| Show Some Changes Should Be Made lade in inThe inThe inThe The Utah Driver Licensing System The state ta tax commission has proposed proposed proposed pro pro- posed that the Utah drivers' drivers license law be changed to provide increased fees for licenses and also to provide for periodic reexamination of all drivers every five years ears has been suggested In defense of the first proposal the commission notes that administration of the law is now costing the state more than is taken in in fees For the last fiscal year the cost of administration said Patrick Healy Jr chairman was while only 1 was taken in in fees for new licenses renewals or duplicates In defense of the second proposal the commission notes the fact that physical cal changes impairment of eyesight or hearing other disabilities or the infirmities infirmities infirmities ties of age may make an individual a abad abad abad bad risk as a driver but without periodic reexamination tion he is still licensed to drive and may do so until he becomes involved in a serious accident The commission contends it is better to prevent accidents by eliminating the potential accident- accident causing driver before he kills or injures himself and perhaps others It is also pointed out that nonrenewable licenses such as the so-called so grandfather li licenses licenses licenses li- li censes become hopelessly outmoded as means of identification or record after a period of years because of changes in physical change of address marriage death and so on The Telegram cannot see any objection objection objection tion to the first proposal It seems only right that the costs of driver licensing be paid by motorists rather than by taxpayers taxpayers taxpayers tax tax- payers generally The state should not make any substantial profit off the system system system tem but the fees ought to be high enough to keep the operation out of the red On the second proposal there will be considerable debate Frankly despite the fact safety authorities widely recommend periodic reexamination of all drivers the Telegram can see much justice in the argument that the best evidence an individual individual individual indi indi- vidual is a good driver is not an examination examination nation but a clean arrest and accident record If we have a system which provides provides provides pro pro- vides for reexamination of the driver with a poor record as we do have in Utah it seems we ought to be able to assume that the thc others do not need to tobe tobe tobe be annoyed by periodic reexamination However Ho we think Mr Healy made one excellent point He expressed the view that unless periodic tests are re required required required re- re the year three-year renewal provision now in effect for drivers who do not have grandfather licenses be abolished We Ve think either that should be done or that those with grandfather licenses should be required to get year three-year renewals without reexamination like everybody else The Thc existing situation is obviously inequitable New drivers are penalized by having to pay renewal fees every three years just because they are younger than or newer residents of Utah than the holders of grandfather permits That is rank discrimination which not not- even the holder of a grandfather license will justify except with a taunting grin when pinned down Every Utah driver ought to be equal under the law in Utah And we are arc inclined in inclined inclined in- in to think the proper equality for forthe forthe forthe the sake of the maintenance of accurate and records Utah drivers up-to-date up on should be year three renewals without examination for every Utah driver whose arrest and accident record proves that he has been a good driver |
