Live OC Magazine
September, 2007

www.liveoconline.com

KEEPIN’ IT WHEEL

Scooter Patrol takes to the streets- and takes excuses away from drunk drivers

One shot, two shots, what’s someone to do. Three drinks, four drinks, you can’t handle anymore. It’s almost closing time at the bar, and somehow you need to get home. Scooter Patrol to the rescue.

Scooter Patrol is a non-profit organization that drives “you and your vehicle home safely.”

All you have to do is call Scooter Patrol and a licensed driver will meet you with his motorized Goped scooter and place it in your trunk. He will then drive your car home to your destination and take his scooter out of the trunk and simply scooter away. That’s it, no catch, you are safely home without worrying about getting a DUI, or endangering other drivers.

Anthony Panzica, founder and president, thought of the idea while talking to a friend about why DUI’s are so prevalent.

“So many people get them because they don’t want to leave their car somewhere,” he said. “We tried to think of what services out there could get their vehicle home and couldn’t think of any. That is how we stumbled upon using a motorized scooter.”

Scooter Patrol has 25 corporate sponsors. “You can’t get rid of the people drinking, so it’s great to have something to get rid of people driving,” said Glenn Hughes, owner of Katin Surf Shop, one of the main sponsors of Scooter Patrol. “It’s a great program and we wanted to get involved.”
Goped scooter executive Vice President Tim Patmont jumped at the opportunity as well. “We saw an article in the newspaper about the program and contacted him,” he said. “It’s so cool to see something we make used for a good cause, that’s the main reason we chose to be a part of it.” Currently Scooter Patrol operates in Huntington Beach, Seal Beach and Belmont Shore. They are looking in to collaborating with Steve Shulman, a Newport Beach police officer, to offer the services in that area as well. For other areas around Orange County, a reservation can be made and if the area is too far, Scooter Patrol will have two volunteers who will drive to your destination with a car that was donated to the program. The volunteer will drive your car while the other follows behind.

“A lot of people don’t want to leave their car somewhere and that is the usual excuse to drive,” added Patmont. This service helps eliminate that excuse.”
As I am enjoying my time in downtown Huntington Beach, cheers to a great night out and a few too many Coronas, I’m in too deep to try to stop now and sober up by the end of the night, which most people try to do. My friends talk me in to it, okay, a few more, I knew I had a plan B, it’s a bird, a plane, no it’s Scooter Patrol. Hello Anthony, my sober driver.

I hand over my keys and into the passenger’s seat I go. It was weird at first, I have never ridden in my passenger seat, but what about the driver. Who is this guy? How do I know he is going to get my car back safe and sound? “We do background checks and I hand pick all of them, most are valet drivers,” Panzica said. ‘They also go through a six-week training course on how to deal with the general public.”

Now I feel secure. Let’s turn up the music and rock out to Incubus, my favorite band. Hey, I’m not driving. Rock on!

I noticed as we were driving Anthony obeyed the speed limit and drove very cautiously, looking over his shoulder every time he switched lanes, something I don’t do all the time. That is what the rear view mirror is for right? And he never sped through a yellow light. There is no doubt in my mind that you can feel secure having these guys drive your car home. No matter what you drive, your baby will be parked in your driveway in no time. Scooter Patrol should definitely look into adding a red cape and a big S on their chest to their uniform.
They certainly are superheroes in my mind.