Dropouts Would Lose Driver’s Licenses

Idaho high school students would have one more reason to stay in school if a bill proposed by Sen. John Sandy, R-Hagerman, passes: if they don’t, their driver’s licenses could be suspended.

Sandy’s bill, proposed Tuesday in the Senate Education Committee, would take licenses away from dropouts and other students who just didn’t go to class enough.

“It’s designed to give kids the opportunity to further their education, get a better life,” said Sandy.

School and law enforcement officials agreed with Sandy that the bill would be effective. Patty Ann Lodge, a school media specialist for the Caldwell area, said that, according to a ninth-grader, a driver’s license and a car are the two most important things in life.

“If students know they can’t drive without a diploma or a GED, then they’ll work toward getting that,” said Lodge.

The committee voted unanimously to send the bill to the full Senate for a vote.

, DataTimes