Let's Sue the Limo Driver

A friend prompted me to find this link:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-teen-limo-drinking-08-oct08,0,3211527.story

Basically, a group of Highland Park (aka a wealthy, upscale suburb) teenagers were drinking in a rented limousine. The limo driver told them to stop. He called the parents, and no one responded. He then called the police. What did some parents do? They screamed and threatened lawsuits.

Yes, I know it sounds hypocritical because many parents drank before/during/after dances in high school. Aren't we supposed to learn from our mistakes and try to prevent our children from making them? Isn't that a big part of growing up and becoming a parent?

Luckily, if you read the message board after the article, most people support the limo driver. The teenagers and the parents knew the rules. (And, it's hard to argue that no drinking, no drugs, and no sex are outrageous rules, epecially for a bunch of teens.) When the teens violated the rules, there were consequences. Isn't that the way it is supposed to work?

Apparently, for some teenagers in Highland Park, their parents are more concerned about how this will look on Little Johnny's college application than for their children's safety. To me, that's just sad for both the parents and the children.