UNFAIR ASSUMPTIONS MADE ABOUT PARTY-GOERS

I am the mother of a 21-year-old "raver" who received a $968 ticket for
being a "patron of a disorderly house." My daughter has been attending
raves throughout the Midwest and even California and Canada for the past
five years. I have also attended a rave and found the people orderly and
well-behaved.

I am appalled that people in America cannot gather for dancing and
socializing with their friends and are continually harassed by law
enforcement officials who have the wrong idea about raves. Raves are not
drug parties.

Yes, there are drugs at raves, but drugs are also at rock concerts,
Summerfest and sporting events, to name a few. There are always a few bad
eggs in every crowd. Imagine giving everyone a ticket at Summerfest because
it was a "disorderly house."

How was my daughter to know that someone was selling drugs? The police made
the assumption that all attending knew it was a drug party. The fliers and
the Internet specifically state that drugs will not be tolerated and that
people will be searched.

I would rather have my daughter attend a rave than go to bars and drink.
That is where the fights and sexual assaults happen, not at raves.

Racine should dismiss these outrageous charges!

Sally R. Maurer, Waukesha