Huntington Beach Independent Newspaper

Thursday, February 5 th , 2004

Quote: "Our service began last May and we are proud to report that since we began, we have transported more than 600 folks safely home."

Anthony Panzica, founder and managing director of Scooterpatrol Inc.

Night riders

Scooterpatrol offers motorists an alternative to drinking and driving

Caption: Anthony Panzica travels along Pacific Coast Highway as he demonstrates how he would return from transporting a drunk driver home.

By Mike Sciacca

It was Super Bowl Sunday and Anthony Panzica and Chris Gassler had their game plan ready. While revelers partied at private homes and bars throughout the area in celebration of the Super Bowl, the country's most watched sporting event, Panzica and Gassler were busy going over last minute details. It was an incredibly busy day." Said Panzica, founder and managing director of Scooterpatrol Inc,. a local, community based service that transports impaired motorists home in their own vehicles free of charge, following a night of partying. "We worked from morning to late at night. We had our game faces on, that's for sure," he said. The grass-roots, non-profit organization is in full swing seven days a week, 365 days a year, Panzica said. It is funded by a variety of sponsors, including Kanvas By Katin, Roman Cucina restaurant in Sunset Beach and many local companies that sell scooter apparel.

Scooterpatrol attended to eight local private house parties as well as local bars and restaurants on Sunday.

Panzica and Gassler were the only two Scooterpatrol employees on duty Sunday and the duo worked from 10am to 11pm.

That 11 hour shift was topped only by a 3pm to 4am on New Years Eve, as the busiest shift the service has undertaken.

"We had 15 appointments that were prearranged pick ups for those attending Super Bowl parties on Sunday." Panzica said. "These people were responsible in knowing that they would be out drinking and would need assistance home, following the game."

"Our service began last May and we are proud to report that since we began, we have transported 600 folks safely home," the 37 year old said. Scooterpatrol serves Huntington Beach , Huntington Harbour , Sunset Beach , Surfside Colony, Seal Beach , Fountain Valley and Long Beach .

"I thought Anthony came up with a great idea and I'm glad to be part of the team." Said Gassler, 22, an original volunteer driver for Scooterpatrol. "We maintain a professional appearance in helping the community. This is getting a heck of a response and it's definitely rewarding."

The company's five volunteer drivers, who get around on red Goped's, work within a 20- mile radius of Sunset Beach and travel throughout Huntington Beach , including up and down Main St .

The service will be offered in Newport beginning next summer, Panzica said.

Scooterpatrol drivers are put through a driver training program called "Scooter Tech," an extensive driver training program designed to teach all aspects of transporting people safely while brushing up on community and public relations skills.

Volunteers communicate through walkie talkie cell phones, Panzica said.

When Scooterpatrol receives a call seeking service, a driver is dispatched by Goped to the location and arrives "within 20 minutes," Panzica said.

Scooterpatrol picks up the impaired driver, stows the scooter in the trunk of the car and drives that person home safely in their own car.

Appointments are encouraged to be made in advance, Panzica said.

"I once met up with Anthony and he told me about the service, and it just made such good sense," said Bill Sebring of Sunset Beach , who has used Scooterpatrol. "I think it's better suited for a ride home than a taxi or designated driver, because the services delivers both you and your car to the same place, safely.

"I think they offer a great service, which is free. Anthony has been very magnanimous with it."

Scooterpatrol gave it's first "lift home" to a patron leaving King Neptune's in Sunset Beach last May, Panzica said.

Panzica first came up with the idea of establishing Scooterpatrol during a conversation with a friend and storeowner in Sunset Beach .

"People can get to the drinking establishments just fine but it's after they have a few drinks, or a pitcher, they still need to get home," Panzica said. "We tossed around the idea of how to pick up people in such situations. We thought about using a bike, even a tow truck. Neither seemed practical, really. A friend of mine owns a scooter shop in the area and I thought a scooter would be the perfect vehicle for this service." Panzica said he feels that there is still a significant problem in society with drinking and driving.

"We do not encourage anyone to use our service in order to facilitate a night of drinking." Panzica said. "Actually, we encourage the opposite. We founded Scooterpatrol because a significant problem already existed. It is not our goal to make this problem worse by promoting the abuse of alcohol. We care a lot about people, and that's why we offer this service."

Mike Sciacca covers sports and features. He can be reached at 714-965-7171 or by e-mail at michael.sciacca@latimes.com