Stateline Headlines

Montana Lawmakers Brake State's Speedway Image

After being ridiculed nationally for more than three years, fiercely independent Montana has finally enacted a daytime speed limit on its highways, bringing "Montanabahn" - word-play on the German speedways called autobahns -- to a screeching halt on May 28. Adoption of the 75-mile per hour speed limit for cars and light trucks (70 mph on two lane highways) topped the mid-session deeds of the Montana legislature, leaving tax relief and ballot issues as the major pieces of unfinished business.

States Step Up Efforts To Curb Drunk Driving

Alcohol-related traffic fatalities are declining nationwide, but that hasn't kept a number of states from working to slam the brakes on drunken driving. Tactics range from seizing offenders' cars, to lowering blood alcohol limits, to publicly shaming people convicted of driving under the influence. Aside from the obvious public policy considerations, states are motivated by a desire to safeguard federal transportation dollars that would be lost by not addressing the drunk-driving problem

Art Contest Flames Interest In Flight

Benjamin Crabtree has loved airplanes - and drawing - since he was a toddler. Now 12, he is still too young to fly a plane, so he paints his dreams of becoming a pilot and, every year, he enters his work in an international art contest for children sponsored by the Federation Aeronautique Internationale of Lausanne, Switzerland. Meet Benjamin and learn more about the contest in this stateline.org report.

States Using Graduated Licenses To Curb Teen Driving Deaths

Alarmed by the disproportionately high death rates that teenage drivers and their youthful passengers suffer in crashes, states are increasingly relying on graduated licensing laws to stop the carnage. More than half of all states, 27, have adopted graduated-licensing since 1996, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Oregon, Wisconsin, Colorado and Missouri are mulling measures that could drive the total to 31.

Forty Five Governors Sign Zero Tolerance Pledge For Holiday Weekend

Hoping to reduce the number of child fatalities in traffic accidents, forty five governors and all fifty state highway patrol chiefs have adopted a zero tolerance pledge for drivers who fail to properly restrain children in vehicles over the Memorial Day weekend -- one of the heaviest periods of auto travel each year in the United States. For more information on the mobilization effort organized by the National Safety Council, click

Most States Easier on Boaters Than Motorists

States have fairly uniform laws regarding the operation of automobiles, but differ dramatically when it comes to watercraft. There are a number of states where a 10-year-old landlubber can legally fire up a 40-foot cabin cruiser and motor off into the sunset -- by him or herself. For more information, click on

For Many States, Trimming Car Insurance Costs An Ongoing Battle

New Jersey has the highest car insurance rates in the nation, even though officials there have battled for the better part of two decades to keep premiums in check. The Garden State opts for a hands-on approach when it comes to car insurance, as do many states. To learn more, click on

California Lawmakers End Summer Break, West Virginia Okays Drought-Relief Money

After a monthlong summer recess, California lawmakers returned to Sacramento this week for the final stretch of the legislative session. No sooner were they back at work when Gov. Gray Davis angered fellow Democratic leaders by presenting his HMO reform plan to members of the press before they got a peek at it. Thursday the state Assembly narrowly approved legislation to ban the manufacture and sale of unsafe handguns in the state. West Virginia legislators got right down to business at an 80-minute special session by unanimously passing a bill that would free up as much as $11 million to help farmers and communities hard hit by this summer's severe drought conditions. Click on

States Looking at Automobile-Cellular Telephone Issue

Gentlemen and women, start your engines. A state race may be on to determine the future of the automobile and the cellular telephone. Legislation to either ban or limit motorists use of cell phones while they drive is popping up in statehouses around the country. At the same time, highway officials and wireless researchers are exploring the use of cell phone technology to reinvent traffic information processes and the development of the nations highways.

States Giving Anti-Growth Measures High Priority

Sprawl is a fast-growing blip on the radar screens of governors and state legislators, pushing once low-priority land use legislation near the top of many states political agendas for 2000.

