Bill imposes
teen driver curfew,
raises age limit

The measure also would
require teens to take driver's
education classes

By Craig Gima
Star-Bulletin

All drivers younger than 18 would have to have a note from their parents to be out on the road in the wee hours of the morning, under a bill that has advanced to the full Senate.

The measure would also raise from 15 to 16 the age for obtaining a driver's license and a learner's permit from 14-1/2 to 15-1/2.

And teen-agers would be required to obtain 30 hours of classroom and 10 hours of on-the-road driver's education.

"We are concerned about minors who have a driver's license at a very young age," Senate Judiciary Co-Chairman Avery Chumbley (D, Kihei) said after his panel approved House Bill 167, HD3, SD2 last night. "It seems that getting a learner's permit at 14-1/2 is very young."

The Senate's proposal is likely to become the subject of House-Senate conference negotiations because the House has approved a measure requiring the 40 hours of driver's education for all drivers, not just teen-agers.

Marilyn Kali, state Transportation Department spokeswoman, said Gov. Ben Cayetano has vowed to veto any measure that limits the driver's training provision only to youths.

In a driver's education program, the students are taught the traffic laws, what the signs mean, the responsibility of driving, the impairment of alcohol and drugs, the attitude of driving and defensive driving, she said.

"All of these things are very important to any new driver, not just to someone who is 16 or 17," Kali said.

Chumbley said the committee felt the driver's education requirement should apply only to minors.

He added that imposing a curfew from midnight to 4 a.m. is reasonable. "Most 16 and 17 year olds aren't out at that time," Chumbley said.

Under the bill, even teen-agers who might have a job that requires them to be on the road during the early morning would be required to have a note from their employer.

Even if the Senate proposal becomes law, its curfew provision would be particularly hard to enforce, Chumbley conceded. "That's the problem with curfews," he added.

Sen. Norman Sakamoto (D, Moanalua) said he liked the bill for raising the age at which one could get a driver's license or permit. However, he disliked the cost of driver education programs that would be required.

Each 40-hour course costs an estimated $200. With about 10,000 teen-agers becoming drivers each year, an industry worth $2 million would be created.

Kali said state Transportation officials have urged the Board of Education to raise the $10 fee it charges for driver's education, but the panel has declined to do so. As a result, the course is always filled because it is a bargain, she said.

The Senate Judiciary Committee also advanced to the Senate the following measures:

HB955, SD1, which would establish a Class C felony for photographing or videotaping anyone without that person's consent when privacy is expected, such as in a restroom.

The bill would also make it a crime to harbor a runaway.

HB161, SD1, which allows government to sue to recover search and rescue costs if the person rescued ignored civil defense warnings.

HB266, SD1, which states that an employer cannot prohibit a female employee from breast-feeding during legal meal and break periods. It also prohibits discrimination against breast-feeding in public accommodations.

HB171, SD2, which clarifies how "living wills" can be implemented and who has the authority to make decisions to withdraw artificial means of life support, including food and water through tubes.

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