6/3/08-A bill has died sought to put additional restrictions on the state’s most inexperienced drivers.
Existing state law doesn’t set an age limit for passengers in vehicles driven by young drivers. It also allows up to four people to be in affected vehicles. The bill would have required drivers with learner’s permits or with less than a year’s experience behind the wheel to have licensed drivers at least 21 years old riding shotgun.
The Senate Commerce, Transportation and Utilities Committee didn’t take the bill up for consideration before the regular session wrapped up, effectively killing it. The House previously approved it.
Sponsored by Rep. Mac Gipson, R-Prattville, HB312 included a provision that would have limited young drivers to one passenger. Exceptions would have been made for family members.
The measure also mandated drivers 16 years of age and some 17-year-old drivers to be off the road before 10 p.m. on week nights and 11 p.m. on weekends. In addition, it prohibited drivers with graduated licenses from using mobile devices while operating vehicles.
Alabama law now requires drivers with less than a year of experience driving to be off the road by midnight. Exceptions are made for driving to or from work or church.
Law enforcement would first have needed to pull over drivers for other infractions before ticketing them for being in violation of the teen driving rules.

5/6/08-The House unanimously approved a bill that would require drivers with learner’s permits or with less than a year’s experience behind the wheel to have licensed drivers at least 21 years old riding shotgun. It now moves to the Senate for further consideration.
Existing state law doesn’t set an age limit for passengers in vehicles driven by young drivers. It also allows up to four people to be in affected vehicles.
Sponsored by Rep. Mac Gipson, R-Prattville, HB312 includes a provision that would limit young drivers to one passenger. Exceptions would be made for family members.
The measure also would mandate drivers 16 years of age and some 17-year-old drivers to be off the road before 10 p.m. on week nights and 11 p.m. on weekends. In addition, it would prohibit drivers with graduated licenses from using mobile devices while operating vehicles.
Alabama law now requires drivers with less than a year of experience driving to be off the road by midnight. Exceptions are made for driving to or from work or church.
 Law enforcement would first need to pull over drivers for other infractions before ticketing them for being in violation of the teen driving rules.
The bill has moved to the Senate Commerce, Transportation and Utilities Committee.
For bill status, call (334) 242-7627. In Alabama, call 1-800-499-3052.