Teens Drive example essay topic

2,008 words
Anti-Cruising Law Restricting Teens Rights Essay, Research Anti-Cruising Law Restricting Teens Rights Boom, the sound of the jail cell doors solidifies the reality that you truly are in jail. You cower into a corner and piece together the events that lead to your arrest. You try to comprehend why you are in jail. You are now a prisoner that society has thrown away to be dealt with at a later time into a crowded jail. Perhaps you have been placed in jail to teach you a lesson, or to punish you. But is what you did really a crime?

Did you harm anyone, threaten anyone or endanger anyone? Did you violate someone's rights? No, you yell; you didn t do any of these things. Then why are you in jail? Why? because our nation is beginning to launch an attack against the troubled youth of America. America has had enough.

They are tired of listening to our music, tired of watching teens in their fancy cars, and tired of our ideas of having fun. Various states have attacked teens through a variety of laws such as anti-cruising ordinances, noise laws, and other discrepancies. They neglect to realize that the youth is bound to make mistakes. Teens are young and inexperienced; they have yet to learn the way of life.

Teens want to have fun, they do not purposely make it their goal to annoy adults. But, the adult population is retaliating and making teens buckle down with new laws. Teens have a right drive whatever, and however as long as they do not endanger anybody or infringe on the rights of any other citizen in America. If America prides itself in having freedom, then why are they restricting the rights of teens? America's youth is by far the most troubled bunch this world has seen. Our teens struggle with violence of the likes that has never been witnessed before.

High schools have been some unfortunate teens grave. Teens also struggle with drug abuse, and sex. Many teens lack a positive outlet to channel their anger, frustrations, and feelings of growing up. As soon as a suitable outlet appears in the form of automobiles, it is deemed unacceptable by many citizens. If a teenager wants to drive around in a circle (cruising) as pointless as it may be; that teenager has a right to do so. If a teenager is cruising in a car that he / she worked on or has pride in, they will not jeopardize their investment with drugs or any other handicap.

A Lamborghini owner will not operate his car drunk, it means too much to the owner. If our problem with our youth is that they want to have a nice car and work hard for it and drive in a circle. Then that is a good problem, they are not doing drugs, and they are not being violent because they have something to lose. A teenager with nothing to live for will shoot up his school, a teenager with nothing to lose will destroy himself with drugs. A teenager who has a job so he can spend on his car has something to lose. What message do we send to our teens when we say he is being a nuisance for cruising, and possibly send him to jail or fine him up to $500.

What is the big deal with cruising? Why are they hassling teenagers? The answer is simple, teenagers are posing a threat or are violating citizens rights. When teens drive around in circles they pose numerous hazards to society. The government has an obligation to maintain safety on the roadway. If this means sacrificing Friday, and Saturday night fun for teens, then that is what has to be done.

When teens cruise, they can block traffic and block the passage of safety vehicles. This is a serious problem, someone could die, or someone's house could burn down just for the pleasure of some teens. Another problem arises, when teens congregate they often spell trouble. Teens are notorious for being troublemakers in large groups and cruisers are no exceptions. Teens will not congregate and start picking up litter or perform community service. Sadly, they will cause trouble and participate in illegal activity such as littering, racing, and drug use / sale.

The government can t allow that to happen. The only logical choice is to prevent that from happening by preventing cruising, hence, an anti-cruising law. The law really doesn t solve the problem of the teens. It merely relocates the activity to more secluded and less supervised areas.

Not all teen cruisers partake, or condone such activity; but a couple of bad apples can ruin the whole barrel. Unfortunately, cruisers take the rap of all the illegal activity because someone needs to be blamed. Instead of making cruisers the criminals, make the drug dealers and other offenders the criminals. Allow cruising, but arrest all individuals that break serious laws.

After word gets out that cops supervise cruising, drug dealers and other offenders will stop showing up. The police is bad for business for all drug dealers and other offenders, and they will not show up. This decrease will ensure that the only people cruising are decent citizens that want to have a good time. This benefits all, the cruisers can cruise, and the neighbors will have the protection of the police in case anything happens, as well as have the satisfaction of knowing that no illegal activity is being committed in front of their house. The key to issues such as cruising is a compromise. Both sides need to analyze the problems and create solutions.