'Smart Road' Takes High Tech Step Toward Traffic Solutions

In the shadow of Virginia Tech University in the southwestern part of the Old Dominion, a new sensor-studded stretch of blacktop is being developed that could transform how future highways and motor vehicles are built. It's Virginia's "Smart Road" -- a $33 million project that will eventually serve as a combined highway laboratory and public connector road.

Specialty License Plates Generate Revenue, Controversy

With Nancy Reagan looking on at a Los Angeles bill-signing ceremony in October 1999, California Gov. Gray Davis okayed an aluminum tribute for one-time California governor and former President Ronald Reagan. Starting this year, Californians who dish out $50 up front and an additional $40 each year they renew their license plate can have Reagans picture on the rear bumper of their car. California Girl Scouts, Florida adoption activists, and descendents of Tennessees Confederate veterans had no such luck in getting license plates honoring them approved, demonstrating that something as simple as a flat piece of metal can generate strong emotions in state politics and government.

Auto Insurance Costs Down Slightly, State Study Shows

The average state auto insurance cost dropped slightly in 1998, the most recent year for which there are statistics, according to a new National Association of Insurance Commissioners report. It was the first decrease in five years. The study focused primarily on insured vehicles with liability insurance, but not necessarily collision or comprehensive coverage.

States Must Step Up Bridge Repair Funding, Report Says

Incremental improvements on the nations roadway bridges have left nearly three in ten in need of renovation or repair and states may need to pick up more of the tab, according to a new independent analysis of Federal Highway Administration data. "'Crisis' is probably a strong word, but it is a concern," said Paul Haaland of The Road Information Program (TRIP), a non-profit highway research group based in Washington, D.C., which conducted the analysis of data collected through December 1999.

Voters Send Mixed Signals On Growth, Environment

Voters in 23 states considered ballot measures dealing with growth management and the environment on Nov. 7. Some of the most highly publicized proposals were rejected, but experts dismiss suggestions that the defeat of prominent "smart growth" measures in Arizona and Colorado means that interest in curbing sprawl has cooled.

States Get Report Card On Road Repair

Had a flat tire lately? Front-end out of line? How about a broken axle? If you answered yes to any of these questions, chances are you're either a bad driver or you're the victim of lousy road maintenance.The non-profit Road Information Program thinks it's more of the latter. Based on its analysis of Federal Highway Administration data, American motorists are spending $41.5 billion a year, or about $222 per driver, on extra vehicle repair costs that could be avoided if the state and federal governments would beef up funding for highway and bridge improvements.

Cell Phones and Driving: More Legislative Talk Than Action

You've seen this picture as you drive to work or to the store: drivers talking on cell phones and navigating at the same time. Is driving while chatting on a cell phone dangerous? Some local governing bodies say "yes." This year, 40 states considered legislation to ban the use of cell phones while behind wheel, but none have taken action.

States Crack Down on Gasoline Thieves

More and more U.S. motorists have become "fuel shoplifters." With the price of gasoline at near record-high levels, gas stations are reporting that more drivers are filling up their gas tanks and fleeing without paying. Twelve states have responded by pumping up criminal penalties for those convicted of stealing gas. Most of them have added a punishment to the usual "petty theft" penalty - suspending violators' drivers licenses for six months.

Survey Spurs Stepped Up Seat Belt Law Enforcement

Every state except New Hampshire requires adults to use seat belts in motor vehicles, but according to the National Safety Council, only two states -- California and New Mexico -- are really strict about making people take a proven lifesaving action and buckle up.

Drunk Driving Tragedy Prompts 'John's Law'

At a time when the meaning of the word "hero" is often devalued by being used to describe athletes and movie stars, Ensign John R. Elliott was the real thing to everyone who knew him. The 22-year-old U.S. Naval Academy graduate, whom peers viewed as an exemplar of leadership and character, was killed last year in a collision caused by a drunk driver. But Elliot's death has led to enactment of a new law in his home state of New Jersey designed to keep alcohol -impaired motorists off the road -- and creation of a volunteer program that encourages individuals to become designated drivers.

