Teens attend anti-DWI summit

About 250 teens from around the state ranging in age from 14 and 18 attended a daylong summit Tuesday designed to prevent teens from driving drunk.

The summit at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Albuquerque was organized by Mothers Against Drunk Driving.

The teens are from all types of backgrounds, some are student leaders, and others are at-risk teens.

They listened to victims of drunken driving crashes and other speakers who talked about the dangers of underage drinking and drinking and driving.

MADD reached out to the teens because they said the younger someone starts drinking, it’s more likely they’ll be hooked later in life. The New Mexico Department of Transportation said many youth take their first sips of alcohol at the age of 12.

There was also a board filled with pictures of victims of DWI crashes on display.

MADD hopes the kids take something away from the summit they can share with their friends.

“I think that's one solution, peer to peer communication, instead of us adults telling kids what to do, if it comes from peers,” Hector Martinez with MADD said. “I think it can make a difference.”

“You're 16, you're fresh in high school, partying is a thing. If you don't learn the true consequences of drinking and driving and drinking alone, it can hurt you in the long run and I think learning early will help us out,” student Vanessa Gonzales said.

In New Mexico it is also a felony to buy or give alcohol to someone under 21.