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

[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]

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.

[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.

[Alivia]

I'm not sure how I feel on the subject. I think that the motives of the Kentucky lawmakers are for the common good, and that in a perfect world, teens would take their schooling more seriously if they knew that their license would be revoked.

However, I also know that there are many students whose only way of getting to school would be driving (because their parents work or busing is not available and the school is too far away to walk). Sadly, I think some of these students would just drop out of school if their license was revoked.

I think that the law is good for the most part, though, because students might learn to take their education more seriously. And we all know that education is one of the most important keys to success.

[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.

[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"

[cooker52]

Truthfully, looking at real life, I see lots of kids in our school that would say a variety of words when this would happen to them, then just drop out like they don't care (mostly because they really don't care). It will be those who are struggling and who do care a little bit that this will effect. They will try harder and hopefully find help.

But, as brought up (and although it contrasts what I said a little bit ago) there will be those who it will not bother them to have their license taken, and they will find other means, and end up breaking the law. And it's not going to be easy for the law to find them out if they do drive. How are they to tell whose dropped out or whose failed a few courses (drop outs will be a little easier to find durring the school day).

[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

[lukevanoort]

We pretty much have this law in NC, if you're under 18, you have to have a certificate from your school saying you are passing enough classes, are in school etc. to get a license/permit. After that, if the school informs the NCDMV that you have dropped below the requirements, your license is removed. In my experience, the law doesn't really have much effect.