Anti-underage drinking advocate charged with providing teen party spot before DWI crash

[The Straight Story]

Anti-underage drinking advocate charged with providing teen party spot before DWI crash


KINNELON — A borough man who serves on a committee aimed at strengthening local anti-underage drinking laws allegedly provided teens with a place to drink last week, right before a teenager got into a DWI crash, authorities said.

Mark Gaw, 55, was charged with a disorderly persons offense after a 17-year-old crashed a 1996 Acura into a tree on Twin Lakes Drive around midnight last Friday, said Kinnelon police Lt. John Schwartz. The boy, who was returning to the house after having dropped off two girls, told police he had been drinking at Gaw's residence with other teens.

The 17-year-old, who was alone in the car at the time of the crash, was not hurt. He was charged with driving while intoxicated, underage possession and consumption of alcohol and several motor vehicle violations, Schwartz said.

Gaw is a member of a volunteer committee, consisting of residents appointed by the borough's council, that is researching ways to create a new law that would authorize police to enforce underage drinking laws on private property, Schwartz said. The lieutenant added that residents have become increasingly concerned about such behavior among high school students.

http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2012/02/anti-underage_drinking_advocat.html

[saras]

1. The WHOLE POINT of providing a party spot is so they DON'T DRIVE. Stupid, stupid, and stupid.

And since in many cases there isn't any LAW against drinking on private property, I wonder exactly what they have to enforce.

He hit a tree, nothing happened to him, and they're throwing the book at him. Obviously something is up besides the story.

[Angry Dragon]

2. Your logic escapes me

[Ruby the Liberal]

3. Did you read the article or just the headline?

1. Adult is heading up strengthening laws against underage drinking, and at the same time, facilitating underage drinking.

2. Adult heading up said laws did not stop underage drinker from driving once he left adult's underage drinking 'facility'.

3. Adult did not hit a tree, underage drinker hit a tree.

4. "Nothing happened to" underage drinker - other than the fact that he crashed a car. Apparently you have never had to insure a teenage driver on your auto policy. Shit hurts ALL of us and this was unnecessary and never needed to happen.

5. They are "throwing the book" (as you say) at the Adult enabler noted in items 1 and 2 and referenced in item 3.

Yes, there are always more sides to the story, but it helps if you comment as to the facts as published and keep the color commentary to facts suspected or not (yet) in evidence or questions on the story as written as opposed to shit you just pulled out of thin air?

[riderinthestorm]

4. +1. Fact remains, it's illegal to drink until you're 21. It's illegal to drive drunk.

Bottom line: if you provide underage teens with alcohol, and then allow them to drive, you will face consequences. I agree with that actually.

[HopeHoops]

6. I've allowed my 20 year old to have wine on special occasions. She's in Budapest now - 18 is of age

Then again, she doesn't actually LIKE wine (or any other form of alcohol - she's in college, it's easy to come by). Either way, she wouldn't be driving anywhere. The biggest risk would be going up the stairs.

[riderinthestorm]

7. Oh I hear you, I did the same for my older girl... I actually AM Irish and its 18 there too.

Its funny you mention that your daughter doesn't like alcohol, neither does mine. She went to school in the UK and had easy access to it, and never drank (she's 24 now)

[TheWraith]

5. Um... there are indeed laws against underage drinking on private property.

I'm not sure where you get the idea otherwise.