Even Pro Prom Drivers a Safety Concern

Va. Inspectors to Check Limo Licenses and Search for Open Alcohol

In his more than 15 years in the limousine business, Tony Ahmadi has laid down the law for teenagers who want to spend prom night riding in one of his stretch Cadillac Escalades or Infinity QX56's.

He makes a parent of every passenger sign a consent form, even if the teenager is an adult. He cautions the kids that their prom night will be cut short if they drink or misbehave in the limo. And he directs his drivers to search any bag brought into the car for hidden bottles.

But he warns parents that not every company is so careful.

"There's a lot of Joe Schmo limo services out there," said Ahmadi, who own American Eagle Limousine, which is based in Newington and operates 40 cars in the District, Maryland, Virginia and New York. "They're not licensed properly. Their insurance has expired or their limos are not fully checked. You have to screen them pretty carefully."

The Virginia Department of Vehicles is promising to help this year, setting up spot-checks at high schools across the state on prom nights. Agents will stop limos at random in school parking lots, making sure drivers are properly licensed, cars are insured and Virginia inspection tags are up to date, DMV spokeswoman Marcia Meredith said. They also will look for open alcohol containers.

Last year, nine of the agency's 18 surprise prom-night inspections were in Northern Virginia. Meredith said at least one high school in the region is scheduled for a visit this weekend.

Some parents said that after a year in which at least 17 teenagers were killed in traffic accidents, they're looking for ways to keep their children from driving on what is known as a volatile night.

"On prom night, you're not just talking about transportation to and from the event," said Martina Boone, chairwoman of the Prince William County Parents' Executive Committee. "There are always additional locales. You'll have cell-phone calls with probably half a dozen of your friends to set that up. You're doing that, plus feeling adrenaline because it's prom night and you're excited. That's a horrible mix before you even add in the possibility of drugs and alcohol."

When Joyce Howard's son headed off to Woodbridge's C.D. Hylton High School prom last month, he asked permission to drive himself and his date in his snappy sports car. Howard said she agreed, but not before going on a dry run of the drive with her son the week before, so she could see exactly where he would be going and how long it would take. He kept in close touch on the big night, too, checking in at least five times by cell phone, she said.

Howard and other parents said that despite the cost -- well more than $1,000 for a six-hour ride -- a limo can be a good alternative to letting youths be behind the wheel, especially if the limo drivers are responsible and cars are well maintained.

There are nightmares. Last month, a Florida limousine driver was charged with driving under the influence after one of 10 prom-bound teens called his father on his cell phone to report that the car's driver was speeding through stop signs and swerving into oncoming traffic.

During last year's prom-night spot-checks in Virginia, tickets were issued to 152 of the 444 limousines inspected. Of those citations, Meredith said, 144 were issued to Northern Virginia drivers. She urged parents to be involved in helping their children choose a limousine company, even if the youths are paying for it. On its Web site, the Virginia DMV keeps a list of registered and insured companies.

Holly Chapple, a parent in Leesburg, said knowing that open alcohol containers could be caught by a random DMV inspector could "give children the sense that we're watching, that we know what's going on. It could encourage them to straighten up and fly right."

Chapple, whose son Alex will head to Loudoun County High School's prom next month, said last year's statistics suggest that the same thing is needed for drivers.

"If they were that successful in catching bad guys last year, they better keep it up," she said.