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Attention youth rights supporters:

The Ohio legislature is considering restricting the driving rights of 
young people.

A bill now in conference committee, where the two chambers meet to 
rectify differences, would alter driver's license procedure for 16- and 
17-year-old drivers. Both sides have agreed to allow people to get 
temporary licenses at the age of 15 years and 6 months and require that 
the recipient hold the license for six months before receiving a full 
license. That makes sense.

However, the House version of the bill would also require that the 
holder of a full license also be accompanied by a licensed driver over 
21 years of age in the front passenger's seat. This would, in effect, 
raise the driving age to 16 years and 6 months.

Most dangerous, though, is a clause not now in the bill but supported by 
the bill's sponsor, Sen. Bruce E. Johnson (R-Columbus). Johnson wants to 
ban 16- and 17-year-olds from driving between midnight and 5 a.m.

This is not all about public safety. We could ban all vehicles besides 
ambulances and police cruisers from the street and save thousands of 
lives, but our commitment to personal freedom enjoins it.

Rep. John R. Bender (D-Elyria) said he supports the driving curfew 
because it would help parents refuse to let their kids drive. This is 
another example of government trying to get involved in personal, family 
matters, refusing to let parents raise their children any way but 
autocratically. 

Several legislators have not made up their minds about this issues, and 
will be responsive to public input. You have nothing to lose by calling 
your legislator and asking him or her not to support further 
restrictions on the rights of young people. 

The phone number for the House of Representatives is (614) 466-3357. The 
Senate's number is (614) 466-4900. Some legislators have e-mail 
addresses. Check http://www.state.oh.us/ohio/legislat.htm.

Matt Walcoff

-- 
________________________________________________________
If you are interested in the rights of young people, 
visit the Americans for a Society Free from Age Restric-
tions home page at http://www.en.com/users/jimg . We 
fight the drinking age, curfew laws, and other restrict-
ions that make young people second-class citizens. 

Matt Walcoff		     ed375@cleveland.freenet.edu