Juneau -- The Alaska House of Representatives Wednesday unanimously passed House Bill 151, which amends the "Use It, Lose It" law affecting teens and alcohol. HB 151 passed 38-0.

"As the law is now written, it is far too harsh in some specific areas," said Representative Pete Kott (R-Eagle River), Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, which sponsored HB 151. "It makes no sense to take a teen's license away for twenty years, when he or she is guilty of no more than riding in a car with another teen who has been drinking.

"While the State of Alaska has a genuine interest in promoting driving safety as well as curbing teen alcohol abuse, taking a license away, sometimes for decades, for flighty mistakes made while very young is far too severe," Kott said. "Since driving is a basic part of modern life, most teens so penalized are going to get behind the wheel, anyway."

HB 151 makes the following changes to the law:

• it authorizes hearers to re-issue licenses upon showing proof of compliance with the statute, title, or department regulation, or that a license will permit the offender to attend school, care for a dependant child, or earn a livelihood without endangering the public;
• amend the current law by requiring a "nexus", or connection, between alcohol possession and a vehicle;
• remove consecutive penalties and run them concurrently;
• require physical possession of alcohol rather than mere "constructive" possession of, or proximity to, alcohol.

"The 'Use It, Lose It' law should be based on its premise, that if alcohol is used, the license is revoked," Kott said. "As a policy measure, if the youth shows corrective behavior upon reaching his or her majority, the privilege of a license ought to be returned."

House Bill 151 will be reconsidered by the House before it is sent to the Senate.

Broadcasters note: Audio comments are available on the Majority Actuality line, 1-800-478-6540
= Pete Kott, 109 K = Pete Kott, 150 K

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