Law to Ban Cruising

Muscletang · #1 02-19-2005, 01:25 AM

Well here in Oklahoma passed a law that bans what most people like to call Friday and Saturday night cruising. The police have said that in the past few years cruising has lead to nothing but more traffic accidents from reckless teenagers and teenagers grouping together causing trouble. They really cracked down and tried to put their thumbs on it as best as they could and now they've passed this law.

This is what the law says though.

If you're under 18 you can't be out driving from 10:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. unless you're going to work or your house. If you are also under 18 driving between these times you can't have passengers in your back seat and can only have one in the front. If you have passengers in the back they must be over 18 or close family members. If you break this law it will be held as a misdemeanor and you will be fined $25 to $100 and/or a county jail sentence of one to 30 days.

This is just what I've heard from the news so I haven't looked over the bill itself. I don't have all the details so this might not be 100% correct. Even though I'm 18 I still think this law is crap. Anyway, do you guys have laws like this where you live?

taranaki · #2 02-19-2005, 05:14 AM

More or less word for word.It's called a 'restricted' licence over here, and it reflects the fact that although the average newly-qualified driver may know the rules, their self-perceived driving skills are usually inversely proportional to the facts.Add to that the natural tendency for young males to drive more agressively when they have an audience and you have the perfect recipe for human roadkill.

All the statistics point to the young male driver as the worst risk on the road. When you see stories in the paper with monotonous regularity about multiple fatalities in a one car accident being driven by an inexperienced driver,you start to ask what can be done about it.When you have a daughter of an age where she is regularly travelling in beaters of dubious mechanical condition,driven by oiks of dubious intelligence and driving ability, you tend to support these measures.

In fact, I'd like to see it taken further.I'd argue that 18 should be the minimum driving age.Statistically, the highest risk grooup is males under 25, but realistically, it would not be reasonable to prevent them from driving altogether.
I would favour a restricted licence, starting as a sole vehicle user restricted to urban speed limits during daylight hours , with a gradual easing of restrictions culminating in a second driving test for the full use of all road conditions at age 21. The roads get more and more crowded with each year, it's time that we toughened up on the priviledge of using them.

And before anyone makes the argument, I'm still young enough to want to toughen up on the abilities of elderly drivers too.!

If you are not considered mature enough in the US to handle a 10 ounce bottle of beer, why should you be considered mature enough to handle a one ton pile of potentially lethal metal ?

TexasF355F1 · #3 02-19-2005, 03:29 PM

While I think the law sucks and makes those responsible teenagers suffer, I do think it does have a good purpose for it. The no backseat passengers sounds stupid to me though. I know here in Houston if you're under 18 there are curfues. Friday and Saturday night curfue is 1 a.m. i believe, during the week is midnight. I dont remember exactly since I never followed "the laws curfue" only my parents curfue. Which was 2 a.m. I went out cruising every friday and saturday to the "illegal races". Always got shewed off somewhere, but we found other places to go. I'm just not happy that the racing scene is quite difficult to find and definately no where near as fun or good as when i went. I was always hoping when I have kids that they would go and tell me about their nights at the races. I know my dad always liked hearing about it.

sivic02 · #4 02-19-2005, 11:20 PM

We had a law similar to that in statesboro, georgia when i turned 16, it was midnight, did that stop us? Hell no! How do you not get in trouble? Dont be stupid. How often have you been pulled over when obeying all the speed/traffic laws? Not any times if any. So just get all of your spirited driving out of your system before 10 and youll be alright. And yes by what I said I am suggesting you break the law...F*** THE MAN!!! lol

eversio11 · #5 02-20-2005, 12:01 AM

In IL, the law is that if you're under 18, for the first six months you have your license you are allowed only one passenger on 18, unless they are family members, in which case you can have as many as you want. I think the curfew for anyone under 18 is midnight.

These laws aren't too strict, and its not as if I followed them, so I don't mind too much.

Raz_Kaz · #6 02-20-2005, 12:57 AM

Just be thankful you don't have 3 license types like Ontario. Every class has it's own special rules

BP2K2Max · #7 02-21-2005, 12:07 PM

it's a curfew. here it's freakin' 9 0'clock unless you're 18 or take a drivers ed program 3 days a week for a few months that gives you your senior license and the privaleges that come with it. you're also not allowed to travel on major highways or interstates without your senior license. i took the Driver's ed course and was driving as late as i wanted at 16. it wasn't a big deal for me.

i never understood the three plates thing. that seems like a real pain in the ass.

T4 Primera · #8 02-22-2005, 01:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sivic02

...when i turned 16, it was midnight, did that stop us? Hell no!...

In NZ where Taranaki was outlining our laws, you get caught, the car you are driving can be impounded regardless of who the owner is. That tends to stop most of them.

Same with unpaid fines.

twospirits · #9 02-22-2005, 09:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sivic02

We had a law similar to that in statesboro, georgia when i turned 16, it was midnight, did that stop us? Hell no! How do you not get in trouble? Dont be stupid. How often have you been pulled over when obeying all the speed/traffic laws? Not any times if any. So just get all of your spirited driving out of your system before 10 and youll be alright. And yes by what I said I am suggesting you break the law...F*** THE MAN!!! lol

I sincerly hope you are joking.

Now while I think the law is a good one, especially considering the countless accidents these young kids get into with a night of partying and drinking, I do not see how it can be enforced. Some districts do not have enough police patrolling to check on every single young driver.

TS out

Damien · #10 02-22-2005, 10:10 PM

That's just a curfew...big deal. Virginia had it, same time but then they shortened it t0 12-4. Now I don't think it exists, but Im not there so idk. Meh, it's nothing big with driving, at least you can still be out. We couldn't even be out after 11.

RickwithaTbird · #11 02-22-2005, 10:36 PM

I agree with sivic02. If you can drive responsibly, then who cares about the law. Drive legal, and you won't get pulled over. Now for those who aren't capable of doing that, then they will get punished because they will get caught, and the actual problem will be solved. Responsible drivers aren't the problem, so I see no reason why they shouldnt break the law if they will drive correctly.

I see it the same way I see cell phone laws. If you think you are good enough to drive on the phone without getting caught, then go for it. But if you aren't, you will get caught and you will get in trouble for it, as you should. Basically, if the person isn't actually creating a problem, there is no reason why they will be noticed, and therefore, no reason why they should be punished. This is an instance where the officer should be allowed to use judgement. If the teen driver appears to be responsible, and well behaved, then why fuck them over because of a law created to stop the hell raisers? The term for that is "profiling".

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