Starting Jan.

1, there will be no excuses for newly licensed teenage drivers to cruise

between midnight and 6 a.m.

And all drivers

under 21 should mind their traffic manners, since 12-month automatic license

suspensions will be effective for any such driver who accumulates four

or more "points" off their license status. That means a minimum

of two tickets in one year could result in a one-year license suspension

for drivers under 21.

The new restrictions

are courtesy of a new Georgia law taking effect Jan. 1. In any case in

which a license suspension is involved, a court appearance is mandatory,

said Steve Harris, Fayette County solicitor general. Previously, teens

were allowed to drive during the 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. curfew period for work,

school or religion-related reasons.

The new laws

create a graduated licensing system that puts restrictions on 16- and

17-year-old drivers, such as the tightened curfew and a new requirement

for driver's education. To meet the driver's education requirement, drivers

must take an approved driver education course and a total of at least

20 hours of supervised driving (with six of those coming at night).

Instead of

taking the course, the prospective driver can take at least 40 hours of

supervised instruction, also with the requirement of at least six hours

at night.

Parents and

legal guardians will be required to present sworn and signed affidavits

to that effect before their children can be issued the intermediate "Class

D" license. Upon turning 18, drivers may seek full "Class C"

licenses as long as they haven't been convicted in the previous 12 months

of DUI, eluding a police officer, drag racing, reckless driving, hit and

run, or any other moving violation that would cause four points to be

docked from the drivers' license status.

Any of the

above offenses are also grounds for an automatic license suspension of

six months for the first offense and 12 months for the second offense.

An automatic 12-month suspension is warranted for any DUI on a person

under 21 when the blood alcohol concentration is .08 grams or higher.

The state will

continue to take teens' licenses away for six months (on a first conviction)

and 12 months (on a second conviction) for:

DUI (an automatic

12 months for the first offense for drivers under 18 with blood alcohol

concentration of .08 grams or higher).

Purchasing

an alcoholic beverage.

Eluding or

attempting to elude a police officer.

Racing, reckless

driving, hit and run.

Leaving the

scene of an accident.

Accruing four

or more points in a 12-month period.

Back

to News Home Page |