“I have been working with a bipartisan group of legislators to craft responsible teen driving legislation. As we have seen over and over again, new teen drivers are at high risk for accidents. Clearly the existing restrictions imposed on 16- and 17-year old drivers are not enough to protect them and the other drivers with whom they share the roads. It is our hope that this new law will help prevent future tragedies,” said Senator Caligiuri.

Senator Caligiuri said the new legislation, HB 5748, An Act Concerning Teenage Drivers, includes some of the provisions included in teen safe driving legislation he co-sponsored earlier this year with Representative John “Corky” Mazurek.

Specifically, the new legislation imposes new restrictions and responsibilities on 16- and 17-year drivers and their parents or guardians. Among other things, it:

• Increases the penalties for 16- and 17 year old drivers who are caught driving while intoxicated, as well as for those who refuse to submit to a test.

• Further restricts the passengers 16- and 17-year old drivers may carry while holding a learner’s permit, and extends the passenger restrictions that currently apply for the first six months after licensure to an entire year – though the Department of Motor Vehicles Commissioner may adopt regulations to provide exceptions for single parents transporting their children for certain purposes.

• Changes the driving curfew for 16- and 17-year olds from midnight to 11 p.m.

• Increases from 20 hours to 40 hours the amount of behind-the-wheel training 16- and 17-year olds must get before qualifying for a license. Parents or guardians must attend two hours of instruction on teen driving laws and related issues with their child. These provisions apply to learners’ permits issued on or after August 1, 2008.

• Requires license suspensions for any violations of post-licensure driving restrictions for 16- and 17-year-olds, instead of only for second or subsequent violations, and establishes mandatory license suspension requirements for those who violate certain traffic laws that are longer than what currently applies to older drivers and, in other cases, applies only to 16- and 17-year-olds.

• Establishes a 48-hour summary suspension and license seizure for 16- and 17-year-olds who violate certain restrictions, and requires a parent or guardian to accompany them when they retrieve their licenses.

• Requires anyone in a vehicle with a 16- or 17-year old drive to wear a seat belt, and increases the penalty for any passengers who violate the seat belt law.