DISTRICT GIVES TEST FOR TEEN DRINKING BREATH-ALCOHOL ANALYZERS USED.

Byline: Kathleen Sweeney Staff Writer

SANTA CLARITA - Some high school students are being asked to take a deep breath and blow, after administrators bought Breathalyzers in a crackdown on teen drinking on campus and at dances and football games.

So far, the tests have been administered a few times at each of the four campuses in the William S. Hart Union High School District, but administrators didn't have the results.

``Not just in Santa Clarita, but all over, alcohol abuse by teen-agers is on the rise,'' said Michael Allmandinger, the district's administrator of student services. The alcohol-detection instrument is available for use during high school activities.

The school district used $2,000 in special federal funding to buy four Breathalyzers.

Students suspected of drinking are given two options, Allmandinger said. They can take the test to prove they haven't been drinking or, if they refuse, be suspended for up to five days.

Teens are deemed to have passed the sobriety test if the level registers 0.022 or below. Students who register 0.023 or above are automatically suspended, Allmandinger said.

Administrators said they contact the parents of all students tested and, when appropriate, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department is called. It's up to that agency to take action.

American Civil Liberties Union officials said these tests are intrusive and violate students' privacy rights.

``There are real problems with this,'' said Elizabeth Schroeder, ACLU associate director.

While there are no excuses for underage drinking, breath analyzers often malfunction because they are improperly calibrated or administered incorrectly, Schroeder said. These tests, she said, are not different from those given to drunk drivers, and those often are thrown out of court because of inaccuracies.

``The consequences are grave,'' Schroeder said. ``Schools should not be in the business of administering these kinds of tests on school grounds.''

But Allmandinger said using the breath analyzer is simple, that he read the directions that came with the device and trained the schools' assistant principals, who taught the procedure to other staff members.

Although the Breathalyzers have been in use since the beginning of the school year, many students haven't yet heard about the crackdown. Some said they support use of the test, but others called the new practice an infringement on their Fourth Amendment guarantee against search and seizure.

``As a kid, you have certain rights and responsibilities,'' said Nick Beardsley, a 15-year-old sophomore at Valencia High. ``You have rights to do whatever. They are infringing on those rights.''

Abbi Stanton, a 16-year-old junior at Hart High School, said she won't be affected by the testing because she doesn't drink alcohol - but that there are plenty of students who do.

``I think they deserve to get caught,'' said Abbi's mother, Ellen Stanton.

District administrator Allmandinger said this test is another tool to deter students from drinking alcohol, especially at extracurricular activities.

The district's policy calls for students with alcohol on their breath to be approached privately by a faculty or staff member and given their options, Allmandinger said. Students who agree to take the test are required to sign a waiver.

``We often run into a situation where we believe we smell alcohol on a student's breath,'' he said. ``And they say, No, I haven't been drinking. With this breath analyzer we give them the opportunity to prove it.''