Both sides need to settle their differences and realize that if they don t sacrifice or compromise, neither party will be happy. When neither side is happy, this leads to conflicts which could and should be avoided. This country was built from compromises, why can t we make a deal with our youth? They are our future, and we should not send them the wrong message. Our country is experiencing an age of opulence and luxury that has never before been scene. We live in houses that have an assortment of creature comforts, and luxury.

In America, having your own house and car is a standard. For teens having their own car was a big deal, but the standards have been raised. Inheriting your father's Geo Metro is not enough, teenagers can afford expensive cars and expensive modifications to their cars. Currently, a trend is developing; cheap Honda cars such as the civic are being modified into flashy speed demons. Teens have always stimulated the economy by spending their paycheck on clothes, and music. Now teens are hording more money and spending them on cars.

The average civic that has all the basic modifications done to it costs an extra $2,000 and up. Modifications for a Honda civic include: an Integra engine which costs about $3,000, a new intake and exhaust system which costs about $700, a new suspension system such as a coil over suspension with new struts is about $700, new wheels and tires cost about $1200, a sound system another $1,000, an assortment of new lights about $300, and finally a body kit and a new paint job which costs about $2,500. These modifications are all fairly new and are gaining popularity with teens. Few teens can afford all the modifications but many teens have at least one modification if not more. Teens have every right to throw away their money into their car. However, when teens drive these cars on public roadways, the government must maintain public safety.

Some of these modifications are controversial, and are deemed not safe by the government. These modifications have been banned. Lighting systems in these cars have sprung up various debates. How protected are teens from installing fog lights and powerful headlights that can potential blind regular drivers at night? If teens have lights that are too bright on the roadway, they must be eliminated. But are these lights really that bright?

Most teens replace stock headlight bulbs with powerful xenon bulbs that illuminate a bluish tint. This powerful light enhances night viewing and teens claim that it is safer because they see more of the road. Banning modified headlights such as xenon bulbs has sprung controversy, the fact that xenon is available as an option or stock in expensive European cars such as a Porsche has created debate. This befuddles teens that upgrade their lighting system to mimic one that is stock on a Porsche. Xenon must be explored as an alternative light source, it could potentially reduce nighttime accidents. Why is seeing better at night a crime?

Because the government says those lights irritates drivers or blinds them which has serious repercussions. Teens argue that people are blinded because they stare at the lights. The lights are not normal and regular drivers are curious about them and stare at the lights. Staring at normal headlights will blind drivers as well. Once again the government should open communications with the teens about these lights and compromise. The teens do not purposely want to blind people, they want to see better at night.

Banning xenon bulbs and other bulbs is a quick fix, which makes future leaders of America disgustful of American law. Teen drivers cannot violate the rights of other drivers, and the government cannot violate their rights. A compromise that thoroughly solves the problem making both sides happy is the correct solution, not a quick fix such as outlawing modifications to headlights. Lowriders are notorious for cruising and within the last two decades for hopping. Lowriders pose an interesting dilemma, they can be extremely distracting and can be dangerous. As far as the government is concerned, this is grounds for them to intervene and save the day.

Lowriders are equipped with hydraulic systems that enable them to hop off the ground. The government is concerned because when a wheel is off the ground, it creates a loss of traction and a loss of control. Diminished control of a vehicle leads to collisions and accidents. For this safety reason, hopping in public roadways is prohibited.

The government has to protect the safety of its citizens and lowriders pose a threat. Most owners realize the potential danger and have stopped hopping in the street. Yet, most owners still adjust the car, by raise and lowering certain sections for fun while driving. Does driving while your rear end is going up and down pose a threat, no. But driving like that can be a distraction to the driver and others. Driving irresponsibly should be penalized, but driving and having fun should not.

Therefore, unless the owner compromises the safety of other citizens while they are driving, how they drive should not be regulated. Unless, the way they drive poses a threat, which is not the case for most lowriders. The rights of teenagers are being compromised as a convenience to most citizens, but the way they drive should not be regulated unless they threaten other citizens safety. If they do endanger other citizens, the government must realize that just by making it illegal that does not abolish the activity. The government and teens should communicate and together decide on the problem. Only then will the actual law be democratic.