Kentucky No Pass / No Drive Law

[Chris Fultz]

FRANKFORT, Ky. (August 1, 2007) – The No Pass / No Drive Law (KRS 159.051) is now in effect. The law states that all students ages 16 or 17 can be denied a driver’s license or have a license revoked for academic deficiency. The statute only affects drivers who obtain a permit or license after August 1, 2007.

A student is considered academically deficient when he or she has not passed at least four courses or the equivalent of four courses in the previous semester, has accumulated 9 or more unexcused absences, or has dropped out of school.

When applying for a permit at the circuit clerk’s office, students will be required to present a school compliance verification form issued by their school.

If a student becomes academically deficient, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet will be notified by the school, and that student’s license will then be revoked. Students may reapply for a license once compliance is met.

This is a significant step for the state of Kentucky to take. What do you all think - will this be a motivator for students to stay in school? How would it affect your school?

[DAN1504]

i know it would make me concentrate on school a lot more than i already do, its an interesting tid-bit of info to have tho

[cooker52]

I kind of like it. It will encourage students to stay in school and actually try at it. It is a great step for Kentucky. This will definitley help students.

[Kevin Sevcik]

I'm trying to decide how this helps. Many students drop out of school because they're workings and helping support their families. I'm uncertain how removing an otherwise basic right from these people helps at all. In addition... This is the state punishing a citizen by removing an otherwise accorded right for failing classes. It's almost making failing a criminal act. I mean.. you would think that the department of transportation has the right to regulate drivers licenses based on the recipient's ability to drive. Age I can see having something to do with it. Driving record and moving violations, sure. Not passing geometry and poli sci? What does that have to do with driving?

Mostly, I think the state is using a punitive power in a completely inappropriate fashion in a vain attempt to solve a serious problem in a completely useless way.

[Protronie]

Originally Posted by Kevin Sevcik

Many students drop out of school because they're workings and helping support their families. I'm uncertain how removing an otherwise basic right from these people helps at all.

Mostly, I think the state is using a punitive power in a completely inappropriate fashion in a vain attempt to solve a serious problem in a completely useless way.

Driving is not a right.

I do agree that some teens do leave school to support their families though this is not as common as it once was.

This is just Kentucky's lawmakers passing a law to say we care about education for the upcoming election year.
If they were really serious about education they would look at the root of problem.

[Pavan Dave]

Originally Posted by Protronie

Driving is not a right.

I do agree that some teens do leave school to support their families though this is not as common as it once was.

This is just Kentucky's lawmakers passing a law to say we care about education for the upcoming election year.
If they were really serious about education they would look at the root of problem.

Politics... I told ya, a lot of stupid laws with tons of loop holes will be passed and have been passed all the way up until November [and hopefully gas prices will drop too]. I guess its our [the American people over 18] fault that we voted those people in, eh?

[cooker52]

I say live with it the best you can. You loose your license, ride your bike. I hardly drive anywhere (winter may change that).

But, driving is fun and useful. I just don't use the full advantage of it an probably won't for a while. I don't drive to school yet, but I also don't have a job. Even when I do get a job, I probably will only drive when weather is bad enough. There are other options to take (considering most work close to home).

[Schnabel]

Actually I think that it will do nothing. The reason why is because we have about that same law here in Indiana with the addition of loosing it for 6 weeks when you get suspended. The only problem is that the people who get suspended or fail most every course are still driving even with the school knowing it. This might make a difference at first, but the student's will find a way to get by with it.

[Chris Fultz]

This isn't losing your ability to drive to school, it is losing you ability to drive anywhere.

[cooker52]

Originally Posted by Schnabel

This might make a difference at first, but the student's will find a way to get by with it.

Either by getting rides, or trying to avoid getting caught.

[Jeff K.]

That sounds like a good way to keep kids in school, like an incentive...just wouldn't really work. How old does the student have to be so that this doesn't apply, just 17? A person 17 may not be able to attend school because they have to work to feed their family. California hasn't adopted something like that, although parents have the choice to take away their child's license.

The attendance policy doesn't really determine anything. Maybe just whether or not the student has ditched class, but not the student's knowledge and ability to drive.
Last year, I had like, 8 absences 1st Semester and 11 absences in some classes 2nd Semester, due to sickness (Pericarditis), and traveling to regional events. Our school policy is that you cannot have over 10 absences in a class. If you do, you will have a meeting with the Assistant Academic Principal to go over your grades and all. I was fortunately never called in, and I was in good standings in all of my classes.

Interesting. Here in California, it wouldn't work. Unless they made every officer memorize the license plate red-flag list, they are legally unable to pull you over until you violate a traffic law.

This seems to be the next version of the change from waiting 6 months to having to wait a year before once can drive their friends in a car. It's the law, yes, but no one follows it unless they have their parents breathing down their necks.

As for the intent of the law, I disagree. Usually if a student isn't doing that well in school, it has to do with a lack of support; parental, teacher related, or other reasons. If you then take away their means of transportation, they're not going to be as happy about going to school. If I were already failing, and then were denied the ability to get myself to the school that I was failing in, I would most likely drop out right then and join the military.

Just my two cents.

[Alivia]

Originally Posted by 114ManualLabor

If you then take away their means of transportation, they're not going to be as happy about going to school. If I were already failing, and then were denied the ability to get myself to the school that I was failing in, I would most likely drop out right then and join the military.

That's definitely one of the major fallacies I see with this new law. For some students, the law will maybe be an incentive. But for others, it could make the difference between staying in school and dropping out.

[Stuart]

/in my best cop voice/ "let me see your license, registration, and latest report card please"

[DonRotolo]

Originally Posted by Kevin Sevcik

I'm uncertain how removing an otherwise basic right from these people helps at all.

Not sure about where you live, but here in New Jersey it is made abundantly clear that driving is a privilege not a right.

My opinion is that if KY is trying to keep kids in school and working at it, this will succeed. I'm not a big fan of Government, myself, and this new policy is a little bit Orwellian, but I am a huge fan of education.

Don