No driver's license for Alabama teens in trouble

By Linda White Media General News Service
Published: February 20, 2009

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Some Alabama senators want to keep teens with bad behavior off highways and roads.

Senate Bill 57 or "Taylor's Law" is named for a Muscle Shoals resident killed by a teen drunk driver. Could it help young drivers mature sooner? A Homewood High School Driver's Ed Teacher isn't so sure.

Teacher told student, "Alright, check your brake."

Usually on the football field or in the gym with wrestlers, this is Coach Dexter LeBlanc's first year as a driver's education teacher.

Teacher told student, "How many feet back do you have to be when you signal your turn? 100 feet. 100 feet, very good."

So far he really enjoys it.

Driver’s Education teacher, Coach Dexter LeBlanc, said, "It's one of those things, I should have been doing from the very beginning, it's been real good."

Now legislation in the Alabama legislature is designed to prevent students with discipline problems from getting their driver's license too early.

Coach LeBlanc said, "My first thought, how are they going to monitor it I think that's the biggest thing."

For driver's education teachers and educators alike, there are just far too many questions than there are answers on this proposed legislation. Like who decides what a discipline problem is.

Coach LeBlanc said, "First of all, we have to define what discipline problems are. Technically a kid cuttin' class, that's a discipline problem or him being tardy for class that's a discipline problem, so I think we need to vary it down to when you say discipline."

Coach LeBlanc has some ideas of his own that might work better - like mandatory permits at 16, then at 17, a driver's license. And there's this idea too.

Coach LeBlanc said, "Making every student under the age of 18 take a driver's education course. I think that would make students who are immature, more mature after they come out of the course."

Still in the senate - it's unclear what this bill will look like if it makes it to the floor of the legislature.

A similar version of Taylor's Law is also making its way through the house.