License Revocations for High School Dropouts under Proposed Bill

If passed, a legislation proposed by State Representative Martha M. Watlz of Boston is aimed at reducing the dropout rate in public schools by requiring the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles to automatically suspend or revoke the driver’s license or learner’s permit of a student who drops out or withdraws from high school. Under House Bill 1964, the only exceptions to this new mandatory license or permit revocation requirement would be if the student is enrolled in a GED program, is a parent who is involved in the care and custody of a child, or has a certificate signed by a medical doctor indicating that the student’s parent or parents depend on him or her as their sole source of transportation. The license revocation would remain in effect until the individual either resumes school attendance or turns 18 years of age. 

This bill is an example of legislation which ties driver’s licensing to something unrelated to licensure, school attendance. There are other suspensions and revocations triggered by non-driving issues. For example, drug convictions will trigger license revocations, even when the conviction has nothing to do with a motor vehicle. Likewise, convictions for spray painting, known as tagging, can will also result in license revocations.