County Intoxicated Driver Resource Center Partners With Local Schools

Lacey Township resident Peter Curatolo heads the Ocean County Intoxicated Driver Resource Center, which provides a mandatory program for people convicted of alcohol-related traffic offenses. During the program, offenders attend alcohol and highway safety education courses and are evaluated for drug and alcohol problems to determine if they need treatment.

Curatolo told the Lacey Township Municipal Alliance Monday night that it is a great program but only a limited number of people can benefit from it.

"People are evaluated and get a sympathetic ear but they had to be arrested to attend the class," said Curatolo. "So I said let's go out into schools and dovetail with the Municipal Alliances."

The result was Project DRY, or Driving Responsible Youth, started just three months ago. Since then, Curatolo has taken part in Project Crash at Lacey Township High School and spoken to high school seniors in Toms River and Brick. 

During his program, Curatolo talks about what happens to young drivers convicted of Driving Under the Influence (DUI). They will be fined, their auto insurance rates will double and the DUI will likely follow them into adulthood.

"When you see something written about you make it good things, not DUI's," he said, telling students that it is a competitive world in which prospective employers and colleges can easily find out about DUI convictions. 

In 2010, of the 1,638 clients who went through the county's Intoxicated Driver Resource Center Program, 131 were under 21 years of age, according to statistics compiled by the New Jersey Department of Human Services.

Curatolo said Project DRY is available to all schools in Ocean County by request during the school year.

"Schools like what I do — it doesn't cost them anything," said Curatolo. "It's a pleasure to talk to you because I don't want to ever have you come in to talk to me."

One of the major components of his program is a piece on texting while driving.

"It's becoming a public health nightmare," said Curatolo. "Technology isn't your friend and this is why — when you send that text, it leaves an electronic footprint.  It's now being put down as causal of accidents."

He said the goal is to get those with alcohol problems treatment and education, not punishment. He repeated a familiar theme with the Municipal Alliance, the parents are the key.

"If more parents knew about social hosting laws," said Curatolo, citing there are parents who allow underage drinking on their property thinking if they don't let the young people drive home, they are safe. "You can blow a .08 the next morning depending on your weight, how much you ate, when you stopped drinking."

Curatolo said Project DRY hopefully will provide many benefits to students in the county.

"You don't have to be arrested or convicted; it's taking the program out of a government venue and into the classroom," he said. "I just want to keep our kids safe."

To learn more about the Intoxicated Driver Resource Center, visit the Health Department's website.