New law puts limits on teen drivers

Arizona drivers under the age of 18, like those in most other states, will now face restrictions on whom they can have in their vehicles and when they can drive. Gov. Janet Napolitano signed a bill into law Monday that supporters say will improve safety partly by reducing distractions for teen drivers.

Championed by the Arizona Automobile Association, the bill (HB 2033) would generally prohibit teenagers from driving between midnight and 5 a.m. during the first six months they hold a Class G ''graduated'' license. Exceptions include when young drivers are accompanied by a parent or when they are driving to or from work or sanctioned school or religious activities, or because of a family emergency.

Also during the first six months, a driver with a Class G license would be limited to one passenger under age 18 unless the passengers are siblings of the driver or the driver is accompanied by a parent. The exception for siblings was a bow to concerns that some families want teens to help handle driving responsibilities.

Violators of the driving restrictions would be subject to fines and additional time under the restrictions.

Stella Duenas' daughter, Blanca Munoz, is just six months away from her 16th birthday. As a parent, the Yuma mother said she thought the law was a great idea.

"It's for their safety," Duenas said. "With all the teenagers in the car with music and everything ... they start speeding and they're not paying attention."

Munoz said she didn't have a problem with the law, even though it will curtail some of her driving privileges.

"It's OK," she said.

She added that she did not think it would be all that limiting for teen drivers, since she'd still be able to get her license.

Another provision of the bill would increase the required supervised driving practice to 30 hours from the current 25, including 10 hours of night driving, up from the current five.

In addition, the bill would allow a teen to apply for an instructional permit at 15 years and 6 months, one month earlier than now. In another change applying to instructional permits, the required licensed driver riding as a front-seat passenger would have to be at least 21 years old.

The changes will take effect July 1, 2008, putting Arizona in the vast majority of other states with similar restrictions.

Yuma Police Department spokesman Clint Norred said he was sure the law would help prevent accidents among teen drivers.

"Any time you have a 2,400-pound vehicle driving down the road, even at slow speeds, it can be deadly," Norred said, "and packing it full of teenagers who are all new and giddy just makes it worse ... Obviously, no law is going to solve everything but it sounds like a step in the right direction."

Some legislators who voted against the bill said it intruded on parents' rights.

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Sun staff writer Sarah Reynolds contributed to this report. She can be reached at sreynolds@yumasun.com or 539-6847.