Call it tough love with a velvet glove from the Warren City Police.
Starting today, officers will be promoting the state's new teen driving regulations by getting out there where the teens are. That is, they'll be visiting Warren Area High School sometime this month to perform a "teen-driver safety enforcement mobilization." The state-mandated visit will include meeting student drivers as they leave the school to point out the new law, count cars and find seat-belt violations.
In case there are teen drivers who haven't heard, there are new rules when you are behind the wheel. For the first six months after receiving their junior licenses, drivers are not permitted to have more than one passenger under the age of 18 who is not an immediate member of their family, unless accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. If they manage to avoid an accident or a citation in that time, they can haul more people their own age. If not, the period of empty back seats extends for another six months.
Violation of the seatbelt usage requirement is a primary offense. That means, if a law enforcement officer sees you driving without your seatbelt fastened, you will be pulled over and cited for that violation.
The "mobilization" will be a softer introduction to the new laws. During the program no citations will be issued.
Think of it as an important reminder, because after that, there will be no second chances.