Occasionally in the past, Red & White — the tux-and-long-dress, girl-ask-boy dance for Westport, Weston, Wilton and Fairfield seniors — has made headlines for less than chivalrous reasons. There’s been drinking, fights — the usual formal dance stuff.
The County Assembly board — sponsors of the charity ball — cracked down. Everyone is now breathalyzed both arriving and departing. All outerwear is coat-checked — purses too.
Well, last night there was another major problem.
But this one did not involve high school students. This time, it was bus and limo companies’ turn to behave badly.
According to an email from the County Assembly board, sent this morning to all parents of attendees, the state Department of Transportation was “anonymously notified about our event.” They arrived at the Stamford Marriott with Stamford police, and began checking buses and limos.
A number were out-of-state vehicles, without a license to operate in Connecticut. They were allowed to drop dance-goers off, but that was it. The drivers were “detained,” and their buses and limos towed.
Talk about a buzzkill!
Each company was supposed to provide alternate (and legal) transportation home for the riders, but that wasn’t happening.
The board “encourages” parents to demand refunds of the miscreant bus and limo companies.
“They should never have accepted this job and left many of your children stranded and upset,” the email continued.
A number of parents jumped into cars to pick up their teenagers. I am sure that is the last thing they — parents and kids — wanted. I am also sure it is the first thing this year’s Red and White-goers will remember — years from now — about last night.
Tonight is the County Assembly — a similar dance, at the same hotel, for junior girls and their dates.
Added to the checklist — tux? dress? boutonniere? corsage? after-party? — is this one:
Legal driver?