Larry Combest: “I have had a long interest in reforming regulations that do not pass what I call ``The Stupid Test.'' I believe the teen…”

“I have had a long interest in reforming regulations that do not pass what I call ``The Stupid Test.'' I believe the teen driver regulation is a poster child for failing ``The Stupid Test.'' In 1993, the Department of Labor made a major regulatory change in the working definition of what incidental and occasional meant for licensed 16 and 17 year olds driving in the workplace. The change limits those under age 18 from driving more than one incident a week. The Department did this with no formal rule making and without informing any small businesses. Businesses first learned of the change when they received fines for non-compliance. One such incident involved a 17 year-old student working in a high school sponsored co-op program at a local bank in Milan, Illinois. This young lady was in the bookkeeping department and would occasionally make trips to a branch bank four miles away. The bank was fined $500 because of her occasional driving. Does it make any sense that these teens can drive an unlimited amount when they are not working, but while under supervised protection at work, they are completely prohibited from driving? In Washington State alone, it is estimated that this regulation resulted in the loss of at least 1,000 job opportunities for teens. The irony is that while the Department of Labor is spending upwards of $900 million annually on summer jobs programs, their own regulations is restricting the hiring of teens.”