Saturday, August 24, 1996

Drinking teens to face restrictions

By PEGGY FIKAC
Associated Press

AUSTIN - Teen-agers would face restrictions on night driving and penalties would be increased for underage drinking offenses under proposals to be finalized next week by a Senate committee.

"Our committee recommendations seek to address ways to reduce the high number of underage alcohol-related motor vehicle fatalities in Texas," Sen. Royce West, D-Dallas, said Friday.

According to state statistics, 5,645 people were killed or injured in 1994 in accidents with an alcohol-impaired or intoxicated driver age 21 or under.

The Senate Interim Committee on Juvenile Driving While Intoxicated Laws, which is headed by West, meets Monday to vote on its final recommendations to the 1997 session of the Texas Legislature.

One proposal would deny full driving privileges to 16-year-olds, instead setting up an intermediate license system.

Teen-agers would be eligible for an intermediate license if they were at least 16; had a learner's permit for at least six months; completed driver's education; passed their driving test; and had no drug- or alcohol-related convictions within six months of applying for the license.

With an intermediate license, teen-agers could not drive between midnight and 5 a.m. unless accompanied by a licensed driver age 21 or older. A teen-ager could be eligible for an occupational license if unable to obtain an intermediate license.

Texans could get a license with full driving privileges either at age 18, or after having had an intermediate license for at least a year, with no drug or alcohol convictions for six months.

The U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has encouraged states to implement such a graduated driver's license system, saying it would ease young drivers onto the road. States with nighttime driving restrictions for novice drivers have reported lower crash rates.

The proposal would cost an estimated $1 million to implement due to the new license requirements, according to West's staff.

Among other proposals to be finalized Monday by the committee are:

- Creating a "zero-tolerance" provision for those who are under the legal drinking age of 21 and who are found driving with any amount of alcohol in their system.

On a first offense, they would face a fine of up to $500, driver's license suspension for 120 days, community service and an alcohol awareness course. The current blood-alcohol level at which a minor is considered legally intoxicated is 0.07.

- Increasing the penalties for other alcohol-related offenses.

For example, a minor found to be in possession of alcohol currently faces a fine of $25 to $200 and a requirement for either an alcohol awareness course or eight to 12 hours of community service.

The proposal would set a fine of zero to $500, plus a mandatory alcohol awareness course and community service, and a 30-day driver's license suspension.

- Raising the punishment for those who buy alcohol for a minor.

For a first offense, the change would be from the current fine of $100 to $500, to a fine of zero to $2,000 and the possibility of up to six months in jail.