Bush Asks States to Help Secure Airports

President Bush wants the states to help secure the nation's airports as part of his plan to aid the struggling airlines and reassure Americans it's safe to fly again.Speaking at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport, the nation's busiest, Bush Thursday called on the governors to deploy up to 4,000 National Guard military police at federal expense to bolster airport security. He said the MPs would man checkpoints to help identify people, screen vehicles and look for suspicious baggage.

States Restrict Teen Drivers

Driving accidents among sixteen-year-olds are the number one cause of teenage deaths in the United States, far outstripping more highly publicized causes such as school violence and drug abuse. But innovative new licensing laws now in place in 35 states are helping to reduce teen accident rates.

New Year Rings in New State Laws

New state laws that took effect on Jan. 1 show policy makers are concerned about finding more revenue, preventing smoking, and making motorists drive more safely.

State Officials Recommend Driver's License Database

State motor vehicle officials stopped short of calling for a national identity card on Monday (1/14) when they unveiled a plan to expand the nation's existing commercial drivers database to include all 200 million passenger car drivers. But their plan is still being touted by security experts as one step closer to a unified, nationwide system to help identify and keep track of individuals suspected of terrorist or other criminal activities.

New 'Human Transporter' Getting Green Light

With a national lobbying effort clearing its path, a much-ballyhooed new "human transporter" called Segway is scooting through state legislatures, winning regulatory changes that allow it to be used on sidewalks and other pathways frequented by pedestrians.

New Jersey E-ZPass System A Financial Debacle

New Jerseys electronic toll collection system may save motorists time, money and fuel, but lawmakers and transportation authorities are learning that the E-ZPass system will not pay for itself.

Debate Rages Over Light Transit's Value

Traffic congestion increases. Commuter frustration mounts. And debate continues about how much funding should be given to light rail systems that may or may not be effective a question that seems to depend on who you talk to.

States Fail to Stop Drugged Driving

A recent state-by-state analysis of laws restricting driving under the influence of drugs found that in 42 states, drugged drivers are rarely detected, prosecuted or referred to treatment programs because of weak state laws and a lack of quick and reliable drug tests.

Democratic Governors Push Agenda

Seeking to play a larger role in the national political arena, Democratic governors met in Washington, DC, Monday to weigh in on the debate over economic stimulus, saying the economy needs greater public investment in roads and schools and not just more tax cuts.

States Ringing in New Laws

Besides football and hangovers, New Years Day will also bring many new state laws. These new additions to the statute books cover everything from fruit to taxes.

Maine's Former Governor Is King of the Road

If you see a 40-foot RV rolling through Georgia this week, look behind the wheel for former Maine Gov. Angus King. The ex-gov has embarked on a cross-country road trip with his wife, Mary, and children Ben, 12, and Molly, 9. King, who won acclaim for putting laptops in the hands of all his states middle school students, is chronicling his adventures on a Web site, Wheres Molly? and calling in updates to National Public Radio.

Drunken Driving Limits Threaten Highway Funds

Fourteen states could jeopardize millions of dollars in highway construction funds if state lawmakers dont lower the drunken driving limit from .10 to .08 by Oct. 1, 2003. As the impending deadline and ballooning deficits loom, some state lawmakers said they feel pressure to act.

Virginia Car Tax Cuts: County-By-County Impact

Click here to see a list of Virginia car taxes by county or city.

Virginia Rural Areas Slighted By Car Tax Relief

When it comes to phasing out the state's car tax, most Virginians would say don't look a gift horse in the mouth. But some legislators, especially from rural areas, are ready to give that horse a swift kick.

Governors Set Winter Meeting

As most states wrestle to close mounting budget deficits, their governors will gather in Washington, D.C., this weekend for meetings focusing on implementing new federal education legislation and reforming Medicaid to shift the burden of spiraling healthcare costs.

Northeast States Join In Commuter Security Effort

The opening shots of the war with Iraq brought governors of three states together in an unusual effort to protect commuters in the New York City area from terrorist attacks.

