Teenage Rights?

[Teenrights? lol]

In Michigan, a law recently passed giving 16 year olds a curfew limitation of 10 p.m [on the road], and also restricted the amount of passengers they can have in their car with them to one non-family member. Why is it fair for Michigan to pass this law? Teenagers have no representation, and it affects nobody but them. They have a right to assemble too don't they? Isn't a car an extension of their property as well, giving them the right to be in it whenever they want? Sorry for all of the questions, but I'm turning 16 soon and this law is completely unfair, old people can pass laws on me because they're past the point of it affecting them?

 

[TinkerBelleLuvr]

In Michigan, a law recently passed giving 16 year olds a curfew limitation of 10 p.m [on the road], and also restricted the amount of passengers they can have in their car with them to one non-family member. Why is it fair for Michigan to pass this law? Teenagers have no representation, and it affects nobody but them. They have a right to assemble too don't they? Isn't a car an extension of their property as well, giving them the right to be in it whenever they want? Sorry for all of the questions, but I'm turning 16 soon and this law is completely unfair, old people can pass laws on me because they're past the point of it affecting them?

Driving is a PRIVILEGE. Secondly, you are a MINOR; therefore, they can further govern your life.

And who ever said that life was fair?

 

[antrc170]

In Michigan, a law recently passed giving 16 year olds a curfew limitation of 10 p.m [on the road], and also restricted the amount of passengers they can have in their car with them to one non-family member. Why is it fair for Michigan to pass this law? Teenagers have no representation, and it affects nobody but them. They have a right to assemble too don't they? Isn't a car an extension of their property as well, giving them the right to be in it whenever they want? Sorry for all of the questions, but I'm turning 16 soon and this law is completely unfair, old people can pass laws on me because they're past the point of it affecting them?

You are confusing two very simple concepts. Your rights, and your privledges. You have no right to drive a car. You have the privledge to drive a car on public highways to the extent that the state deems reasonable. MI apparently believes that at 16 the driver of any vehicle needs to be regulated at a higher level that others. The state has the right to enact whatever regulations upon that roadway as it deems necessary. You have the right to sit in a car in your driveway for as long as you want (until your parents tell you to get out that is).

Perhaps the "old people" in the state are more experience and knowledgable in their advanced age and choose to enact laws that are protective of you. If you become a parent, or an "old person", then maybe you'll understand that laws are sometimes enacted for the greater good of society.

 

[>Charlotte<]

it affects nobody but them.

Seriously?

 

[Teenrights? lol]

But what if I don't want protection? Do I not have that choice? The "Old" people made it through their life without this rule, why do they see fit to impose it on me?

 

[>Charlotte<]

But what if I don't want protection?

The rest of us do.

 

[cbg]

No, as a matter of fact. You do not have that choice.

 

[Teenrights? lol]

It never happened to you, and all of you are clearly for it. There are ways around this law that somewhat intelligent kids will find out and exploit. This law makes getting anywhere extremely inefficient as well, my car pool in the morning to school won't be legal anymore. There are four kids in it, being driven by a 16 and a half year old.

 

[Zigner]

But what if I don't want protection? Do I not have that choice? The "Old" people made it through their life without this rule, why do they see fit to impose it on me?

Plenty of folks DIDN'T make it through to be "old people"

 

[Proserpina]

It never happened to you, and all of you are clearly for it. There are ways around this law that somewhat intelligent kids will find out and exploit. This law makes getting anywhere extremely inefficient as well, my car pool in the morning to school won't be legal anymore. There are four kids in it, being driven by a 16 and a half year old.

Gosh, can you imagine if you lived in Europe? Where you're (in most countries) not allowed to drive until after you've graduated high school?

THE HORROR!

Your life would obviously be ruined.


Now don't make me break my Lent promise here.

 

[justalayman]

Plenty of folks DIDN'T make it through to be "old people"

please allow me to continue:


due to the poor driving skills exhibited by some 16 yo kid.

 

[Teenrights? lol]

That's unfortunate, yet the vast majority did. Well as minors, we don't have representation, and you adults fail to see our points and pass laws without consideration of how it affects us. Some democracy.

 

[CdwJava]

But what if I don't want protection? Do I not have that choice? The "Old" people made it through their life without this rule, why do they see fit to impose it on me?

Perhaps because they are older and wiser?

Teenagers make dumb choices. Statistically drivers between 16 and 19 are five times as likely to be involved in a serious injury or fatal collision. Why? because they are inexperienced, think they are immortal. and behave stupidly behind the wheel of a car. It is because of statistics, and highly publicized tragedies, that states make laws to restrict the activities of minors to some extent.

Oh, and I will wager that if you actually read the curfew laws it provides a great many exceptions for kids going to or from organized events and the like ... it just discourages kids from hanging out as that often results in trouble.

 

[justalayman]

It never happened to you, and all of you are clearly for it. There are ways around this law that somewhat intelligent kids will find out and exploit. This law makes getting anywhere extremely inefficient as well, my car pool in the morning to school won't be legal anymore. There are four kids in it, being driven by a 16 and a half year old.

Since I am a MI old person, maybe I'll call up my legislators and see if we can simply raise the legal driving age to something more appropriate, like 18.

If not that, I kind of like the idea of no minors allowed to drive before sunrise or after sunset. Then, maybe we need to have a "minor's speed limit" which is at least 5 mph below the max limit on the road.

 

[cbg]

I am neither for nor against it.

However, my feelings about the law, or the feelings of anyone here about the law, do not change the law. It exists, and you are subject to it, regardless of how anyone feels about it.