SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 39
(By Senators Unger, Jenkins, D. Facemire, Fanning, Plymale,
Stollings and White)
[Originating in the Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure; reported March 24, 2009.]
Requesting the Joint Committee on Government and Finance study
issues related to strengthening certain restrictions on a
graduated driver's license to increase public safety.
Whereas, Section three-a, article two, chapter seventeen-b of
the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, imposes certain
restrictions on a graduated driver's license to increase public
safety; and
Whereas, The National Safety Council and other experts have
recently recommended that the various states make somewhat more
rigorous the laws providing restrictions on a graduated driver's
license by, for example: Increasing the minimum age from fifteen
years old to sixteen years old for obtaining a level-one instruction
permit; by decreasing the number of, and increasing the minimum age
of, the passengers in a motor vehicle being driven by a level-two
intermediate driver's license; by increasing the minimum number of
hours of behind-the-wheel driving experience for a level-two intermediate license holder, including, for the first time, a
minimum number of nighttime driving hours; and by moving to one hour
earlier at night (specifically, to 10:00 p. m.) the latest hour for
a level-one or level-two permit or license holder to be driving
(with certain exceptions); and
Whereas, Each of these recommendations, and others not set
forth above, involve many discrete considerations; and
Whereas, The Legislature ought to have the benefit of reviewing
the underlying information that led to these recommendations
involving important public safety issues; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance is hereby
requested to study issues related to strengthening certain
restrictions on a graduated driver's license to increase public
safety; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Joint Committee on Government and
Finance seek input from the Division of Motor Vehicles, the National
Safety Council and from any other experts or persons or
organizations which that committee may deem to be potentially
suitable as resource sources for this study; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Joint Committee on Government and
Finance report to the regular session of the Legislature, 2010, on
its findings, conclusions and recommendations, together with drafts
of any legislation necessary to effectuate its recommendations; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the expenses necessary to conduct this
study, to prepare a report and to draft necessary legislation be
paid from legislative appropriations to the Joint Committee on
Government and Finance.