New Virginia Driving Law Punishes Students Who Skip School

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Updated: 5:31 PM Jun 17, 2009 New Virginia Driving Law Punishes Students Who Skip School A new Virginia law effective July 1 is penalizing students who skip school by taking away their licenses temporarily. Posted: 2:02 PM Jun 17, 2009

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June 17, 2009

Two new laws passed in Virginia are changing the rules on who can drive and where they can drive.

A new Virginia law effective July 1 is penalizing students who skip school by taking away their licenses temporarily. It says students who miss ten or more days of school without permission will have their licenses suspended.

The new law applies to students under the age of 18, and it only allows them nine unexcused, consecutive absences from school until they face license suspension.

Officials say if teens whose licenses are suspended drive anyway, they are guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. However, if students lose their driving privilege under this new law, they may apply to the court for a restricted license under specific circumstances.

The second new law passed by the Virginia legislature prohibits mopeds from traveling on interstate highways, Violators could face a $50 fine. The moped restriction is effective July 1st also.

Latest Comments

Posted by: Todd Location: Prince William County on Jul 1, 2009 at 05:14 AM

I'm not an english major, but I read this to mean 10 unexcused absences OR 10 consecutive absences. If this law is for 10 consecutive unexcused absences, then why doesn't it just say so? Because if the student has already missed 2 straight weeks of school, he/she is already in violation of all sorts of truency laws and losing a drivers license is the least of theirs (and their parent's) worries.

Posted by: Bruce Location: charlottesville on Jun 18, 2009 at 10:55 AM

Why does DMV have to monitor our kids. We are allowing more and more of the responsiblility of raising our kids in the hands on government agencies. Totally unnessary law and a waste of our tax money. Just like texting while driving. The police don't enforce the laws that are already on the books like when your wipers are on you must have your lights on. I see too many people driving in the rain with their wipers on and lights off. This is visible a mile away. But they are concerned with seatbelts and texting where you have to be very close to the vehicle to detect the offense. I don't condone either just saying enforce what is on the books 100% first before you make another list.

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