5/26/05-Gov. Bill Owens has signed a bill to put restrictions on young drivers in the state.
The new law, previously SB36, restricts the number of under-21 passengers a minor driver can have in their vehicle. For the first six months that they have their licenses, teens cannot have any under-21 passengers in their vehicle. Between six months and a year, they are allowed to carry one such passenger, and all restrictions are removed after a year.
It makes exceptions for direct family members in the car; however, an earlier amendment to the bill that allowed written parental permission for additional non-family passengers was shot down in the Senate.
The new law also bans teens from driving between midnight and 5 a.m. unless a parent or guardian accompanies them.

4/13/05-A bill awaiting final approval in the Senate would put restrictions on young drivers in the state. If approved, the bill, which previously passed the House, would move on to Gov. Bill Owens.
SB36 states that for the first six months they have their licenses, teens would not be allowed to have passengers in the car who are minors. Drivers who have had their license for six months to a year would be allowed to carry one passenger younger than 21.
All restrictions would be removed after teens have been licensed for a year.
The bill does make exceptions for immediate family members.
If the bill passes, the law will be considered a secondary offense, meaning teens could not be cited unless they were pulled over for another offense.
It would also ban teens from driving overnight except in a medical emergency.
For bill status, call (303) 866-3055.