The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1943-02-20

in Connecticut for the licensing of
persons to operate motor vehicles.
On the contrary, I believe with the
great majority of safety students
that the minimum age limit should
be raised to eighteen years and that
for at least the first year Of license
holding the certificate should be q
probationary document subject to
instant recall for Idisbehavior.
At the Eighth Annual Northeast
ern Regional Conference on Street
and Highway Safety, held at the
Hotel Roosevl 1t, New York City,
Friday and Saturday, February 18th
and 18th, the subject Of reducing
the minimum licensing age was in
troduced by representatives from
several states, the purpose in each
instance apparently being to relieve
the farm labor shortage.
The unanimous opinion Of the
conference was in opposition to such
reduction IN age limitation Elk
CEPT under such conditions as
would. make such action obviously
an EMERGENCY measure, designed
to remedy an existing labor Short
age and subject, in execution, to
such restrictions as would ensure
the breaking down Of the minimum
age limit being only for the EMER-
GENCY, and so selective in admin
istration as to guarantee intelli-
gent use Of the concession.
In most states Of the Northeast
ern Regional Conference special
wartime powers have been granted
either to the governor Of the state
or q War Council formed to handle
emergency problems.
While no definite conference &C.
ton was taken, 1t was generally
agreed that two practical methods
were available to alleviate the farm
labor problem, insomuch as the age
concession would so serve and at the
same time guard against general
breaking down Of the minimum age
restriction.
The alternative methods:
O. Legislative action which would
amend the licensing statute so as
to permit the concession Of licenses
to fifteen year old applicants by
the commissioner motor vehicles
upon official certiflcation by COM
petnet state authority, such as the
the Commissioner Of Labor and OF
the Commissioner Of Agriculture
that such labor shortage actually
existed and the concession was es.
sential In behalf Of public welfare
such statute change to carry the
definite statement that the act was
valid only during the interim until
the legislature again met to con-
slider the question or some other
definite restriction as to period Of
effectiveness Of change.
b. Authority granted the COM
missioner Of motor vehicles by the
governor or war council, In accord
ance with special powers granted by
the legislature to either the COVER
nor or war council to authorize
emergency measures for the dura-
ton, such directive to again be
retricted by q statement .aS to time
Of validity to ensure integrity Of
the minimum age provision Of the
regular statute.
It was the consensus Of the con-
ference that the licenses so granted
should be more in the nature Of
permits to operate legally GER
tain designated motor vehicles for
specified purposes.
In this manner the object Of the
movement to change the minimum
age for motor vehisle operator IL
censing would be achieved, 1. e. to
meet shortage in the farm labor
market at certain seasons Of the
year, and the essential need Of deny
ing unrestricted use Of q motor
vehicle to persons of immature age
and undeveloped judgment would be
safeguarded.
It IS conceded that farm operators
apparently face contingency. It is
acknowledged that there are in
dividuals Of less than sixteen (16)
years Of age competent to operate
certain motor vehicles for defined
purposes such as trucking harvests
from field to farm or farm to city.
Under proper supervision these
youthful operators can take advan-
tage of the privilege OF such motor
vehicle operation without serious
hazard to public safety.
without the safeguards suggest
ed, however, it is our contention
that indiscriminate placement Of
driving responsibility in the hands
Of any fifteen-year old boy or girl
who, sobered for the moment by con-
tact with authority, succeed in
demonstrating ability, to start. man
euver and stop a motor vehicle in
the somewhat limited examination
practicable under current procedure,
would create a serious traffic
hazard.
It seems possible and practicable
for competent authority to devise
q method to meet the farm labor
stringency and at the same time
guard the progress In traffic safety
promotion which 1t has taken 90
many years to achieve.