As reported by The State, South Carolina State Representative Tom Young recently proposed a bill that will strip teenagers of their driver’s licenses if they drop out of school before age 18. Under the proposed bill, a South Carolina student under the age of 18 who routinely skips school could have their South Carolina driver’s license suspended.
In a state often criticized for poor education performance, keeping students in school until high school graduation may improve South Carolina’s education standing.
Representative Young classified the proposal as a short-term solution to South Carolina’s low graduate rate. Students can currently drop out of school at the age of 17. South Carolina Department of Education officials believe the proposal has potential but expressed concern over the cost of increasing the drop out age.
Nearly 20 other states have similar laws, including South Carolina’s neighbors Georgia and Florida. Enrollment and graduation rates increased in both Georgia and Florida after similar laws went into effect. During the 2007-2008 school year, 8,400 teenagers in Florida had their licenses suspended for dropping out of school or accumulating too many absences. Of those 8,400, 96% re-enrolled in school.
So what do you think? Maybe revoking a teenager’s driver’s license will be enough to even keep Ferris Bueller in school?
When your rights are at stake, you need an attorney who will fight to protect your freedom and seek justice in the event a false arrest occurs. The criminal defense attorneys at the Strom Law Firm, L.L.C. include a former United States Attorney, a former public defender, a former Assistant Attorney General and Richland County Assistant Solicitor, as well as a tax lawyer familiar with IRS criminal investigations. The Strom Law Firm aggressively defends individuals on all criminal charges in all State and Federal Courts in South Carolina as well as the Federal Courts in Georgia. Our lawyers proudly edit the Columbia, South Carolina Injury Board as well as several other blogs as a pro bono effort to provide the public valuable information. Our lawyers are licensed in: South Carolina, New York, and Georgia.
