How will the Secretary of State, an already overwhelmed system, navigate reopening with a back log that is sure to be in the thousands for services that are on hold through our government shut down.  

Specifically, I am petitioning on behalf of the teenagers who have jumped the hoops towards their drivers license only to be stalled from completing the final task; the State Road Test (SRT).  The SRT is the 20 minute end all, be all, for the Michigan Drivers License.  Many states with far less preparatory requirements do not offer a final road test.  Apparently the 20 minute test is indicative of a person’s ability to drive that is above and beyond the 50 + hours spent behind the wheel with a parent, and 2 segments of education.  Segment one is a minimum of 24 hours of classroom instruction, a minimum of six hours of behind-the-wheel instruction, minimum of four hours of observation time with a trained drivers education instructor in a training vehicle.  This is then followed by Segment 2 after the driver has held a valid Level 1 License for at least three continuous months and has acquired 30 hours of driving experience time including a minimum of two hours of night driving. Segment 2 includes a minimum of six hours of classroom instruction. Can you imagine going through all of this to have a 20 minute State Road Test hold you back? 

 Perhaps the Governor could “lighten the burden” and alleviate the “stress” for the students and families affected by shut down by waiving the SRT.  Students  and their families are caught in limbo because their final hoop was cancelled out from under them.  Teenagers have sacrificed classroom education, prom, graduation, sports seasons, activities, and in many cases the jobs that are crucial for them every summer to save for continuing education and tuition. The Governor has faced some tough opposition to her strict closures - could she do this one thing in a good will, good faith gesture?