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Armstrong's change to teen drivers' license
restrictions advances
Intermediate
licensees would no longer be penalized for accidents not their fault
Teenage drivers holding an
intermediate license who have been involved in an accident that was not
their fault would no longer receive a warning letter against their
driving record if
Rep. Mike
Armstrong has his way.
Armstrong, R-Wenatchee,
has sponsored legislation that would modify the limitations of the
state's intermediate driver's license law.
"The way the law is now
written, if you are a 16- or 17-year-old driver with an intermediate
driver's license and you are sitting at a stop light and somebody slams
into you, the Department of Licensing will issue you a warning letter,
even though the accident was not your fault. That's not fair for our
younger drivers and it is time to change that law," said Armstrong.
Armstrong noted a second
warning letter for a traffic infraction comes with a six-month
suspension (or until the driver turns 18, whichever comes first). For a
third traffic offense, the driver is suspended until 18.
House Bill 1371 clarifies the law so that the restrictions are
limited to those who committed a traffic infraction related to the
accident.
"You actually would
have to
be the cause of a wreck instead of an innocent bystander in order to
receive a warning letter," added Armstrong.
The measure passed the
House Transportation Committee unanimously last week and is in the House
Rules Committee waiting to be sent to the floor for further action.
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For more information, contact:
John
Sattgast, Senior Information Officer: (360) 786-7257
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