PELHAM, Ala. (WIAT) - Getting behind the wheel of a car is a rite of passage that most teenager's are geared up for.
But under Alabama’s Graduated Driver License the state is applying the brakes on the freedoms which many teenagers have enjoyed for decades.
Tristin Sharp turns 16 in December and says she can see why driving privileges are being restricted.
"They take it for granted whenever they get their license like you're not driving with your parents anymore and so it's like, 'oh, I can listen to the radio a little louder... I can go a little faster.' Some people just take that for granted sometimes and it ends up in a bad situation."
An unrestricted driver license now comes in stages...
Stage one is the traditional learner’s permit which is first available at age 15.
Stage two is available to drivers who are 16 and older. But, the driver may not drive between midnight and 6AM and never with more than one passenger, other than family members in the car. And the driver may never use handheld devices.
Hannah Hayes says she feels the restrictions are bit too harsh... and she points to her 18 year old brother as an example. "I disagree with some of the rules about it... Like having only one passenger. Because, a lot of kids have to carpool because their parents can't pick them up and I know a lot of kids break that rule because they have to carpool a lot of kids to school."
Stage three is the unrestricted license which is available to drivers who have held a stage two license for at least 6 months.
And while students may not like some of the restrictions some like Becky Fox say they understand the ultimate goal behind the process.
"I have friends who have friends that have died in car crashes... And they were pretty upset about it and I don't want that to happen to me."
Anyone who is caught violating the restrictions of a Stage two license will be subject to an additional six months of restrictions.
If caught a second time, and while committing a moving violation, the license will be suspended for 60 days.
