The “other purposes” is the key element of this bill that is currently with the governor.
The other purposes include an alternative drivers’ training program that has been used throughout the years in the U.S. and can now be utilized here. It allows anyone fifteen years or older to obtain a learner’s permit and learn how to drive with a licensed adult over the age of twenty-one years of age. This allows for our young CNMI residents and others to learn how to drive with a responsible adult, which is how most young islanders learned how to drive in the past with their fathers, mothers, older siblings, uncles, aunts, or other relatives and friends. Consequently, at the age of sixteen or older, the young driver takes his or her physical driving test and if they pass, they become legally licensed to drive.
Currently, many Saipan residents have complained of the big problem with the private company charging excessive fees that has produced a large number of young people (and others) driving illegally. They just can’t afford the three hundred and fifty bucks, so let’s allow them to learn the old fashion and acceptable way of learning how to drive in the real world with older family members and peers.
The BMV will institute a program in the future when the funding is available, like it is already permissible in the law for PSS and NMC to also create programs if they so desire and, furthermore, the private company can continue to offer its drivers’ education program too. It is just more economically fair in these tough times for the young drivers and older residents of the commonwealth to have a proven, island-style, “no-cost” program as an alternative.
REP. STANLEY T. MCGINNIS TORRES
17th CNMI Legislature
