Kyleigh's Law

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Kyleigh's Law (S2314) is a motor vehicle law in New Jersey that requires any driver under age 21 who holds a permit or probationary driver's license to display a $4 pair of decals on the top left corner of the front and rear license plates of their vehicles. The decals were mandatory as of May 1, 2010. This law prohibits drivers under the age of 21 from driving between 11:01 pm and 5:00am. If pulled over, a first or second offense can subject the driver to a $25 fine, whereas a third offense earns 2 points on the driver's license, and a 4th offense puts the teen driver on probation and takes away their license for up to 6 months. This law is in effect in New Jersey as of May 2010. [1]

Contents

The red, detachable decals are 1 by 1+1⁄2 inches (25 mm × 38 mm) and are to be attached to license plates. The decal is intended to identify the driver's provisional license status to the police so they may identify possible law-breakers more easily. [2] The law is named for Kyleigh D'Alessio, a 16-year-old killed in a 2006 Washington Township, Morris County crash in which another teen was driving. The 17-year-old driver of that vehicle was violating the then-current GDL restrictions by driving with three passengers when he was limited to only one (one of the passengers was his brother who was not included in passenger restrictions). [3] [4]

Probationary license restrictions

An additional law (S-16) signed at the same time as Kyleigh's Law and effected simultaneously alters the restrictions already set forth in New Jersey with the GDL (Graduated Driver's License) system.

Previous restrictions

Restrictions under Kyleigh's Law

Failure to comply with any of these restrictions results in a $100 fine if pulled over. S-16

Controversy

Some New Jersey residents think the law may actually put teen drivers in greater danger. The red color sticker on the license plates could be used by criminals, predators, and sex offenders stalking the roads for potential teenage victims. They also cite the possibility of police profiling though law enforcement denies this will occur. [5] These arguments were included in the motion to repeal the law, but Judge Robert Brennan dismissed the motion and allowed the law to take effect. [6]

Opponents of the law cite the unintended consequences in Florida, where a similar law for rental cars, passed in the 1990s, resulted in nine tourists attacked and murdered because the license plates identified the rental vehicles to criminals who targeted the out-of-town drivers unfamiliar with their surroundings and possibly carrying a lot of cash. [7]

National Youth Rights Association, calling the law "discriminatory and dangerous," is encouraging all New Jersey motorists, including those not required to do so, to place the decals on their license plates. [8]

The law has been met with widespread noncompliance across the state. As of May 11, 2010 only about 2 in 5 of those who were required to have the stickers had purchased them. On May 13, 2010 a rally was held in Morris County by teens, as well as parents and grandparents, calling for a repeal of the law. In addition, reports of stolen stickers have surfaced. [9]

On August 6, 2012 the New Jersey Supreme Court upheld the decal requirement of Kyleigh's Law, saying that it does not violate the federal Driver's Privacy Protection Act which says that the fact that a driver is under 21 and holds a learner's permit, examination permit, or probationary license can be disclosed. The courts said "the driver's age group constitutes neither 'highly restricted personal information' within the meaning of (the federal law) nor 'personal information' within the meaning of" the federal law. "The young drivers subject to (Kyleigh's Law) have no reasonable expectation of privacy in their age group because a driver's age group can generally be determined by his or her physical appearance, which is routinely exposed to public view." [10]

See also

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References

  1. ↑ "Young driver decals mandatory May 1". News 12 New Jersey. March 8, 2010. Archived from the original on July 11, 2012. Retrieved March 8, 2010.
  2. ↑ S2314
  3. ↑ "Kyleigh's Law: Protecting - or Targeting - Young New Jersey Drivers - Law Firm Drazin and Warshaw P.C. Attorneys Red Bank, New Jersey". Archived from the original on 2012-10-17. Retrieved 2012-08-05.
  4. ↑ "New York City and Tri-State News from WABC-TV 12/22/06 | 7online". Archived from the original on January 24, 2013. Retrieved August 5, 2012.
  5. ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20100414120953/http://www.northjersey.com/news/opinions/phalons_file/89658602_A_dangerous_law.html. Archived from the original on April 14, 2010. Retrieved April 14, 2010.{{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  6. ↑ "N.J. officials reveal Kyleigh's Law license plate decals for young drivers". 25 March 2010.
  7. ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20120910175130/http://www.northjersey.com/news/crime_courts/safety/89658602_A_dangerous_law.html. Archived from the original on September 10, 2012. Retrieved April 18, 2010.{{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  8. ↑ http://www.dailyrecord.com/article/20100428/UPDATES01/100428055/1005/NEWS01/National+youth+rights+group+urges+NJ+drivers+to+sabotage++Kyleigh+s+Law+%5B%5D
  9. ↑ "N.J. parents, teens protest against Kyleigh's Law at Morris County lawmakers' offices". 14 May 2010.
  10. ↑ "N.J. Supreme Court upholds decal law for young drivers". 7 August 2012.
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