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TESTIMONY   35 copies

COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY AND HAWAIIAN AFFAIRS
Tuesday, April 2, 2002 2:00 P.M.
Conference Room 325
State Capitol
415 South Beretania Street

Description:

Requires all drivers, with some exceptions, under age eighteen to be accompanied by a licensed driver over age twenty-one when driving between 10:00 p.m. and 4:00 a.m.

Dear Committee Members:

We Oppose SB2336 which turns innocent young people into law breakers.

Being young is not a crime! The law must continue to treat young people as being "presumed innocent."

The Libertarian Party sends it's condolences to the family and friends of the three young adults who lost their lives last April and inspired this well meaning legislation. But, taking away the freedom of the innocent due to the actions of the few, is just plain wrong. It is up to parents to teach young people to be responsible. It is not a proper function of government to punish the innocent.  When a person, young or old, violates the rights of an individual, the penalties should be severe.

A young person taking groceries to their grandparents should not be punished for being out at 10:01 PM

Seventeen-year-old Cayenne Engel  says she often gets together with a group of friends at night to watch movies and winds up driving home as late as 3 AM

When the new law takes effect, Engel would be in violation of that law driving home from watching movies and she's not happy about it.

Further Engle says "A curfew is ridiculous because I shouldn't be punished for meeting at a friend's house and driving home late no matter what age I am. And how are they going to enforce it?"

Is this another excuse for random violations of the 4th Amendment?

Libertarians support teenagers. Libertarians support freedom and justice. You should too.

Please oppose the oppressive SB2336.

Thank you

John Orendt