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May 28, 2008

Senate sends driver's license renewal change to House

PROVIDENCE -- Legislation raising to 75 the age when Rhode Islanders must renew a driver's license every two years motored to the House after being passed unanimously today by the Senate.

Currently, that two-year renewal period applies to people beginning at age 70, with an $8 fee for renewal. People under that age renew licenses in Rhode Island every five years for a $30 fee.

According to a news release, the bill does not change current law that lets the motor vehicles division administrator require an examination of any person applying to renew a license "who might be considered incompetent or otherwise unqualified to continue driving."

Bill sponsor Sen. James E. Doyle II, D-Pawtucket, stated that raising to 75 the age for a two-year license acknowledges Rhode Islanders are "living and staying healthy and active longer." Doyle asserts that federal statistics show little difference between the 65 to 69 age group and the 70 to 74 age group in accidents and highway deaths. Rather, the arguments goes, it's at age 75 that the number begins to grow significantly, "with a real leap over age 80."

The bill now goes to the House of Representatives.

A matching House bill, sponsored by Rep. Peter L. Lewiss, D-Westerly, is before the House Constituent Services Committee, according to the news release.

Read more about why the bill was proposed and reaction to it.

-- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney

Posted by Mike McKinney  at 6:04 PM | Permalink

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