Drinking and Driving Legal in Some States

Drunk driving may be a crime in every state, but drinking while driving is still legal in three of them Indiana, Mississippi and Montana -- as long as the driver is sober.

Bush Plan Aims to Make Seat Belt Laws Click

Memorial Day, meant to honor soldiers sacrifices, has come to mean the deadliest season on roads and highways across the nation. State laws on buckling up vary, but incentive grants pushed by the Bush administration aim to encourage more states to pass mandatory seat belt laws.

Safety Concerns Fail to Curb Roadside Memorials

Flower wreaths, white crosses, weathered photographs and other roadside memorials are pitting families mourning victims of fatal traffic accidents against state highway officials who are concerned roadside shrines may distract drivers or pose other safety hazards. But with no federal law to regulate roadside memorials, an inconsistent patchwork of state and municipal policies rule the roads.

New Statutes Kick In July 1

Effective today, new state laws will let people drink more but will impose harsher penalties for drunken driving.

States Court Boeing for Airliner Project

State governments across the country are aggressively courting the Boeing Co. as the countrys largest airplane builder shops around for an assembly site for its proposed new commercial airliner, the 7E7 Dreamliner. Amid a crippling budget crisis, the states are cobbling together incentive packages to win the jobs, tax revenue and prestige that a big Boeing project can bring.

Drivers Manuals Lack Distracted Driving Info, AAA Says

States could do a better job of warning drivers about the dangers of talking on a cell phone, putting on makeup, fiddling with the radio and other distracting behaviors while driving, according to a new survey by AAA, a national traffic safety advocacy group.

Bush's Amtrak Plan Stirs Concern In States

States are worried about a provision in the Bush administrations proposal to overhaul Amtrak, fearing it would force them to shoulder much of cost of long-distance passenger train service in the future. State transportation officials generally agree that the nations 30-year-old passenger rail system needs change, but some differ with the administration on how to finance it.

Experts Debate Merits of Bush's Block Grant Plan

President Bush has proposed turning at least six existing federal programs into block grants Medicaid, housing for the poor, workforce development, child protection, transportation and Head Start.

New Jersey Cracks Down on Drowsy Driving

New Jersey lawmakers and highway safety advocates across the country hope the states new drowsy driving legislation the first in the nation will be a wake-up call to drivers who hit the road when theyre tired and currently cause more than 100,000 accidents per year nationwide. The measure allows motorists to be charged with vehicular homicide, an offense punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a $100,000 fine.

Technology Increases Safety for Winter Travelers

States are using sophisticated technology to make winter roads and interstates safer -- from giving travelers weather and road-condition information via the Internet to automated de-icing systems triggered by roadside weather systems.

New Year Rings in Hundreds of New Statutes

The new year brings more than just a change of calendars. Hundreds of new state laws are taking effect from coast to coast, covering such diverse matters as the creation of a highway fast lane, determining who pays for birth control pills and dictating how you can split your tongue to resemble a snakes. And thats just in Illinois!

States Driving to Strengthen Teen-Road Rules

In the past 18 months, Wyoming state Rep. Rosie Berger (R) has mourned the deaths of 13 teenagers in her district from car crashes. Now she's joining dozens of state lawmakers across the country in proposing restrictions on teen drivers from graduated driver's licenses to limits on passengers and nighttime driving.

Lawmakers Act to Preserve Endangered Night Sky

For decades, astronomers have warned that the intrusion of artificial light is threatening to wipe out a dwindling natural resource - the starry night sky. Now a growing number of city and state governments are taking up the fight to reclaim the night. For lawmakers, the issue is about energy efficiency and safety, as well as good stargazing.

Governors Press Bush for More Highway Dollars, Jobs

State governors went to the White House to register concerns about jobs and highway dollars but failed to win offers for any new funds or programs. President Bush promised to set aside election-year politics and work with members of the National Governors Association. But one of his Cabinet members struck less than a conciliatory tone by calling the nations largest teachers union a terrorist organization.

