Driver’s license proposal defeated

Tuesday, May 20, 2003 | 9:38 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- With the proposal's chief state Senate backer looking on, the Assembly sent a proposed graduated driver's license amendment.

Sen. Barbara Cegavske, R-Las Vegas, brought an amendment through Assembly Minority Leader Lynn Hettrick, R-Gardnerville, to a noncontroversial bill dealing with driver's licenses.

The proposed amendment would have established a far more restrictive version of the graduated license bills that passed in 1999 and 2001.

Cegavske walked into the Assembly chambers just as Assemblyman David Goldwater, D-Las Vegas, was detailing how drivers over the age of 80 pose a greater danger than teens.

"Are we going after these people? No," Goldwater said. The amendment failed 28-13, with Ron Knecht, R-Carson City, absent.

Cegavske smiled, but immediately left the Assembly chambers. Asked if there was another potential vehicle for her legislation, she said: "That's what we're trying to find."

The proposed amendment would have required a 16- or 17-year-old to have 50 hours of supervised driving in order to gain a regular driver's license. It also would have required that the driver not have been in an accident or ticketed for a moving violation during the six months before trying for the regular license.

The amendment also would have allowed the teens' parent or guardian to be fined if a teen driver had anyone under the age of 18 in his vehicle during the first six months the licensed was issued.