We should leave it at 16 and then work out a way to create driver education as a mandate,'' said Parham, D-Milledgeville. Barnes said Monday he didn't know if he had the votes to win, but vowed to continue fighting. The driving age is not the only part of Barnes' bill that may run into opposition today. Parham also said he is bothered by the governor's proposal to create tougher restrictions on open containers of alcohol. Barnes' plan makes it illegal for anyone in a car to have an open container of alcohol.
Current law makes it a crime only for the driver to have an open container.
Parham said the governor's law would discourage designated drivers, who could be charged with an open container violation while driving home drunken friends. The governor's bill would also reduce the blood-alcohol level required for a drunken driving charge from 0.10 to 0.08. That provision and the tougher open container law would bring Georgia in line with the current federal standard. The state already is losing some federal highway funds and risks losing more because its laws are less restrictive. Parham said the House Motor Vehicle Committee will consider the governor's proposal and other teen-driving proposals today.