Drunken Driving Plea Tarnishes Wisconsin Attorney General

Wisconsin's first female attorney general is fighting for her political life after an arrest for drunken driving led not only to her embarrassment but also to the discovery she was misusing a state-owned car to commute to work. Democrat Peg Lautenschlager reimbursed taxpayers, paid fines and now gets rides to work because she lost her driver's license. She is trying to put the controversies behind her and says she has no plans to step down.

States Take Aim at Driving Under the Influence of TV

Troubled about distracted driving, states are restricting the latest modern invention to take drivers eyes off the road. Thirty-eight states now prohibit drivers from being within eyeshot of TV, video and DVD monitors inside the vehicle. And a new concern drive-by porn is focusing attention on what the motorist in the next lane might be watching.

Elderly Drivers Pose Policy-Making Challenge

As the oldest of the baby boomers, now 58, approach their golden years, they eventually will be asking themselves whether it's time to hand over the car keys. Elderly drivers' fatal accident rates - the highest except for teenagers - have been getting attention nationwide. But regulating elderly drivers is a difficult challenge for state policy-makers because of concerns over age discrimination and questions about how to assess driving ability.

First State Last on 2008 Drunken Driving Law

Delaware is the last state in the nation to resist cracking down further on drunken drivers by lowering the blood-alcohol level that determines intoxication. Other holdout states -- Colorado and Minnesota -- joined the rest of the country last month in enacting laws to lower the blood-alcohol concentration threshold to .08 percent from .10 percent. Delaware is jeopardizing millions of dollars in federal highway construction funds if state lawmakers don't lower the limit this session. Opponents of .08 argue states' rights.

See the U.S.A., Win a Chevrolet

It's summer vacation season, and the competition among states for tourists is fierce. No state wants to be left without vacationers and their wallets. Even with slim promotional budgets, state and local tourism officials are enticing Americans with sweepstakes and freebies to help secure their share of an anticipated summer tourism surge.

New State Laws Take Effect July 1

The beginning of the new budget year means no more talking on cell phones while driving in New Jersey, the start of Sunday liquor sales in Ohio, and Colorados dangerous dogs must wear microchips. Hundreds of new statutes that change people's daily lives are about to go into effect.

States Slow to Give Driver's Licenses to Illegal Aliens

The question of whether illegal immigrants should qualify for driver's licenses and if so, under what conditions - has been a topic of debate in 20 states this year. Although there has been little progress to make licensing undocumented residents easier or more difficult, proposals have prompted passionate support as well as vehement opposition. The fate of a proposal in California could prove influential in establishing a state trend on the issue.

Truant Teens Lose Licenses in Georgia and Other States

For teenagers, few freedoms are as precious as being able to drive. So Georgia high school students will want to think twice about skipping school this year: 10 unexcused absences could cost them their drivers license.

Red-Light Cameras Bring Safety, Brickbats

Despite studies that show photo enforcement dramatically reduces traffic accidents, theres still resentment at cameras playing gotcha with red-light runners at intersections. The fuss over red-light cameras shows why more use of photography to catch violators might not be a slam-dunk for states looking for ways to boost road safety. Currently, 18 states and 107 cities use cameras to record violators license plates, and car owners get tickets in the mail.

Underage Drinking Laws Take Aim at Parents

States are taking a new tack in underage drinking law enforcement, one that targets parents when minors drink. Under social host laws in about 35 states, adults are liable if they serve alcohol to minors who then are involved in a death or injury. Tougher laws in 15 of those states allow police to arrest parents who fail to halt underage drinking on their property, particularly at large house parties.

New Governors Spell Change - Road Sign by Road Sign

The transition to a new governor is about more than handing over the reins of power or even the keys to the executive mansion. Sometimes its about pesky issues, such as what to do with 4,000 boxes of salt-water taffy that carry the name of New Jersey Gov. James McGreevey, who left office unexpectedly this year. Nine states face such delicate dilemmas as they adjust to new governors taking office.

