I see that a bill by Assemblywoman Jean Fuller, R-Bakersfield, is on the Assembly Transportation Committee Agenda. High school students who are under 18 and missed 15 straight days of school or 20 days in a semester or had been declared habitually truant could lose their driver's licenses or learner's permits under this bill. What do you think? Is that something that's likely to get enforced or will it be just another toothless law? Would it be a good incentive to keep kids in school or just give unmotivated people an excuse not to work or go to school?
The Assemblywoman's Web site says:
Currently, juvenile courts have the authority to suspend driving privileges of those deemed as habitual truants but there is a lengthy and complex process involving the local educational agency and law enforcement in order for the process to reach this stage however, so this rarely occurs. From the 2002-03 school year through 2005-06, it is estimated there were over 280,000 dropouts, but just over 5,000 of them had their licenses suspended through this process -- less than 2%. If the affected individuals return to school and meet the minimum academic requirements at the end of the next grading period, their driving privileges will be reinstated.
I think it could be a good law and should be enforced. I know there are many laws that are not enforced and hope that this would would be. If they could just put it out there that academic performance would also be reason for losing their license maybe they would take it more seriously. Now with the new laws that kids can't drive their friends around until they are 18 they are less excited about having a license.