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New laws will limit young drivers
Published Friday, July 25, 2008
Photo by Lauren Radomski
New laws taking effect next week will limit driving hours and passengers for newly-licensed teenage drivers.
New laws taking effect next week will limit the hours newly-licensed teen drivers can be on Minnesota roads and restrict the number of young passengers they can carry.
The measures are among a host of new laws that were passed during the 2008 legislative session and will take effect Aug. 1.
Traffic crashes are the leading causes of death for Minnesota’s 15- to 17-year-olds, the Department of Health reports, and the new laws for teens are designed to help hone driving skills and reduce exposure to high-risk situations.
The first set of limitations restrict nighttime driving for the first six months of licensure, when driving is prohibited between midnight and 5 a.m., according to the Department of Public Safety. Exceptions are included for teens accompanied by a licensed driver over 25, teens driving between home and a place of employment, and teens driving to/from a school event in which the school has not provided transportation.
Other laws limit the number of passengers newly-licensed drivers can transport. For their first six months of licensure, teens may carry only one passenger under age 20 unless accompanied by a parent or guardian. The passenger limit rises to three during the second six months of licensure. An exemption allows teens to transport immediate family under age 20.
When it comes to enforcement, Fergus Falls Police Captain Steve Adams says investigating a nighttime driving violation may require a call to a home or business to see whether a teen’s excuse for being on the road is valid.
“It’s a little easier with passenger restrictions because they’re either (in the vehicle) or they’re not,” he said.
The new laws apply to teens licensed before and after Aug. 1., with the sixth month period starting the day a teen receives his or her license.
House Public Information Services details other new laws taking effect Aug. 1, including:
• It will be illegal for drivers of all ages to compose, read or send text messages or access the Internet on a wireless device while on the road.
• Under current law, anyone who pits animals against one another, trains the animals, takes admission to the fights or allows others to use their premises for the games is guilty of a felony. According to a new law, anyone who buys a ticket to the fight is guilty of a gross misdemeanor, previously considered a misdemeanor offense.
• The surety bond required by an owner of a dangerous dog increases from $50,000 to $300,000, and a new law prohibits dog ownership for anyone who has repeatedly been convicted of crimes involving dangerous dogs. All dangerous dogs must be sterilized, and owners must notify animal control authorities if the dog is moved to a new location.
• All public body closed meetings must be electronically recorded, unless otherwise prohibited by attorney-client privilege. The recordings must be kept for three years.
Comments
The Daily Journal is happy to host community conversations about news and life in Fergus Falls and the surrounding area. As hosts, we expect guests will show respect for each other. That means we don't threaten or defame each other, and we keep conversations free of personal attacks. Witty is great. Abusive is not. If you think a post violates these standards, don't escalate the situation. Instead, flag the comment to alert us. We'll take action if necessary. It's not hard. This should be a place where people want to read and contribute -- a place for spirited exchanges of opinion. So those who persist with racist, defamatory or abusive postings risk losing the privilege to post at all.Posted by Sumwun (anonymous) on July 25, 2008 at 3:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I wonder how come the state can profile young drivers and tighten up on restrictions, but they can't do the same for the 90 year old man or woman that nearly t-bones me on the way to work every day without fail.
Posted by workit (anonymous) on July 25, 2008 at 8:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Agreed.
I agree that people should not be texting as it is but if anyone is prepared to multi-task with the use of cell phones I think it is teenagers. I know plenty of adults who can't hardly save someone's number into their phone let alone while trying to complete another task.
Posted by Sumwun (anonymous) on July 26, 2008 at 7:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I was referring to the generalization of the law to include ALL young drivers. If they can just go ahead and do that, then the state should just group all of our awesome purple and silver haired drivers who cant even see past the hood or the car or over the top of the steering wheel for that matter. That along with driving 25-30 mph on 210 coming into town. Why are they allowed to drive again?? Might as well be a bunch of drunk drivers out on the road.
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