Thursday, 4:30 PM
Teen drivers surprised by checkpoints at South Shore schools
By Globe Staff
Teens driving to 10 high schools south of Boston this morning were halted at checkpoints by Registry of Motor Vehicles inspectors and police who were checking on their compliance with the state's junior operator laws.
Out of 802 drivers stopped, 598 passed the inspection and were rewarded with coupons for pizza and other goodies. But the inspectors and police found 49 were carrying fellow students in violation of the junior operator laws, 151 weren't wearing seat belts, and four were talking on their cell phones.
The teens were issued warnings for the passenger and seat belt violations. Talking on a cell phone while driving isn't illegal, but the practice is increasingly being questioned.
Penalties for junior operators -- drivers who are 16 1/2 and 17 years old -- were toughened beginning this March.
"We rewarded those who we found in compliance with the law and at the same time drove home the message that crashes are the leading cause of death for teenagers," Registrar Anne L. Collins said in a statement.
State officials said that a third of drivers will be involved in a crash during the first year they are licensed.
The operation, which was called, "Operation Every Teen Counts," took place at high schools from Milton to Plymouth.
