Cathy
05-25-2008, 02:58 AM
She's not a licensed driver yet, but Selena Gomez, 15, is distancing herself early from the drunk driving woes plaguing young Hollywood.
Despite the rain, the Wizards of Waverly Place star visited a DUI checkpoint Friday evening in Los Angeles – along with 30 local high schoolers – to watch law enforcement in action.
"I just wanted to get educated," said Gomez, who'll get her license in July. "Drunk driving is obviously a serious issue that we all need to be aware of."
A self-professed good girl (she's worn a purity ring since age 12 that reads "True Love Waits"), Gomez says the Hollywood scene and partying "doesn't appeal to me."
"I'm kind of lame," she laughs. "I prefer quiet evenings at home, hanging out with my family."
Despite recent public gaffes of other young stars, Gomez says she's doesn't feel undue pressure as a role model.
"But I'm always cautious about what I do, what I'm wearing, and what I say because parents and kids trust me to do the right thing," she adds. "It's a good kind of pressure."
Asked if she learned anything from watching suspected drunk drivers get pulled over by the Beverly Hills Police for several hours, she joked, "Yeah, that I'm afraid of cops."
"But seriously, I feel a lot safer with these checkpoints in place, and it was great to see other kids come out for this."
Said Danielle Finn, 17, a high school junior who had a classmate killed by a drunk driver, "It's great that Selena came out. It shows other kids that you don't have to drink to be cool."
Despite the rain, the Wizards of Waverly Place star visited a DUI checkpoint Friday evening in Los Angeles – along with 30 local high schoolers – to watch law enforcement in action.
"I just wanted to get educated," said Gomez, who'll get her license in July. "Drunk driving is obviously a serious issue that we all need to be aware of."
A self-professed good girl (she's worn a purity ring since age 12 that reads "True Love Waits"), Gomez says the Hollywood scene and partying "doesn't appeal to me."
"I'm kind of lame," she laughs. "I prefer quiet evenings at home, hanging out with my family."
Despite recent public gaffes of other young stars, Gomez says she's doesn't feel undue pressure as a role model.
"But I'm always cautious about what I do, what I'm wearing, and what I say because parents and kids trust me to do the right thing," she adds. "It's a good kind of pressure."
Asked if she learned anything from watching suspected drunk drivers get pulled over by the Beverly Hills Police for several hours, she joked, "Yeah, that I'm afraid of cops."
"But seriously, I feel a lot safer with these checkpoints in place, and it was great to see other kids come out for this."
Said Danielle Finn, 17, a high school junior who had a classmate killed by a drunk driver, "It's great that Selena came out. It shows other kids that you don't have to drink to be cool."