State Highway Safety Laws Rated

Wyoming, Montana, West Virginia and Rhode Island have the worst highway safety laws in the nation, according to a report issued Dec. 16 by the Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety

Drivers' Licenses Now a Tool for Homeland Security

Massachusetts and Colorado are ahead of other states in making their drivers licenses more secure since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Officials hope that state innovations in issuing drivers' licenses will serve as models as a new federal intelligence bill, signed Dec. 17 by President Bush, for the first time involves the federal government in setting nationwide standards for state-issued drivers documents.

New Year Rings in Many New State Laws

New state laws that go into effect on Jan. 1 will mean fatter paychecks for minimum wage workers in five states. But some rowdy sports fans had better beware, and skateboarding kids in New York will have to don helmets.

Save Your Quarters: States Build More Toll Roads

States are taking the free out of freeway. Toll roads are booming because gas tax revenues are woefully inadequate to pay for constructing and improving highways. Pay-as-you-go roadways may not please motorists but are gaining favor with cash-strapped state officials.

States Balk at License Bill as It Heads to U.S. Senate

It will be impossible for states to comply with stringent mandates for state-issued driver's licenses specified in an immigration bill that cleared the U.S. House of Representatives last week, state officials say. The bill, which experts predict will encounter resistance in the U.S. Senate, explicitly bars federal agencies from accepting as valid forms of identification licenses issued in 10 states that do not require applicants to demonstrate they are lawfully present in the United States.

In Their Own Words: Governors Name Greatest Challenges

Fixing the Medicaid mess is a top priority for America's governors, but job creation and affordable housing also emerged as concerns when Stateline.org recently questioned governors about the biggest challenges facing their states.

Rural Roads Are the Deadliest, Especially in Southeastern U.S.

The most dangerous roads in the United States aren't the perilous freeways of Los Angeles depicted in television shows and video games, or Washington, D.C.'s Beltway jammed bumper-to-bumper during rush hour. Instead, it is the rural two-lane road where a disproportionate number of drivers are killed, especially in Southeastern states.

State Laws Vary on Driving Distractions

New Hampshire is the only state that doesn't require adult motorists to wear seat belts, but it's also the only state where drivers can be ticketed for eating, drinking, talking on a cell phone or fussing with their makeup while behind the wheel. The state whose motto is "Live Free or Die" passed the nation's first distracted driving law in 2001. Since then, every state has looked at ways to keep drivers' minds on the road, but lawmakers in most states are choosing to focus more narrowly on restricting cell phone use while driving.

Ohio to Charge to 'Park at the Park'

For the first time in Ohio history, visitors to state parks will soon have to pay a fee to bring their cars and trucks. The $5-a-day parking passes, which are projected to generate $3 million a year, are yet another indicator of the state's continuing budget problems.

States Limit Teen Driving to Improve Safety

State legislators in 48 of the 50 states believe they've curbed the leading cause of death among 15- to 20-year-olds and made their roads safer by restricting teen driving through "graduated drivers license" programs. The effort is so clearly working that the country's final holdouts - Wyoming and Montana - are moving to join it.

States Start Building Hydrogen Highway

Three states are racing to make hydrogen the clean-car fuel of the future and to attract the high-tech companies developing that emerging auto technology. Building on federal efforts and funding, California, Florida and New York are pledging state money and partnering with major automakers to test electric automobiles powered by hydrogen fuel cells.

States Push for More Road Money

Federal highway funding isn't always fair. Twenty states collectively paid $1.8 billion more into a national highway fund than they got back for road and bridge projects in 2003, according to the most recent federal data available. Now these states and their representatives in Congress want to assure they get more of their federal gas taxes back.

Hybrids Queue Up for Express Lanes

Five states are sitting as idle as vehicles stalled at rush hour, waiting for federal permission to allow environmentally friendly hybrid cars on their specially designated car-pool lanes. Only in Virginia are single-occupant hybrids now free to roam the express lanes, a practice that may be proving too popular.

