transpo042908
On the homepage
NewsBreak
Out There
Home&Garden
Vikings
Home | Politically Connected | State Politics | The I-35W bridge collapse
Senate on board with limits for teen drivers
The move, part of a broader policy bill, would restrict newly licensed drivers under 18 from driving between midnight and 5 a.m. A similar measure has passed the House.
Print this story
E-mail this story
Save to del.icio.us
Share on Facebook
Share on Digg
Minnesota bridges rated: An interactive map of bridges that are "structurally deficient," "functionally obsolete" or have gusset plates like those on the I-35W bridge.
More from State Politics
The Minnesota Senate joined the push to restrict newly licensed teenage drivers, voting Monday to prohibit early morning driving by them and to limit the number of young people accompanying them.
The Senate's transportation policy bill also took aim at the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT), requiring the commissioner or a deputy to be a professional engineer and addressing complaints that arose from the bidding process for the new Interstate 35W bridge.
Coming on the heels of a similar push in the House, the Senate bill would bar teens under 18 from driving between midnight and 5 a.m. during the first six months after obtaining a license unless they were going to or from work or school. In addition, a driver under 18 couldn't have more than one passenger younger than 20 for the first six months after getting a license unless the passenger was a family member.
For the second six months, such a driver could not have more than three passengers younger than 20 unless they were family members.
Monday's action came three days after Gov. Tim Pawlenty, on his weekly radio show, said he also supported legislation that restricts teenage drivers.
"Between midnight and 5 a.m., that's when young drivers die on the road," Sen. Steve Murphy, DFL-Red Wing, the bill's chief author, said during debate. Murphy said statistics showing that Minnesota had the highest percentage of fatal crashes in which teens were the drivers "was something we should not be proud of."
But Sen. Betsy Wergin, R-Princeton, said the measure overreached and put legislators in charge of dictating personal responsibility. On another level, she said, the legislation meant "we're sort of doing away with double dates for the prom."
The Senate bill also ordered MnDOT to have a professional engineer in one of its top management positions. Although DFLers said the provision wasn't aimed at particular individuals, the language came after former MnDOT Commissioner Carol Molnau faced criticism for not having the technical expertise to address issues related to the I-35W bridge collapse in August. Tom Sorel, who became MnDOT's new commissioner on Monday, is a civil engineer.
"It's not about a particular administration or a particular employee," said Sen. Kathy Saltzman, DFL-Woodbury, who pushed for the language.
DFLers also addressed complaints arising from last fall's decision to award the contract for the new 35W bridge to Colorado-based Flatiron Constructors, although the firm had the highest bid at $234 million and acknowledged it would take the longest to complete the project. Under the bill, a design-build project costing more than $10 million -- like the 35W bridge -- couldn't be awarded to a company whose bid is 120 percent more than the lowest competing bid.
MnDOT spokeswoman Lucy Kender said late Monday that the agency opposes the portion of the bill that would limit its selection to a design-build proposal whose proposed cost does not exceed 120 percent of the lowest submitted bid.
"As the bill will likely go to a conference committee, we will review the final bill at that time and determine which portions remain that we can support or conversely oppose," she said in an e-mail.
Mike Kaszuba • 612-673-4388
Recent State Politics stories
Minn. Guardsman died from gunshot - April 29, 2008
Minn. Guardsman died from gunshot - Maj. Tad Hervas, a Bronze Star winner from Coon Rapids, was serving a second tour of duty in Iraq at the time of his death, which was ruled non-combat-related. More
- Legislators take a field trip to the Metrodome
- Quam exits firm to help husband run for governor
- Groups step up effort to repeal ban on building nuclear power plants in Minnesota
- Not all forgiven
- Library is pressed to take gang force report off Web
- Backed by House, 6 patients sue Pawlenty, state officials
- As commission presses, Vikes will 'move on'
- Sowing survivalism seeds on talk radio
- Lowry Bridge, Saints, Como Zoo fighting for your money
- Minn. GOP biggest user of tax break Pawlenty axed
Current state office holders
Governor: Tim Pawlenty
One of only a few prominent Republicans to win a competitive re-election contest in the Democratic sweep of 2006, Tim Pawlenty is widely seen as politically shrewd and naturally likable.
- Lt. Governor: Carol Molnau
- Secretary of State: Mark Ritchie
- Attorney General: Lori Swanson
- State Auditor: Rebecca Otto
Minnesota's political giants: Learn more about the men and women who have shaped Minnesota's political history.
|
|
Win tickets to the North Star Roller Girls' second bout at the Minneapolis Convention Center.Vita.mn presents the North Star Roller Girls' second bout at the Minneapolis Convention Center on Dec. 5. |
Comment on this story | Read all 5 comments | Hide reader comments