Limo driver criticized for drinking report

HIGHLAND PARK, Ill., Oct. 8 (UPI) -- The manager of a limousine company says his employee shouldn't be criticized for calling the police on a group of underage drinkers in Highland Park, Ill.

Any Time Limo general manager Alex Mich said while several parents of the 13 teenagers involved in the incident have begun criticizing limo driver Leonel Cesar, his employee was merely doing "the right thing," the Chicago Tribune said Wednesday.

"We know we are going to lose some business," Mich said of the Sept. 27 incident. "It's not about the money; it's about doing the right thing."

The incident began when a group of nearly 20 teenagers rented the "party bus" driven by Cesar. One of the teens allegedly took alcohol into the vehicle despite the company's ban on such substances, Mich told the Tribune.

The manager alleged after Cesar was unable to contact the teens' parents regarding the presence of alcohol, he called the police to report underage drinking. The teenagers were cited by police, angering several parents and advocacy groups, the Tribune said.

The parents and groups argued the teens did the right thing by hiring a driver to protect themselves and the public's safety while they consumed alcohol.