Mark Alexander, a personal injury attorney and partner with the Gainesville, Ga. law firm Stewart Melvin & Frost, explains.
Question: What do the teens themselves need to understand the consequences of their actions behind the wheel and off the road?
Mark: For drivers under 21 years old, tolerance under the law is very low. Young drivers are at a high risk of having driver’s license suspended if the commit traffic offense such as driving 24 mph over speed limit, reckless driving, racing, leaving scene of accident or passing a school bus. They lose their license if they accumulate four traffic offense points in any one year or 15 points in any two-year period if they are over 21. They can also lose their license if they are convicted of a DUI.
Question: What non-driving offense can cause a driver under 21 to have their license taken away?
Mark: A driver can lose their license for non-traffic offense such as being convicted of purchasing alcohol or using fake ID, or being convicted of possession of marijuana.
The bottom line warning to teens: If you do stupid stuff, even if not driving a car, you could lose your driver’s license. Driving is a privilege not a right and this privilege needs to be respected.
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