Secretary Johnson thanks lawmakers for acting quickly to fix new teen driving restriction rules

Secretary of State Ruth Johnson on Tuesday thanked lawmakers for passing the common-sense fix she proposed for the state's new restrictions for teen drivers with a Level 2 Graduated Driver License. The Legislature on Tuesday gave final approval to House Bill 4533 and sent it to Gov. Snyder for his consideration. The legislation would allow teens with Level 2 Graduated Driver Licenses to drive between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. if they are going to or from authorized activity such as school, a school-sanctioned event or an event sponsored by a tax-exempt religious organization, or to or from a sporting or extracurricular event. It also would allow Level 2 drivers to carry more than one unrelated passenger younger than 21 if accompanied by a parent, guardian or designated licensed adult age 21 or older, or if they are traveling to or from an authorized activity. "I commend lawmakers for listening to parents across the state and acting quickly to pass these reasonable exceptions to the driving restrictions," Johnson said. "I especially want to thank Sen. Schuitmaker and Reps. O'Brien and Rogers for their leadership in moving this legislation. These added exceptions maintain safeguards for new drivers while allowing them to drive themselves and their friends to legitimate activities." The legislation was sponsored by Rep. Bill Rogers, R-Brighton. Sen. Tonya Schuitmaker, R-Lawton, and Rep. Margaret O'Brien, R-Portage, sponsored similar legislation and worked with Rogers on the final version that was passed Tuesday. "These new exceptions protect teens while still giving them the needed ability to travel to school and extracurricular events," Rogers said. "The changes make the new restrictions fair and consistent for new drivers." "Families throughout the state were rightly concerned about the inconvenience the new restrictions created," Schuitmaker said. "By adding these new exceptions, we're keeping Michigan roads safe and allowing parents greater ability to decide what sort of after-school events their teen can drive to." Under restrictions that went into effect March 30, Level 2 license-holders were not allowed to carry more than one unrelated passenger unless they were driving to or from a school event. They also could not drive between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. unless they are going to or from work, or accompanied by a parent, guardian or designated licensed adult age 21 or older. Many Michigan families found the restrictions burdensome and contacted their lawmaker to have the rules changed. Teens progress to Graduated Driver License Level 2 status after turning 16 and completing segments one and two of the driver's education course, and passing a road-skills test. They also must be free of violations, suspensions and at-fault crashes, among other requirements. To get a Level 3 license, teens must be 17 years old and be free of violations, suspensions and at-fault crashes. Level 3 license-holders do not face any driving restrictions. For additional information about the Graduated Driver License program, or office locations and services, visit the Secretary of State website at www.Michigan.gov/sos or sign up for the official Secretary of State Twitter feed at www.twitter.com/Michsos or Facebook updates at www.facebook.com/Michigansos. Published: Fri, Jul 1, 2011

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