Do you think this is a form of discrimination...

[carole]

Ok let me put this past you all, soon my daughter Melissa will be sitting her restricted drivers licence, she already has a learners, which means if she passes she is able to drive alone,except between the hours of ten pm and 5 am, she is also not allowed to take any passengers except those who have had their full licence at least two years.

However there are exceptions, those are as follows:

If she is married or living in a de facto relationship, she can take her spouse, if he does not have a licence.

Any children she has.

She can take a relative if they are on a welfare benefit, e.g domestic purposes,that is for mothers who are left on their own to raise their kids, through whatever circumstances,widows benefit or sickness benefit.

Now my problem with this is, i have a chronic illness, and there could be times where it would be indeed very handy to have Melissa take me a few places, it would not be very often.

However because my husband works and supports his family, we are not entitled to the above, we can however apply for a dispensation, which one costs us twenty dollars, and we have to pay a visit to the doctor to get them to write a letter stating my illness etc,and then we could still be turned down.,also we have to wait until she has been driving on this licence for at least six months, if i were any of the above it is granted immediately without incurring any costs to me.

I think this is really unfair, and i am being discriminated against because my hubby works, what do you all think, do you agree, and if so should i try and do something about it, not sure where to start really, anyhow would value your opinion's?

[Karen]

It does seem like discrimination to me. If you were her child, she could take you, but because you are her mother, she cannot? Doesn't seem fair to me!

[Catty1]

How long does this restriction apply? How soon can she have anyone in the car without barriers?

I'd ask about it - I mean, if your husband is working, he can't drive you anywhere during the day.

[moosmom]

I think it is a form of discrimination. I'd try and get a waiver.

[wantmorepets]

If you have your license and have had it for more than 2 years - there would not be a problem.

These restrictions have put in place to save young drivers lives. It is not you but her these rules were put in place for. They have tried to think of exemptions but no one can think of every example.

I doubt very much if you were in the car with her, you'd have any problem. The idea is to keep car loads of kids off the road.

[Jessika]

If you have your license and have had it for more than 2 years - there would not be a problem.

Thats what I thought -- so regardless of your relation to her, she should still be able to drive you around, correct? If you've had your license for at least two years.

[Catty1]

If I recall correctly - Carole doesn't drive. I would think it's doubtful she would have a license.

[Jessika]

If I recall correctly - Carole doesn't drive. I would think it's doubtful she would have a license.

I do not know actually since she didn't mention anything about it in the post

[sparks19]

No actually I don't think it is discrimination.

they have laid out these rules to minimize the amount of people an inexperienced driver has in the car. IF you have immediate access to another licensed driver (IE: your husband even though he works during the day) then you techincally don't NEED her to drive you with her being so inexperienced.

I mean I know you are close the situation and you see that your husband can't always leave work but these rules were put into place for extenuating circumstances like when someone has no one else available AT ALL at ANYTIME to drive them. I mean to "them" your hsuband is responsible for you... not your daughter.

Sorry :(

I would still try to call them and talk to them about your situation and see if you can be exempt but otherwise I don't think it's discrimination

[pitc9]

I don't think it would be called discrimination, but it sure the heck isn't fair and needs to be brought to someone's attention!!

[Ginger's Mom]

Definitely not discrimination. It is set up to give people who have no other means of obtaining services a way of getting there to get them. You do have other means, you would just find it more convenient to have your daughter do it for you. Also, there is also a method for people who do not fall into the predefined guidelines to get waivers to obtain the same benefits once they show the same need. No discrimination at all.

[DJFyrewolf36]

In Nevada, I know the restrictions don't apply to driving parents around, even if the parent doesn't have a licence. I don't think it applies to parents here in Oregon either. I think its kind of wierd that you can't drive parents around there, as thats the reson most parents make kids get licences lol ;)

I'd try to get a waiver for sure, as your daughter getting a licence would be very helpful to you and your husband especially if an emergancy were to happen and you couldn't get ahold of your husband for some reason.

I guess Im lucky I got my licence before all these restrictions were put in place although my dad didn't even let me take a driving test until I proved to HIM that I was safe. I just wish more parents took the time to teach their kids the right way instead of relying on the system to teach them.

[Husky_mom]

sorry I have no input about your case other that it seems really unfair....

here you can get a minor license (for under 18yrs)....you just need a basic driving course and pay (1yr) and almost only restriction is not to drive at night hours but if I recall is after 6pm... or was it 8pm?... can´t remember and you have speed limit restriction (this for ALL roads so speed limits in certain streets are not supposed to apply if you have lower speed limit).... than after 18 you get your pemanent license which last for how long you pay it for... 1yr 3yrs 5yrs.... and restrictions are just if you wear glasses you have to wear them, if you have far/near sight problems then you have late hours restrictions...

[carole]

Ok let me explain, some of you have missed my point all together IMO, firstly i do not drive, secondly i am not wanting my daughter to be at my convenience, far from it, i take offense to that comment,thirdly i have a chronic illness.

My point is that yes the exemptions are for people who might need transport, i do not see the difference if i am on a sickness benefit, or in my situation, the only reason i am not on one is because i have a husband who is working.,why should i be disadvantaged, because i am ill but not on a sickness benefit, that is my point really.

I would not be requiring Melissa to be at my convenience at all, i am only saying for emergency's or when some situations arise that my husband is unable to get away from work,it would be good to know she is able to take me without risking breaking the law.,this would not occur very often, because we only have one car, and hubby has it to work, but if my husband were ill,then this is a situation where this would indeed be very helpful.

I might add although she is inexperienced she is an extremely careful,good driver,and that is not just my opinion, it is the driving instructors too.

I do not see it is fair that i have to go through other channels and at a cost to myself because i am not on a benefit, now don't get me wrong, i do think this should be available for people on benefits too, but also i think in my case i should be granted this, yes i can apply for the dispensation, but it has strings attached,i cannot apply for it until she has had this licence for six months,the others are granted it immediately. Melissa would be on this type of licence for 18months, until she passes her full.

Some of you are saying it is there to protect her, of course it is, but what the heck is the difference between her taking her boyfriend if she was living with him and he did not have a licence, than myself, for one i am a mature adult, more enclined to be more responsible don't you think?

Anyhow it may not be classed as discrimination, but i agree with other posters it is indeed a tad unfair.,and i feel fustrated by it all.

[Jessika]

You say one of the few situations she would need to drive you somewhere would be in an emergency -- in an emergency situation, regardless of "law" in THIS situation, I would have her drive me. If she gets pulled over and the cop sees she's with her mother and there is clearly an emergency, I really hope the cop won't be a you-know-what and give her and/or you a ticket.

It's all circumstantial... unfortunately you can't make laws that bend to circumstance :(

[carole]

Yes i agree in an emergency i guess most of us would say to heck with the law, but i prefer not to, I would not want to put Melissa in this situation, getting a ticket or fine, especially when there is another option available, i guess i will just have to go through the other channels and be done with it, but it just fustrates me to think i have to and others do not who are in the same position more or less as I, there are other situations where it would be helpful, if my hubby was unable to drive because he was sick,away on business ,which does not happen very often,when i need to go to the medical center, i have to use after hours which means i never get to see the same doctor or my own, just something i have to do.

It would not be just so she can take me out shopping, unless it were grocery and my hubby was too sick to go,I also have elderly parents, if something happened and i needed to go over there daily, things like that are the things i am thinking of.