Breathalyzer Tests for Nyack Students on Tuesday's Board Agenda

Nyack school officials are considering a groundbreaking new policy: administering breathalyzer tests to students -- and their guests -- suspected of being drunk at school or during school events.

The discussion has drawn a lot of attention from the media.

Here’s how the policy they’re considering adopting starts:

The Board of Education is committed to preventing alcohol abuse and educating our students about the dangers of alcohol abuse and underage drinking. As part of its efforts to do so, the Board of Education authorizes the use of breathalyzers during school-sponsored events, on or off school grounds, and during the school day as an acceptable deterrent to the use, consumption, possession, sale or distribution of alcohol by students. The use of breathalyzers in the District shall be guided by this Policy and is authorized when there is reasonable suspicion that a student and/or his/her guest(s) are in possession or under the influence of alcohol.

The determination of reasonable suspicion will be based on, but not limited to, any one or more of the following indicators:

• Red, watery, glassy or bloodshot eyes;

• Odor of alcohol on breath, clothing or person;

• Slurred speech;

• Inability to follow instructions/directions;

• Failure to comprehend questions;

• Impaired motor skills;

• Being combative, argumentative or inordinately jovial while talking;

• Lack of awareness in regard to time and place;

• Vomiting and/or other illness;

• Admissions;

• Reliable statements made by a third party(ies);

• Presence of products containing alcohol; and/or

• Other observations generally associated with being under the influence of alcohol.

Students and their parents/guardians will be notified via annual policy notices, newsletters and event permission forms, specific advertisements and/or tickets that breathalyzers may be used at school and school-sponsored events. Students and their parents/guardians will also be notified that students and their guest(s) will be denied entry to and/or removed from school or school-sponsored events in the event that they are found to have consumed and/or possessed alcohol and that additional disciplinary action may be taken by the District in accordance with the Code of Conduct.

Read the entire draft policy here.

Students told news outlets that it wouldn’t curb teen drinking.

“I just think that the attendance at some of the games are going to decline due to this,” student Justin Marraccino told ABC7.

“People won’t care if they get caught. I think it’s useless,” Khadar Smith told CBSNew York.

The meeting is scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m. in the Hilltop Administration Building, 17A Dickinson Ave., Nyack.