Congress Sets New Driver's License Rules

States no longer rule the road when it comes to driver's licenses. Congress just passed strict standards for driver's licenses nationwide that supporters say will help curb illegal immigration and keep licenses out of terrorists' hands. But opponents say the new standards usurp states' authority, violate drivers' privacy, will be costly to states and may not actually increase security.

Oregon Tests Novel Mileage Tax

In 1919, Oregon was the first state to tax gasoline. This fall, the state will launch the nation's first high-tech experiment to tax drivers for the miles they travel rather than the gas they buy. The program is the first step in a long-term plan to replace the state's gasoline tax, which pays for about 40 percent of Oregon's road projects.

New State Laws Debut on July 1

A statewide smoking ban in Georgia, a set of tough laws against sex offenses in Iowa and legal procedures for disposing of unclaimed cremated remains in Connecticut; hundreds of new state laws like these take effect every July 1 to coincide with the start of the fiscal year. The new laws reflect the issues that matter most to legislators. This year's priorities included more restrictions on abortion, incentives for environmentally friendly energy and rules to make driving safer.

Congress' Foot-Dragging Slows Road Building

The summer road-construction season should be hitting its prime, but state, county and local transportation planners are freezing projects or putting off plans as they wait impatiently for Congress to dole out highway dollars. June 30 is the latest deadline for passage of a new federal highway bill, already almost two years overdue. The delay is forcing states to work on a fixed budget, delaying $2.1 billion in road projects that would have employed 90,000 workers.

Governors Decry New Driver's License Rules

The nation's governors lambasted new driver's license requirements being imposed by the federal government, and New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson (D) became the first to threaten to challenge the law in court for infringing on states' rights. Governors met with federal homeland security officials on the final day of the National Governors Association's annual meeting, at which Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee (R) took over as NGA chairman.

Teen Driving Curbs Show Results

UPDATED - The number of automobile deaths in the 15-to-17 year old age group has declined following teen driving restrictions imposed in recent years by nearly all 50 states, according to multiple studies by traffic safety and transportation research groups. As the ranks of teen drivers increase -- 17.5 million will be eligible to drive by the end of the decade, an increase of 1.3 million since 2000, according to a USA Today study -- more states have put safety concerns ahead of teens' desire to hit the road with their friends.

Why Did the Moose Cross the Road?

State road planners are adapting the idea of pedestrian crosswalks to keep panthers in Florida, moose in Maine and tortoises in California from ending up as roadkill. One of the latest methods for protecting wildlife and their habitat is the use of "critter crossings," underpasses, overpasses and fences designed to let wildlife move about more freely and safely as suburban sprawl carries roads deeper into forests and wetlands.

Daylight-Saving Time Dawns in Indiana

Just when Indiana ended its nearly 40-year quarrel over its clocks by accepting daylight-saving time, a new time issue has flared up. One of 12 states that fall into more than one time zone, Indiana is now consumed by a move by 19 of its 82 counties on Eastern time to switch and join its 10 counties on Central time.

Govs Park SUVs to Save Energy

With gasoline hovering near $3 a gallon, Florida Gov. Jeb Bush (R) is trading his Ford Expedition for a more fuel-frugal vehicle. Govs. Tim Pawlenty (R) of Minnesota and John Baldacci (D) of Maine are giving up their gas-guzzling Chevrolet Suburbans. Gov. Bill Richardson (D) of New Mexico also has promised to switch his Lincoln Navigator for something that gets better fuel mileage. In the wake of the hurricanes and tighter fuel supplies, more governors are asking agencies and residents for energy conservation.

Lawmakers Limit Crash Data

Lawmakers are paying a lot of attention to some little-known technology that collects data during car crashes. Four states this year followed California's lead in limiting who can use information from devices built into vehicles that record a car's speed and the response of seat belts, brakes and air bags in an accident.

Baby Boomers Augur Old Age, New Needs

In little more than five years, the oldest members of the baby boom generation will turn 65, causing alarms in some quarters about a retirement tsunami that will challenge state policy planners severely. But many experts believe the impact of this demographic shift on budgets and services won't be as negative as doomsayers claim.

