65 STUDENTS FACE LIQUOR, DRUG COUNTS

DARIEN CENTER - A graduation ritual at Six Flags Darien Lake over the
weekend turned out a little too festive for some of the region's high
school seniors.

Sixty-five students from across Western New York were cited for underage
drinking or possession of marijuana at the theme park's annual "Grad
Night," which ran from late Friday into early Saturday.

The number of violators was small compared with the estimated 7,000 who
turned out for the 17th annual "Grad Night," pitched as a drug- and
alcohol-free event.

But Genesee County sheriff's deputies, in cooperation with Darien Lake,
patrolled the theme park's parking lots, where they issued tickets to
minors caught drinking alcohol.

"Grad Night" usually goes smoothly every year, but there probably were
fewer incidents among the students inside the park because of the
enforcement on drinking going on outside the gates, said Lauren Spallone,
public relations manager at Darien Lake.

"I think it worked out very well," Spallone said. "We certainly don't like
to see young kids being written tickets, but we promote this as a drug- and
alcohol-free event."

Fifty-seven students were accused of unlawful possession of alcohol, a
violation of the state Alcoholic Beverage Control Law; four students were
charged with unlawful possession of marijuana; and four others were charged
with both, deputies said.

All posted $50 prearraignment bail with authorities stationed at the park's
season pass building, officials said. They also were issued tickets to
appear in Darien Town Court at a later date.