| From the HSLDA E-lert Service: |
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| Date: From: Subject: | 8/26/2004 12:10:55 PM Home School Legal Defense Association Colorado--Calls Needed to Protect Parent-Taught Driver's Education |
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====================================================================== From the HSLDA E-lert Service... ====================================================================== August 26, 2004 Colorado--Calls Needed to Protect Parent-Taught Driver's Education Dear HSLDA members and friends: Governor Owens needs to hear from you. We urge you to call him so he realizes that one of the bureaucracies in his administration is thwarting the intent of a new law regarding driver's education. These unauthorized changes negatively effect all homeschool teens. Earlier this year, Colorado House Bill 1017 was passed into law. It permitted teens to obtain a learners permit at age 15 years 6 months if they enroll in a "4-Hour Prequalification Driver Awareness Program" approved by the Department of Revenue's Motor Vehicle Division. Teens can then receive a full driver's license at age 16 years 6 months. Unfortunately, the officials at the Department have taken it upon themselves to change a good law into a bad law. The legislative intent of the new law allowed for ALL driver education companies to create this new 4-hour Awareness program, provided the Department approves their curriculum. Also, it is very important to thousands of families in Colorado to be able to complete the new 4-hour program from home via a manual, CD, or on-line - instead of having to take the course in a public classroom setting. Kevin Swanson of CHEC, Wayne Tully of National Driver Training Institute-NDTI (who testified and helped craft the language), and HSLDA were assured by the House of Representatives, the State Senate, and the Department that we would have several programs to choose from and our teenagers would be able to complete the program from home. The approval of NDTI's program in February 2004 gave the security needed to assure everyone concerned that our teenagers would not be forced to attend a public classroom setting to complete this new "4-Hour Prequalification Driver Awareness Program." However, the Department has cancelled the approval of the NDTI 4 hour driver's education program. NO reason was given. The Department also announced that only one program is approved, and has stated that the 4-hour program cannot be completed at home. In June, Wayne Tulley and Chris Klicka met with the Department for two and a half hours but no solution was found. The Department should not be allowed to rewrite the new law, overturn our legislator's decisions, and create new rules and regulations out of thin air. The Governor needs to hear from you now! REQUESTED ACTION: Call or write to Governor Bill Owens and please give him this message in your own words: "Please tell the Department of Revenue's Motor Vehicle Division not to misapply the new driver's education law (HB 1017). The legislature did not intend to give a monopoly to one driver's education company. I was told I would have a choice of curriculums and be able to have my teen take the 4 hour awareness program from our home. Now the Department has even disapproved of the National Driver Training Institute's 4 hour program. Please contact the Department of Revenue's Motor Vehicle Division and insist that they follow their own published regulations and the law signed by you." Bill Owens, Governor 136 State Capital, Denver CO 80203-1792 Voice: 303-866-2471 Fax: 303-866-2003 Email: governorowens@state.co.us BACKGROUND: The majority of the driver's education law is good. Teens can still obtain a learners permit at 15 years old if they enroll in a full driver education course and obtain a full license at 16-years old. (No change in law). All teenagers must maintain a permit for a period of one year from the date they receive it. (Change from 6 months to 1 year) All permits are good for a period of three years from the date they receive it. (Change from 9 months or 1 year to 3 years) In a letter dated June 7, 2004 (from Michael Tibbits, CDL Compliance Manager for the Department of Revenue, Motor Vehicle Business Group), Mr. Tibbits withdrew the prior approval of NDTI's 4-Hour Pre-Qualification Course and approved only the 4-Hour Pre-Qualification Course of the National Safety Council. This action is contrary to the legislation enacted by the Colorado legislature and is arbitrary and capricious. It was also disclosed by M. Michael Cooke, Executive Director, Department of Revenue that she would not allow home study or on-line programs to be used for this 4-Hour Pre-Qualification Course. No reason has been given for this denial. What does this mean for you? Today, if you choose to obtain a permit for your teen after 15 and 6 months, and you do not want to or cannot pay for a full driver education course, you must complete a 4-Hour Pre-Qualification Course offered by the National Safety Council. You will not be allowed to complete this program from your home and you must attend a public classroom in order to complete the program. For more information on House Bill 1017 and the Motor Vehicle Division's interpretation of it see http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?ID=1771 Sincerely, Chris Klicka HSLDA Senior Counsel ---------------------------------------------------------------------- -> "I saved my entire membership fee with one discount" "When I called Liberty to find out what kind of discount we could get, they told us we would 10% off our car insurance and 5% off our homeowner's insurance. What we will save is more than double what it costs to join HSLDA. With one child getting his driver's license this year, the savings will be a real blessing!" More reasons to join HSLDA... http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=1108 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ====================================================================== The HSLDA E-lert Service is a service of: Home School Legal Defense Association P.O. 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Thank you for your cooperation. ====================================================================== | |
