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Highlands Today
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Program Offers Incentive To Attend School
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Published: September 13, 2007
More than 50 Highlands County students were issued suspensions of their driver's licenses last school year for having an excessive number of unexcused absences.
The Driver License/School Attendance Program was developed in 1998 to improve the state's graduation rate.
"This is a very successful program," said Ann Nucatola, spokeswoman for the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV).
"Once students find out they are no longer allowed to drive, they take that very seriously and do what they need to do to get reinstated."
School districts inform the DHSMV when a student has 15 unexcused absences in a 90-day period, she said. Then the student's driving privilege or their ability to get a license is suspended.
School districts determine the requirements by which a student's license may be reinstated. The reinstatement fee is $35.
"I think it helps because the kids know they can't get their license or their license will be suspended," said School Board of Highlands County Curriculum Department secretary Marlene Welborn.
Highlands County students who have their licenses suspended need to have 30 days with no unexcused absences to get their licenses reinstated.
There are some hardship circumstances where a waiver will be granted, allowing the student to drive, Welborn said.
A total of 52 suspensions were issued in Highlands County for the 2006-07 school year, with five suspensions cleared before the effective date. Two students received a second suspension, and 84 non-licensed students were sent letters of noncompliance.
Statewide data showed that less than 5 percent of students who had their driver's license suspended for excessive absences received a second suspension.
The Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles reports that statewide during the 2006-07 school year:
12,110 students received notices of intent to suspend driving privileges.
10,823 suspension orders were issued.
429 students who had their driving privilege reinstated received a second suspension.
33,681 non-licensed drivers received notices that they were not eligible to apply and receive a driver's license.
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