Community work

Park Place Infiniti was a platinum-level sponsor of the annual “You Drink, You Drive, You Lose” event, which was at University Medical Center on Dec. 13.

“Educating our youth on how important it is to be a responsible driver is a priority for our dealership,” said Joe Tortomasi, general manager of Park Place Infiniti.

When Tortomasi was 16, his vehicle was hit by a drunken driver in Las Vegas.

“We often have young drivers come to our showroom with their parents to buy a car. We want to not only find them the car of their dreams but also ensure that they are responsible on the road. Every year, UMC’s event vividly highlights how devastating a drunk driving accident can be,” Tortomasi said.

During “You Drink, You Drive, You Lose,” local high school students heard from individuals who have lost a loved one as a result of a drunken driving accident.

By mid-December, 153 people had died in roadway accidents in Clark County in 2013, and on average, about a quarter of all crash fatalities are because of impaired driving. Nationwide, a person dies every 31 minutes because of the careless decision to drink and drive. On average, national studies show drunken drivers will have driven impaired 80 times before they are arrested.

Founded in 1987 by Ken Schnitzer, Park Place Dealerships is based in Texas and represents luxury brands such as Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Volvo, Jaguar, Rolls-Royce, Bentley, McLaren, Maserati, Lotus and smart. In June 2012, Park Place purchased the Infiniti dealership in Las Vegas. For more information on Infiniti cars and Park Place service in Las Vegas, visit: www.parkplaceinfiniti.com