Elizabeth Vance ’09
Web Editor-in-Chief

The Connecticut government is continuing to adjust the new driving laws for teenagers. Under the latest changes, teenagers (under the age of 18) who get their licenses before Aug. 1, 2008 will not be required to follow some of the new laws passed last April.

According to the DMV’s official website, this means that teenagers who received licenses before August 1 will not have to abide by the new 11 P.M. curfew, or the year-long passenger restrictions that go into effect later this year. For many students at Staples, this is very good news.

“I’m really excited to hear I’ll be ‘grandfathered’ in and won’t have to wait a year to drive my friends,” said Lila Epstein ’10, who received her license on May 20 2008.

For those who don’t get their licenses by August 1, the outlook is not as positive. They must still wait a year to drive any peers under the age of 20, and will have to be off the roads by 11 P.M.

And no matter when they get their license, all drivers under the age of 18 will still face a 48 hour license suspension for any of the following offences: driving 20 mph or more above the speed limit, driving under the influence, driving recklessly, or motor racing on a public highway.

For more information about the new teen driving laws, click the link below to the CT DMV’s official page.

http://www.ct.gov/teendriving/cwp/view.asp?Q=413528&A=3369