Bill would keep minors doing community service away from highways

SIOBHAN McDONOUGH

Monday, March 5, 2001 | 4:33 a.m.

CARSON CITY - The father of one of the six teen-agers killed last March when hit by a car while doing community service work along a freeway pleaded Monday with Nevada legislators to ensure such tragedies aren't repeated.

Scott Garner Sr., who lost his 14-year-old son in the crash, urged the Assembly Judiciary Committee to back a bill that would bar teen-agers from working along highways or other dangerous areas.

Garner also scolded agencies and supervisors in charge of juveniles doing community service in southern Nevada for not notifying him about where his son was working or getting his consent.

"I feel like I've been robbed," Garner said, choking back tears. "They should let parents know exactly where their child is going to be and have parent sign something. Also, parents should be involved."

"We had no idea our children were placed out there. We signed no paperwork."

AB27, the bill by Assembly Speaker Richard Perkins that would stop such community service, is "fair to those children, so that they didn't just die in vain out there," Garner said.

"This is a measure born of a tragedy in Las Vegas," Perkins, D-Henderson, said in discussing the bill and the March 19, 2000, accident caused when Jessica Williams drifted off Interstate 15 and hit the teen-agers who were picking up trash in the median.

Williams, a 21-year-old former stripper, was found guilty of having drugs in her system at the time. She admitted smoking marijuana two hours before the crash.

"The government told them to be there. It's unconscionable for government to place our children in a dangerous situation," Perkins said, adding that the goal of AB27 is "to provide a safe environment for those who do community service."

While the idea of community service is good, Perkins said that safety measures need to be put into place, for adults and juveniles.

Judiciary Chairman Bernie Anderson, D-Sparks, said the bill would go to a committee work session and that it would be specifically aimed at protecting juveniles.

"The tragedy is not one we can measure in legislative time," he said. "Everyone needs a certain level of protection."

Perkins said in honor camp situations, in which inmates are expected to do tasks that require risks, "that's a different thing. Those are situations they go into as adults with eyes open."

"Only those who are paid to take those risks or are equipped with proper safety equipment, should be allowed to work near highways."

Assemblywoman Sharron Angle, R-Reno, said juveniles could perform worthwhile community services besides picking up trash on the highways.

"This is supposed to be an educational program, not purely punitive," she said.

"It's not a mission of humiliation. It's supposed to be an education."

Garner suggested assigning juveniles to less potentially dangerous tasks, such as picking up trash in parks, assisting the elderly by cleaning their homes, or working at libraries, soup kitchens or homeless shelters.

"I don't think children or adults are going to lose their lives (at soup kitchens) - unless the place explodes," he said.