A drunk-driving crash that took the life of San Mateo 19-year-old Brett Studebaker may lead to a statewide crackdown on underage drinking aboard party buses. Studebaker was killed while trying to drive home after attending the 21st birthday party of a friend back in February; his blood alcohol level was 0.23, three times the legal limit.
Studebaker's family has pushed Assemblyman Jerry Hill (D-San Mateo) to propose a new law that would further penalize limousine companies and drivers for allowing underage drinking. The family has also filed suit against Hobo Limousine, the party bus operator, for breaking their own rules in allowing Brett to drink and drive. They say that party buses operate under a loophole in the law that underage drinkers take advantage of.
“Party buses, booze cruises, they’re deadly for our kids,” says Doug Studebaker, Brett's dad.
We just hope that the legislation also addresses idiotic screaming while aboard party trolleys that roll through San Francisco, as if no one had ever done this before and as if such screaming were going to convince us that being on this party trolley is the awesomest thing ever, and not the torture it appears to be.