Stickers will help identify vehicles of young drivers

JACKSON - Stickers that are to be placed on vehicles being operated by people who hold a provisional driver's license are now available.

Placing the sticker on a vehicle will give a parent's consent for police to stop their minor children so that an officer may check for possible violations of the terms of the provisional driver's license, Councilman Angelo Stallone said.

"I want people to understand that this is a voluntary program," Stallone said. "We are not out to harass your children. We just want to make sure they are driving safely and abiding by the rules of the provisional driver laws. We hope this will encourage them to act appropriately and drive within the law."

The stickers will be provided free by the Jackson Police Department.

Stallone initiated the idea in conjunction with the police following a series of accidents that have claimed the lives of young people. Driver inexperience has been cited as a possible contributing factor in the accidents.

He said the idea came to mind to have a voluntary program in which the parents of drivers who hold a provisional license - young people who would likely drive vehicles registered to or owned by their parents - would be asked to place an identifiable sticker on their vehicles.

"More important," said Stallone, "is the hope that this sticker will deter a younger driver from violating the terms of the provisional driver's license because he or she will be scrutinized more carefully."

Stallone said it is hoped that the sticker program will help to save a life.

There are a number of restrictions that are placed on people who hold a provisional driver's license. One restriction limits to one the number of passengers who do not live in the driver's home who may be in the vehicle when the person who holds the provisional license is driving.

- Dave Benjamin