13 year old wants drivers licence to support dad

[kiwi_2005]

I hope they give this lad his licence, tho I doubt they will being 13 but he seems mature enough and its for a good cause.


http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/5572...ly-and-ill-dad

A 13-year-old is seeking a driver's licence so he can support his family as his father faces a terminal illness.

Jedidiah Smith wants to take over his father Craig's morning delivery run of chilled goods to supermarkets in Feilding and Palmerston North. The eldest of his siblings still living in the family's Palmerston North home, Jedidiah wants to be able to provide for his mother and two younger sisters.

A month ago his father was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour; doctors have told Mr Smith he has several weeks to live.
"If I can't support my family, they will have to go on the dole. I don't want that," said Jedidiah, who is home schooled. "A friend of my father's has offered to give me intensive driver training. After he is done with me, I know I'll be competent enough to drive safely. If I did a test I know I'd pass it."

Jedidiah has spoken to the NZ Transport Agency, police, Palmerston North District Court staff, a lawyer and Palmerston North MP Iain Lees-Galloway in his quest for a driver's licence.
Mr Lees-Galloway said Jedidiah had impressed him with his maturity and he would do what he could to help the teen explore his options.
"He's an exemplary young man who wants to take on the responsibility of providing for his family.

[flatsixes]

Good for him. I like a kid with hustle and a sense of responsibility.
Give him my youngest daughter's license. In fact PLEASE give him my youngest daughter's license.

I hope they give this lad his licence

Just rip up the rule book.
Forget employment laws and driving laws and make an exception because some kid has a sorry tale to tell.
If supporting the family by taking over dads deliveries is so important why are the 4 older children not doing dads job?
But leaving aside labour laws and traffic laws, given how much you get stung for insurance having a van driver on the books who is under 25 or under 21 how much will be charged for someone who is well below minimum age even for a car?

[gimpy117]

Originally Posted by Tribesman

Just rip up the rule book.
Forget employment laws and driving laws and make an exception because some kid has a sorry tale to tell.
If supporting the family by taking over dads deliveries is so important why are the 4 older children not doing dads job?
But leaving aside labour laws and traffic laws, given how much you get stung for insurance having a van driver on the books who is under 25 or under 21 how much will be charged for someone who is well below minimum age even for a car?

as deserving as he it, you do have a point, laws are laws...and this is what social programs can do. He's a noble kid for sure, but I think he would do best hitting the books and learning as much as he can so he can honor his dad by doing well in school.

[kiwi_2005]

Originally Posted by Tribesman

Just rip up the rule book.
Forget employment laws and driving laws and make an exception because some kid has a sorry tale to tell.

But leaving aside labour laws and traffic laws, given how much you get stung for insurance having a van driver on the books who is under 25 or under 21 how much will be charged for someone who is well below minimum age even for a car?

Its about him avoiding his parents going on the dole

Over here 13yr olds drive the farming tractor quad bike on the family farm yes they break the law but try telling that to a farmer. This kid is special he is not breaking the law, hes a townie and he wants to do it right so is asking for an exemption. Like many he could easily just drive away and probably not get caught due to the lack of cops on the road.

If supporting the family by taking over dads deliveries is so important why are the 4 older children not doing dads job?

Where does it say 4 older children? Did you read the story or did you just get all upset cause here's a kid that wants to help his parents?

The eldest of his siblings still living in the family's Palmerston North home, Jedidiah wants to be able to provide for his mother and two younger sisters.

Its about him avoiding his parents going on the dole

His parents won't go on the dole, his father will be dead and his mother will get a widows pension or she can even get herself a job. I wonder if she is old enough to drive?

Over here 13yr olds drive the farming tractor quad bike on the family farm

Which isn't driving a delivery truck on public roads in the city is it.

This kid is special he is not breaking the law

But he wants to be exempt from many laws.

Like many he could easily just drive away and probably not get caught due to the lack of cops on the road.

Yes and his customers will be very happy to have an illegal uninsured truck coming to their premesis on a regular basis

Where does it say his 4 older children?

Perhaps I made it up

Did you read the story or did you just get all upset cause here's a kid that wants to help his parents?

If you had read it then you wouldn't have asked about the 4 older children would you
So answer this quick question, of his four older siblings how many of them apparently still live in Palmerston?
Could one of those 3 possibly help mom out so you don't have an underage worker illegaly driving an uninsured truck?

[kiwi_2005]

Originally Posted by Tribesman

His parents won't go on the dole, his father will be dead and his mother will get a widows pension or she can even get herself a job. I wonder if she is old enough to drive?


Which isn't driving a delivery truck on public roads in the city is it.


But he wants to be exempt from many laws.


Yes and his customers will be very happy to have an illegal uninsured truck coming to their premesis on a regular basis


Perhaps I made it up


If you had read it then you wouldn't have asked about the 4 older children would you
So answer this quick question, of his four older siblings how many of them apparently still live in Palmerston?
Could one of those 3 possibly help mom out so you don't have an underage worker illegaly driving an uninsured truck?

Jesus mate, I wonder If the post contained this 13yr old got caught for illegally driving the family truck to save his dieing fathers bussiness and is now facing the courts there be some saying they should let him off as he was trying to help keep the business going.

Hes asking for an exemption, its not like if he doesn't get the go ahead he is going to drive anyways. He wont drive end of story. And here's a son who's not some over weight fat asshat that plays the PS all day but wants to help his family.

His father is no longer driving meaning they will probably lose the bussiness, Going on the dole over here your considered a total loser. The widows benefit is pittance.

Yes your right I did re-read the story as I thought I may have missed the 4 older brothers part.

One thing though why doesn't his mum take over the business like you said. I can't answer that.

All your doing is knocking a young man down who believes he is doing the right thing, hes not breaking the law! No wonder our young are confused today they try to do something right and still they get knocked.

Yes your right I did re-read the story as I thought I may have missed the 4 older brothers part.

It doesn't say brothers, it says 4 older siblings of which 3 still live in town.

All your doing is knocking a young man down who believes he is doing the right thing

No, all I am doing is removing the emotional view you are giving it and saying the laws shouldn't be re-written to accomodate one individual.

Do you think the comment is accurate about the politician, in that he is only getting involved for some good PR as he is up for election?

One thing though why doesn't his mum take over the business like you said. I can't answer that.

Thats the thing, he would be old enough to mind his younger siblings in the home(though how would that go with homeskooling is another matter) and his mum would be old enough to drive the truck so why are they going the other way instead?


Face it Kiwi you let your emotions over a sad tale make you think that someone who isn't old enough to have a full time job or to even have a learners permit should skip all the learner and resrticted driver stages then shoot through into a goods vehicle category for driving on the city streets when in reality he should still preferably be in full time education.

And seriously an insurance quote for a 13 year old in a delivery truck would probably sink the business into oblivion so it wouldn't be doing him or the family or the business any favours at all