June 21, 2010

SCHROEDER: ASSEMBLY VOTES TO KEEP TEEN DRIVERS IN DANGER FOR UP TO SIX MORE MONTHS ASSEMBLY IGNORES PARENTS' CONCERNS IN ITS REFUSAL TO SCRAP DANGEROUS AND UNPOPULAR TEEN DRIVING DECALS

Despite substantial opposition from residents across the state of New Jersey, the full Assembly refused to repeal a new controversial decal requirement for teen drivers as it approved legislation today that would instead call for the Attorney General to launch a six-month study of the state's graduated license program. The Department of Highway and Traffic Safety is already required to conduct a similar study.

Assemblyman Bob Schroeder, R-Bergen, made a motion to amend the legislation so that it would eliminate the teen decal requirement. The amendment is similar to legislation he sponsors, A-2650, which would immediately repeal the required red stickers that many people assert place teens in danger of sexual predators. Schroeder's legislation and several others that have drawn widespread bipartisan support have been blocked by Assembly Transportation committee chairman Assemblyman John Wisniewski, D-Middlesex.

"Wasting time on a duplicative study does nothing to address the immediate fears and concerns people have for the safety of their children," said Schroeder, a father of two teenagers. "The state's Transportation Department routinely studies the effectiveness of our programs, so all this legislation does is create redundant busy work, while ignoring the real issue at hand - these stickers are discriminatory and dangerous, and should be eliminated immediately."

At a news conference last week, a mother in Oceanport said her daughter's car, with the identifying sticker, was trailed home late one night.

"Thank God nothing happened, but why must we wait for legitimate fear to become a real tragedy?" said Schroeder, who believes the reasoning behind the requirement is sound.

"There has to be a better way of enforcing the GDL restrictions without targeting teen drivers for victimization," Schroeder said. "We should respect parents' wishes and err on the side of caution until we can figure out a way to keep teenagers safe - both on the road and from predators."