Most of you heard about Graduated Drivers Licenses; you know, the bill that is close to being passed that will take away many young drivers’ rights. Sara Johnson said this law would be unfair and unjust, “ It’s not our fault for other drivers’ mistakes.” She also said, “We should be allowed the same rules starting out as everyone else did, we would then just pay for our mistakes as we make them.”

But what many of you don’t know is that this Legislative session in which the bill is included in began February 9. This means that if this were to pass it could come into action anywhere from two weeks after it is passed to the five months or, July 1, 2004.

So what exactly is the Graduated Driver’s License? And in what ways will it affect you?

Graduated drivers licenses would require an adult or someone over 21 to drive with a teenage driver while they have their instructional permit.

A young driver could later apply for an intermediate permit when they reached 16 years of age and have held an instructional permit for at least 3 months, and had completed 50 hours of driving under an instructional permit.

Before you would be able to get your intermediate permit you would be required to enroll in a certified Driver’s Education and Training Course. Once a teenage driver has received an intermediate permit they would be limited to drive only from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m., with the exception of emergencies, driving to work, school, school activities, and religious activities.

A teenage driver would be limited to only one non-family member under 21. A teen driver risks losing his/her license for the following violations: drinking and driving, speeding or any other moving violation, driving past restricted hours, with too many passengers, or not wearing a seat belt. Richie Chamberlin said, “I would be emotionally damaged due to the bad decisions of the legislators.” But what about the few who don’t feel they would be affected such as Jess Simpson? Simpson stated, “It personally wouldn’t affect me because I wouldn’t be driving after the designated hours and or be cruising around with a bunch of people.”

So what if you are already 16 or older and have your driver’s license? Any officers may pull you over thinking you are breaking the law. However, when they see that you are grandfathered in they cannot cite you for anything. Also if you are 18 or older and are going to get your license GDL won’t apply to you.

You don’t have to worry about the bill getting passed this year because the bill was shot down. There was very little information available over the internet about the legislative session and the cause for the bill to be come up so close and yet not pass. However, I do know that there are many young drivers relieved that the bill didn’t pass and they won’t have to worry about the Graduated Drivers License. But for all those who won’t be 18 in the next year just be aware that Wyoming legislators could try to pass this bill again next year.