A new program will let San Diego-area teenagers see firsthand what happens when a resident is arrested for driving under the influence.
The San Diego Police Department’s Traffic Division has launched the Teen Alcohol Awareness Program (T.A.A.P.) in an effort to reach out to teen drivers before they start driving and show them the potential consequences of driving impaired.
The class will start at the Traffic Division on Aero Drive at 9 p.m., where parents and their teens will gather for approximately an hour and a half of classroom time. After, the parents will be asked to leave.
The teenagers will be taken to a working DUI checkpoint and will watch all elements of the checkpoint, from first contact to driver’s evaluation to arrest.
After that, teens will head back to the station for a short debriefing. Parents will pick up their kids at 1:30 a.m.
The first class took place on Aug. 25. The program will hold additional dates on Saturday, Dec. 19, Saturday, Jan. 1 and Saturday, Feb. 20. All classes will start at 9 p.m. Availability is on a first-come, first-serve basis and classroom size is limited.
To sign up, email Traffic Division Community Relations Officer Mark McCullough at mmccullough@pd.sandiego.gov or call the Community Relations Office at (858) 495-7822.