Voters OK Smoking Ban, Keep Gas Tax

Stateline.org has compiled a quick guide to results from the Nov. 8 ballot in Washington -- with reliable sources to click on for in-depth information. Now updated with election results.

Voters Reject Budget Reform, Approve Transit Bonds

Stateline.org has compiled a quick guide to issues on the Nov. 8 ballot in New York—with reliable sources to click on for in-depth information.

White House Seeks State Aging Solutions

On the brink of the first baby boomers turning 60, the White House is about to assemble 1,200 state delegates to focus on ways state aging departments, the private sector and federal officials can gird for the nation's much-heralded retirement stampede.

Utility Regulators Have Political Ties

All states elect or appoint regulators to oversee the activities of the energy and telecommunications industries, but few of those officials have a background in consumer advocacy, according to a new report by the non-profit Center for Public Integrity. While they are charged with balancing ratepayers' interests against the demands of powerful utility companies, the center found only seven commissioners, out of nearly 200 across the nation, had extensive experience as consumer advocates.

Pa. Leads Push for New Coal Plants

The hurricanes that ravaged the Gulf Coast this fall temporarily cut off critical pipelines of oil and natural gas, but they have given a boost to technologies that make greater use of coal. With energy prices spiking, the governors of coal-rich states such as Montana, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Wyoming are promoting new projects that would help diversify U.S. energy sources and grow jobs in their states.

Can Amtrak Survive Three More Bush Years?

The United States needs strong regional passenger rail systems, linked across the country to provide alternatives to highway grids already choked by autos and fast-growing fleets of freight trucks.

Elders Donate Their Cars, Get Free Rides

An innovative program in Portland, Maine, offers one solution for improving transportation options for the elderly, a problem of increasing importance to states as the baby boom generation ages. In return for donating their cars, seniors receive a number of free rides, based on the value of their vehicle.

Federal Red Ink Shrinks Money for States

President Bush is offering states no help in paying for congressionally ordered changes to driver's licenses and would foist new costs on states to provide food for low-income pregnant women while slashing money to revitalize poor neighborhoods. One day after Bush released his $2.77 trillion proposed 2007 budget, analysts scouring the document concluded that while it is chock full of savings for the federal government, it could spell new financial responsibilities for states.

Road funding takes a toll on states

After three years of stagnant transportation spending, states are embarking on a road-building binge but still struggling with how to pay for new pavement. One answer increasingly is pay-as-you-go for motorists.

NJ Rejects Self-Service Gas

For more than 50 years, New Jersey has banned drivers from pumping their own gas. But when Gov. Jon Corzine (D) recently suggested the state test self-service pumps, his office was flooded with complaints.

Cycle Safety Is Second-Class

Pro football star Ben Roethlisberger's recent motorcycle accident has intensified the debate about whether motorcyclists, in the name of personal freedom, should have the right to increase their risk of injury or death. While most states have increased safety requirements for automobile drivers and passengers over the past 20 years, motorcycle safety rules, and especially helmet laws, have been relaxed or remain static.

State DOTs Hope Drivers See Dots

Test programs in Maryland, Minnesota and Pennsylvania aim to curb tailgating by using road markers that alert motorists to distances between vehicles. The markers serve as a tangible reminder of commonly taught driving guidelines such as the "two-second rule," which urges drivers to stay at least two seconds behind the car ahead.

States go global for road-safety ideas

Searching for ways to improve road safety without breaking the bank, state transportation officials have found inspiration internationally. Low-cost devices increasingly popping up on roadways across the nation have been used in foreign countries for years.

Too Little Time, Too Much Cost for Real ID

States cannot possibly meet a May 2008 federal deadline making driver's licenses more secure -- steps that could cost more than $11 billion over five years, according to a survey of state motor vehicle administrators released Sept. 21.

Coast Guard Broaches State Boat Licenses

Citing potential terror threats, the commander of the U.S. Coast Guard wants state governments to issue permits to America's 77 million recreational boaters.