Police enforce underage driving restrictions
A non-injury accident April 19 in the Peabody-Burns High School parking lot resulted in three tickets being issued to an underage driver with an "instructional permit."
"We are seeing more of this and it is becoming a problem," said Police Chief Jeff Pohlman. "Parents think their student can drive to and from school or to and from work with the IP, and that is simply not the case."
Pohlman said students are issued an instructional permit by the state and then must complete 50 hours of supervised driving in the company of a parent before they can earn a "restricted license" which does allow them to drive to and from school or work.
"We have been getting lots of complaints from the community because people know that so-and-so is not of age, but is driving anyway," said Pohlman. "Or one kid will get caught and then his parents will say, 'but his friend John drives all the time and you don't do anything to him.' It's time for us to crack down on these kids before someone gets hurt."
Parents who do not understand the difference between the instructional permit and restricted license should contact the city police department or their insurance agent before allowing their child behind the wheel of a car.
Peabody police officers worked a non-injury accident Friday morning at the corner of Third and Vine when a Stutzman refuse truck hit a parked car. No ticket was issued.
On April 18 officers were called to 805 North Poplar to break up a domestic dispute between Michelle Morales and Priciliano. The dispute was verbal and loud, but did not involve battery so no charges were filed.
