THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, September 26, 1996 TAG: 9609260008
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A14 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: OPINION
SOURCE: By RICHARD D. HOLCOMB
LENGTH: 82 lines
One of my most rewarding experiences since becoming commissioner of the Department of Motor Vehicles was attending my niece's driver-licensing ceremony. It was wonderful to see this special person in my life take such a big step toward adulthood.
As I looked at that sea of excited faces in the auditorium, I imagined the dreams these young people have and the hopes their parents hold for them. I realized, however, that for some that precious ticket to freedom might become their death certificate.
The commonwealth of Virginia is doing everything possible to prevent these tragedies. One important way is to help our young people understand the responsibility that accompanies holding a driver's license. We're doing this through laws that have lengthened the process for becoming a licensed driver. We've also added restrictions that ensure all new drivers get enough practice and supervision before they take to the road alone. Plus, we have given parents additional rights and responsibilities. Here's a synopsis of these new laws:
Teens may apply for a learner's permit at 15 years of age. Those under 18 must hold this permit for at least six months or until they turn 18 (whichever comes first) before applying for a driver's license.
The learner's permit allows teens to operate a motor vehicle with a licensed driver beside them. The accompanying driver must be at least 21 years old. If that person is their legal guardian, brother, sister, half-brother, half-sister, step-brother or step-sister, he or she must be at least 18 years old. The individual must hold a valid license and be legally permitted to drive. For example, the accompanying driver may not be under the influence of alcohol or have a suspended license.
If an applicant under 18 fails the knowledge exam, he or she must wait 15 days before retaking it.
Licensed drivers under age 18 who accumulate nine demerit points (points resulting from traffic violations) in a 12-month period or 12 demerit points in a 24-month period, must attend a driver-improvement clinic. Once a teen completes the clinic, he or she will be placed on probation for six months. If the teen gets additional demerit points during this time, the license will be suspended.
Parents have rights and responsibilities, too. For their teen-agers under 18, they can take away the license for any amount of time or direct DMV to cancel the license for a six-month period.
A juvenile-court judge can also suspend the license of a teen under 18 for any number of reasons, including truancy, alcohol or drug-related offenses, delinquency and curfew violations.
These new laws, added to Virginia's existing tools for regulating teen-age drivers, make Virginia's system one of the most effective in the country. For example, Virginia now has the longest learner's permit holding period in the country. And, after Oregon, Virginia has the next longest waiting period for a teen to retake a driver's license exam.
We all know how much a driver's license means to teen-agers. In fact, research conducted by DMV shows that teens consider a driver's license one of their most important milestones, ranking third behind finishing high school and getting into college, and ranking ahead of school activities, a job and even their first date. Accordingly, we've tied that sought-after license to safe, appropriate and responsible conduct.
Virginia's new laws encourage teens to practice driving with an experienced driver. They also encourage solid preparation for the knowledge test, safe-driving practices after licensing and good behavior in order to keep the license. This month, we are launching a public-service campaign, ``It's Cool to Know the Rules,'' to communicate this message to teens through the schools and radio announcements.
We also encourage parents to talk to teens and their friends about these new laws. In particular, be sure to let your teen-age sons and daughters know what you expect from them as the newest drivers in the family. Encourage them to study for the knowledge test, and make time for them when they want to practice with their learner's permit.
Call your nearest DMV customer-service center for more information about these laws or if you want a copy of the Virginia Driver's Manual mailed to you. We'll be happy to help you and your teen-ager stay informed about these and other laws designed to keep our roads safe and our young people alive and healthy.
Yes, it's cool to know the rules; but, it's up to all of us to make our teens' driver's license a lifetime ticket to freedom. MEMO: Richard Holcomb is commissioner of the Virginia Department of
Motor Vehicles. by CNB