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16-Year-Olds and Driver's License Holders
WHEREAS, since 1942, 16-year-olds working on New Jersey farms were afforded special driving privileges enabling them to operate farm vehicles and vehicles with “farmers” license plates; and

WHEREAS, those 16-year-olds play a vital role in the successful operation of the farms on which they work; and

WHEREAS, those 16-year-olds need to be able to drive to effectively carry out their on-farm responsibilities; and

WHEREAS, there is no evidence to suggest that these 16-year-old license holders are a risk while operating a motor vehicle for the purposes of conducting farm business without adult supervision; and

WHEREAS, an unintended legislative bill writing error led to the termination of this special motor vehicle provision for 16-year-old drivers; and

WHEREAS, without the special privileges that have historically been granted to those 16-year-old motor vehicle operators, the agricultural driver’s license has been rendered essentially useless.

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that we, the delegates to the 96th State Agricultural Convention, assembled in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, on February 8-9, 2011, support the passage of A-3469 and a Senate companion bill, which would exempt agricultural driver’s licensees from certain graduated driver’s license restrictions when operating farm equipment and vehicles, thereby restoring the historic privileges for 16-year-old farm employees.