Here come the bells… the ringing of the Red Phone that is on another fine Saturday morning in the Mushroom City. Got a problem, need an answer, dial up the Crimson Crusader at 779-4106 ext. 206 or e-mail the Vermillon Avenger at re******@*************es.com.
Stricter Rules for New Teen Drivers
A Red Phone caller wonders about new rules for young drivers.
“I have a daughter who is 13 years old and I’m wondering if she’s going to be able to get her driver’s license at 16 or did the state of California change the law to 18 to get a license?”
Red Phone
Beginning Jan. 1, young drivers will face tougher safety rules. The new Graduated Driver’s License law recently signed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, put tighter restrictions on young motorists’ nighttime driving and their ability to transport other young passengers without an adult in the vehicle.
Next month, young drivers who have had their provisional licenses for less than a year will be prohibited from driving between 11pm and 5am. In addition, the law requires young drivers to have their license for one year before they will be allowed to drive passengers younger than 20 without an adult over age 25 in the vehicle.
Persons under 18 may not be employed to drive a motor vehicle alone. When you become 18, the provisional part of your driver’s license ends. You may continue to drive as an adult using your photo license, which will expire on your fifth birthday after the date you applied. Teens still need to have a permit first, and they can apply for it at 15 1/2 years of age.
Before being eligible to take the driving test you must: be 16 years old; have held your permit for a minimum of six months; have completed driver education; have completed 6 hours of professional driver training; AND have completed 50 hours of practice with an adult 25 years or older.
According to California Insurance Requirements, you will be asked to show that you are properly insured before the driving test begins or the driving test will be postponed.
After you pass your driving test you will be issued an interim license valid for 60 days until you receive your new photo license in the mail. If you fail your driving test, you must wait two weeks before you can take the test again. You have three chances to pass.
The above information and more can be found at the Department of Motor Vehicles Web site, www.dmv.org.
Williamson Act Whining
As the county continues to work on cleaning up the mess associated with the Williamson Act – a state law that allows tax exemptions for landowners involved in farming – a caller shares his opinion on the county’s plan and the City of Morgan Hill’s fee waiver for a new development on Cochrane Road east of U.S. 101.
“Hello, I want to comment on the Williamson Act after reading your article (Dec. 6 ‘Another Williamson Plan Attacked’). They went to the Williamson Act for the benefit of not paying taxes. If they want to develop, they should pay the fine. There is no reason they shouldn’t. They knew what they were doing.
My other comment is regarding the development on Cochrane Road, where the city is giving the development $11.5 million or so. If it is such a great deal for the city, they shouldn’t have to pay. Nobody else is paying. Every time you build a house or business, they pay the fees. They should pay the fees too. I cannot believe what they are doing there.”
Red Phone
You’re not alone in your opinion. “We haven’t agreed to any scenario that doesn’t involve cancellations or non-renewal,” said Don Drysdale of state Department of Conservation which oversees county Williamson Act contracts. “We have issues with anything that allows a get-out-of-jail free card and mass transfers into the open space easement. That doesn’t sound like something that would be very popular around here.”
As for the new Cochrane development, city officials have said the fee waiver will allow for a first-class development that is expected to generate $26 million in tax revenue in its first 15 years. Though there have been some vocal critics of the development, the Chamber of Commerce is supportive. The 17 residents who spoke at the Nov. 16 City Council meeting were split in their opinions.
