For all those households that have a soon to be new driver in the family, I want to make you aware of a new law passed in Juneau this year regarding graduated driver's licenses for those 16 to 18 years of age. Sponsored by Representative Bruce Weyhrauch, HB 213 will take effect on January 1, 2005.

Before your teenager can receive his or his driver's license, he or she must: (1) have been licensed under an instruction permit for at least six months; (2) have held a PROVISIONAL DRIVER'S LICENSE for at least six months; AND (3) not have been convicted of violating a traffic law or have been convicted of minor consuming alcohol during the six months prior to applying for your driver's license.

In order to obtain your provisional driver's license, you must meet the following requirements: (1) you have been licensed under an instruction permit for at least six months; (2) your parent, legal guardian or employer has provided satisfactory proof to the Department of Motor Vehicles that you have had at least 40 hours of driving experience, including at least 10 hours of driving in progressively challenging circumstances, such as driving in inclement weather & nighttime driving, and (3) you have not been convicted of a violation of a traffic law within the six months before the application for the provisional driver's license is filed.

Once you have obtained your provisional driver's license, the following "provisions" will be imposed on your driving for a periods of at least six months, and until you meet the requirements for an unrestricted driver's license:

• You may not operate a motor vehicle that is carrying any passengers. You may, however, have a passenger who is a parent, legal guardian, sibling, or a person at least 21 years of age. You may also carry passengers if at least one of the passengers is a parent, legal guardian or person at least 21 years of age.
• You cannot operate a motor vehicle between the hours of 1:00 am and 5:00 am. This provision does not apply if you are accompanied by a parent, legal guardian or person at least 21 years of age who is licensed to drive the type or class of vehicle being used; or if you are driving to or from your place of employment or are within the scope of your employment and you are driving along the most direct available route.

Representative Weyhrauch's has stated, "The graduated driver's license is a means for the young driver to gain experience on the road while minimizing risks. As the driver gains experience, the provisions are gradually lifted and the youth is eligible for an unrestricted driver's license."

Please remember that these new provisions do not take effect until January 1, 2005. For more information on the bill, go to: www.akrepublicans.org/weyhrauch/
23/spst/weyh_hb213.php.

If you wish to contact me, please: write me at: 716 West Fourth Avenue, #300, Anchorage, AK 99501; or call me at 269-0117 (fax is 269-0119); or e-mail me at: Representative_Norman_Rokeberg ''at'' legis.state.ak.us.

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