they are now, I EVEN HATE TO SAY THIS, but the kids are better off smoking weed or snort'in coke, the punishment is way less for that than a little bit of beer. My 17 yr old (who was not drinking) is charged with contributing to the delinquincy of a minor, (he did not even have any alcohol to contribute) but because the party was held in a cornfield at our place, he contributed the place to have the beer. My 18 yr old (who also was not drinking) who also lives here and just graduated that day, we are still waiting to see what the charges are. apparently we wont know that untill the day of court. After this is all said and done, my kids want to move back to SD, and I cant say as I blame them. Atleast there, you are innocent untill proven guilty.

[EastTexasGal]

We have the same problems here in Texas. It does not matter if your child was doing anything, if they talked to the ones that caused the problem and broke the law, they are GUILTY, and from what the officer told me. THERE IS NO GUILT BY ASSOCIATION anymore...its YOU ARE GUILTY IF YOU ARE THERE PERIOD! Alcohol is treated as a drug as well as cigerettes here. You get the same charges if you have a pack of ciggeretts and under the age of 18 as if you have marijuana. Minors get a MIP, and have to take the special classess etc to get out of it. I do not agree on how they treet our youth. And, the police officers here wonder why the kids run and will not talk to the police officers. I also found out, no matter if you are innocent or not, NEVER TALK TO A OFFICER without a lawyer present. THEY CAN LIE and CONIVE information anyway that they like, in which twists your words. I am a trusting person, and I was raised that the law was your friend, if you are innocent it works for you!! bulllll...anyway I agree and I am still furious as well here with how my son was treated in the past.

Ohhh, not sure about anywhere else. But, here we have the little gossip paper, if they are charged with anything at all!! Their names go in the paper, or should say WE because it is anyone!! In a small town that becomes labeling even when the kid is innocent, it will look as if they are guilty.

Okay now my ranting is over...lol.

Easty

[Denny]

My daughter got busted for underage consumption the police were very nice and just made the parents come get them.She was locked in a holding cell until her Mom got her.It scared her straight.But I know my daughter was drinking and I'm not blind to that fact.

I was a kid once and I know what we did then so this does'nt surprise me.

[EastTexasGal]

I am the same Denny, I know my son is not innocent. But, the way they treat them no matter what, is wrong. I always tried to keep an open mind where my sons were concerned, and listened to all sides and the on watchers when they were in school. LOL, my boys were typical boys and I am very proud to say my oldest has graduated from college, and now if the youngest will make up his mind what he is going to do..MOM would be so greatful.

Easty

[Northern Rancher]

I hope mine don't try and harrow the ground I plowed-drinking isn't as big a deal up here as it was when I was a kid. There's alot more kids don't drink at all and alot more are pretty responsible about it. The tougher laws are definately helping out in that respect-they just used to tell us to go straight home-fer sure ostifer. The grads up here are by invite only and everybody goes to a chaperoned party-the kids still drink but they try and not let anybody drive drunk-I'll know more next year when my first one graduates.

[jigs]

the liability is what is the scary part. if there is a party on your land, and someone gets hurt or killed leaving it, they can come back onto you!

I had a party back in my wilder days, and the cops told me I would be charged with every underage person they caught. Lucky for me, the 80 people who were there was some pretty sneaky dudes....no one was caught, they all ran two miles to the lake, and were hauled home by guys who were camping there....but the 35 cars in my front yard were a bit of a different story..... 3 in the morning, the cops ran the tags, and called parents out toget the cars..... many upset parents banged on my door that night.....I just layed in bed hoping the cops were out there to protect me! being 19 at the time, my folks were not real impressed with te situation.....and it NEVER happened again!

with my oldest in JR high, I start thinking about the beer I drank in High school, and I am one nervous wreck, but if they get hauled off the jail, that will be the least of thier problems!

[katrina]

Oh boy......... I know I shouldn't even post on this one but here it goes..
In 2000. My hubbies brother and his wife had a party for the graduation class. There was 21 kegs of beer bought by a kid who was old enough. Supposedly the keys were taken and the nesxt morning the parents were called before the kids left. On the way back to Winner a van full of kids rolled and one kid was killed....The driver was procecuted and put in jail. And a plea bargain was done that hubby's sisterinlaw did jail time...The driver and relatives were sued twice. They got off on the fact that they didn't know the party was going to happen. although they set up the stereo speakers the day before and that it just wasn't there fault..
It has been very hard on the family. Yet Winner is still throwing beer parties... Nothing learned by the kids loss.
We hope that our son never partakes in any of the keggers. When he is an adult, if he wants to drink alcohol then as an adult he can. We also have instructed him that if he is at a place where the atmosphere is not to his likeing. Beer or drugs, sex.... anything....Just leave....Don't be associated with those types. Hopefully our son has enough other hobbies, and activities to keep him busy. To much time on kids hands can lead to really bad choices... Okay enough said.... I'm off my soapbox and I wish everyone success with parenting in todays world.

[ranchwife]

I remember having "keggers" in the hills around my little hometown and as a teen, you really think nothing of the dangers associated with being so very unsupervised!! Scary to think of how many times each of us risked our lives for a few drinks!!
Our high school just graduated 28 bright and wonderful kids and the parents of one of the students had a similar party at their place for the graduates.....however, many more than just the graduates showed up!! The parents in charge took keys and had a large fenced "pen" with a padlocked gate where all the vehicles were stored....none of the kids were allowed to leave til the next morning after they had served breakfast...many adults were there to make sure that none of the kids tried to "sneak" out!! Luckily, none did and all made it home safely the next morning!! Not all the parents agreed with having the party, but kids are gonna party, regardless, on graduation night so ya might as well try and keep them safe!!
Katrina, I am so sorry for the loss you and your family and friends have endured!! Prayers with the families!!

[Mrs.Greg]

We just had Grad here on Friday,the party is called safe grad,the kids get picked up by a bus,dropped off at party chaparoned by parents,leave party by bus and an adult has to pick them up and sign out! I truly believe young people are better behaved then we were{thank-goodness},and more responsible,it is the grad class that arranges this party not the parents.The R.C.M.P knows this party is happening and supports it!!

[theHiredMansWife]

I've known of several parties where Mom and Dad hosted it on their place, but did the whole take-the-keys thing.

The problem people often forget is that when kids are drinking, they frequently don't realize how much they've had and how fast it will hit them. Driving is not the only problem. They can also have alcohol poisoning without even going anywhere.

Either way, the adults who own the place are first and foremost liable. Secondary are the children of.
So far as I know, that's basic policy in any state.
And the only way to ensure no alcohol (or anything else) shows up univited is to chaperone.