Assembly rejects gradual driving rights

The Assembly on Monday rejected a proposal by a Republican senator to establish gradual driving rights for Nevada's teenagers.

Assembly Minority Leader Lynn Hettrick, R-Gardnerville, pushed for adoption of an amendment to SB483 for Sen. Barbara Cegavske, R-Las Vegas. The amendment would have established a graduated drivers licensing system for Nevada's teen drivers, but the amendment failed on a 13-28 vote.

Cegavske, who pushed the same measure as an Assembly member during the 2001 session, wants to limit 16-year-old and 17-year-old drivers for the first six months they have their license. Under the amendment, they wouldn't be able to transport anyone under 18 years old unless the person was a family member.

The amendment also would make parents or legal guardians liable for any fines or penalties imposed against their child if the parents allows the child to operate a car in violation of the graduated driver's license law.

No Assembly member spoke in favor of the amendment. Assemblyman David Goldwater, D-Las Vegas, said the measure doesn't target the most dangerous drivers on the road.

"Those over 80 (years old) are far more likely to create a traffic problem than teenagers ... but are we going after those people? No," Goldwater said.

After her proposal died, Cegavske said simply, "We'll keep trying."