CrzRsn
So long, and thanks for all the fish
- Joined
- Mar 6, 2005
- Messages
- 17,444
- Location
- Motor City, Michigan
- Car(s)
- 13 Ford Mustang GT, 17 Ford Fiesta ST
New Jersey will soon be the first state to alert police when a young driver is behind the wheel under ''Kyleigh's Law.''
The Motor Vehicles Commission this afternoon is unveiling red decals that motorists younger than 21 must display on their license plates.
"Kyleigh's Law'' was named in memory of Kyleigh D'Alessio, a 16-year-old West Morris Central High School student killed in a 2006 crash in Washington Township in which another teen was driving. Her mother, Donna Weeks, lobbied on behalf of her daughter for the law.
Attorney General Paula Dow and MVC officials will announce the implementation of the law and unveil the stickers at an MVC office in Freehold on Wednesday.
The reflective red stickers will help police identify drivers in order to enforce restrictions on passenger limits and 11 p.m. curfews.
The stickers, which take effect May 1, are removable and will cost $4.
Earlier this month, the law was challenged unsuccessfully by a Rockaway attorney.
Gregg Trautmann, who filed the suit on behalf of his teenage son and nephew, charged the statute would deprive young motorists of equal protection under the law and perhaps make them a target of predators.
But the suit was dismissed by Superior Court Judge Robert Brennan, who ruled there was nothing unconstitutional in requiring holders of a Graduated Driver License ? primarily teenagers ? to affix a decal to their front and rear license plates.
Brennan said driving is not a right but a privilege that should be subjected to state regulations, and declined to delay the law from taking effect on May 1.
Trautmann is appealing the ruling.
https://pic.armedcats.net/c/cr/crazyrussian540/2010/03/25/nj-yah-87f-630op2.jpg
http://www.mycentraljersey.com/arti...als+for+teenage+drivers+under++Kyleigh+s+Law+
I have 2 comments about this. Well, actually two questions.
1. It states that this sticker is required for drivers who are under 21. What is the benefit of making the age so high? Most states JOL restrictions are until the age of 18. For instance, in Massachusetts, I was not allowed to drive other people or drive 12am-5am while until I was 18. If I can buy a gun, and get married, but can't drink at 20 years old, for god's sake let me drive my car.
2. The girl's mother lobbied for this law. Excuse me for being inconsiderate, but what good will a little red sticker do? What if some brat 17 year old is showing off his new BMW M3 to his girlfriend at 9pm? Will the little red sticker magically repel other cars when he looses control? Or what if a 20 year old gets drunk and makes the poor choice of driving his car at midnight? Will the little red sticker magically repel trees and light poles? Cops are supposed to pull over all erratic drivers whether they have a red sticker or not. And if a cop isn't in the area, it doesn't matter if the car has 42 red stickers plastered all over it. I understand that other countries such as the UK have the mandatory 'L' plate, granted I don't know how that particular system works, but I honestly don't see any benefit in this new Kyleigh's Law.
Also, an 11pm curfew for 20 year olds? Pardon my french, but that's fucking ridiculous.
Edit: Maybe I'm being biased because I, myself am 20 years old. But my parents have given me the trust to make the correct decisions for as long as I can remember. I mean, during my college Spring Break, I hang out in Boston (40 miles one-way from my house) way into the early hours of the morning. My parents know that if I make decisions that will impair my judgment, or if I get tired, I'm not going to drive home. Maybe other teens aren't like that. Still 11pm is a bit early isn't it?
Also, right now I'm at college, 600 miles away from home. I'm not 21, yet I (and the 4000 other kids on campus - and countless kids all across the country) am trusted to live on my own? But if I were in NJ, I'd have a 11pm curfew? Really?
Edit2: I apologize for the rant. I had to pull an all-nighter to finish up some work, and I'm currently wired on caffeine. I get agitated easily in this state. But I can assure you I won't be doing any driving today.
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