Judge Dismisses Suit over New Jersey Teen Driver Decals

New Jersey judge has upheld a new law that requires drivers younger than 21 to display identifying decals on their vehicle license plates.

State Superior Court Judge Robert Brennan dismissed a lawsuit brought by Gregg Trautmann, a Rockaway lawyer who challenged the measure on behalf of his teenage son and nephew.

Trautmann claimed the law — which takes effect May 1– was unconstitutional. He argued the decals would serve as magnets for police to pull over young people and would allow others, including sex offenders, to easily identify and victimize teens.

But in his ruling issued Friday, Brennan said that “operating a motor vehicle is not a right, it’s a privilege subject to state regulations.”

Former Gov. Jon Corzine signed the measure, known as “Kyleigh’s Law,” in April 2009. It’s named for Kyleigh D’Alessio of Long Valley, a 16-year-old honor student killed in a December 2006 crash.

Latest Comments

• March 12, 2010 at 6:50 am

  wudchuck says:

  this is why IJ, sometimes does not fully research a story and bring to light the many facets of an article w/o many of us going off, like it's a bad thing. thanks for the rese... read more
• March 11, 2010 at 6:23 am

  Water Bug says:

  I spent much of my childhood in the UK where new drivers (regardless of age) had to display a large red "L" on the back of the car. The idea was that other drivers would cut t... read more
• March 11, 2010 at 3:01 am

  DS says:

  Thank you!!! I should've googled this a long time ago. Duh.