Tougher laws for teenage drivers weighed

Friday, Feb. 18, 2005 | 11:08 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- A teenage driver, who caused a fatal car crash in 2003 that killed three of his friends, and his mother urged the Legislature on Thursday to toughen the laws on young people getting driver's licenses.

The father of one of the victims of that crash also testified that the bills before the Senate and Assembly would save lives.

A letter from 17-year-old Sean E. Larimer, sentenced to 24 months in the Clark County Juvenile Detention Center, was read into the record at a hearing of the joint Senate and Assembly Transportation Committees.

"I lie in my cell at night and think about how badly I screwed things up," he said.

His mother, Susan Larimer, her voice choking with emotion, said the three teens who were killed would have been alive if the graduated driver's licensing restrictions had been law on Nov. 23, 2003, when Sean's car smashed into a brick wall a half mile from home.

And Jim Dunning, whose son Travis Dunning was one of the victims, said that teen accidents and deaths have dropped in states where the tighter driver's license laws have been adopted. "Teens need more experience behind the wheel."

The committees heard a parade of witnesses testifying in support of SB60 and AB52 that increase restrictions on teen licensing.

Sen. Barbara Cegavske, R-Las Vegas, has introduced bills since 1997 seeking to toughen the law but she said she has always run into opposition from Democrats in the Assembly. Two years ago the Senate passed the bill but it died in the Democratic-controlled Assembly.

Assembly Assistant Majority Leader John Oceguera, D-Las Vegas, and chairman of the Assembly Committee hearing the bill, promised his committee would pass "meaningful legislation" this session.

The Cegavske bill increases the age for getting a driver's license from 15 years and nine months to 16 years old. Those who are 16 or 17 must have an instructional permit for at least six months before applying for a license.

There must be at least 50 hours of supervised experience in driving with a restricted license. This must include at least 10 hours during nighttime. And a log must be kept of the day, time, weather conditions and the number of miles registered during the test drive.

Those drivers under 18 years old who get licenses cannot have passengers under 18 in the car for the first six months after the license is issued, unless the passenger is a member of the immediate family. Violation of this provision would not be a moving violation.

And peace officers would be prohibited from stopping the car solely to determine whether the driver is illegally transporting passengers.

SB60 also would make a parent liable for all fines and penalties imposed against their son or daughter who drives after the curfew hours.

Sean Larimer was 16 at the time and had his license only 64 days before the accident. His letter, read by Cegavske, said he was driving 50 miles per hour over the speed limit when the car hit the brick wall. He and his friends had been at a party before they got in the car.

"As you probably already know, my choices to drink and get behind the wheel of my car is what really caused the crash," his letter says.

Sean said, "Even though this was the first time I ever drank and drove, I took risks behind the wheel many times when my friends were in the car."

He endorsed a section of the bill had would impose a longer restriction on teen drivers from having their friends in the vehicle.

"By making sure that teens can't have their friends in the car with them for a long time after getting their license, I feel it will save lives," his letter said. He must serve his time in juvenile detention until Feb. 23, 2006, and must perform 600 hours of community service.

His mother told the committees that if the graduated license had been in effect, 15-year old Josh Parry, Kyle Poff and Dunning would be alive. Susan said she had initially imposed stricter restrictions on Sean. But then she got divorced after 20 years of marriage, had to seek employment and needed help from Sean.

"I changed my rules," Susan said, adding she gave her son permission to drive with his friends. Had the present bills been law, there would not have been a tragedy.

Dunning told the committees that many teens feel invincible and are easily distracted by cell phones or their friends in the car. More restrictions on licensing these teens give a "better chance" not only to the young people but others who are out in traffic.

"This bill has the potential to save many lives," he said.

Delise Sartini, spokeswoman for Moms on a Mission in Las Vegas, said young drivers are four times more likely to be involved in a crash. She said inexperience and risk-taking are among the elements that lead to the increased accidents of young drivers.

"Education alone is not enough," she told the committees. And she urged the legislators to "put aside partisan politics." Thirty-five other states have graduated driver's licensing laws, he said.

Both committees will consider the bills later in work sessions to determine whether to amend or pass the legislation. The bills gained the endorsement of the state Transportation Department and the state Department of Motor Vehicles.