2002-08-14                     House Journal                      Page 4084
HB 397                                                                                            
The following letter,  dated July 5,2002, appears below:                                            
                                                                                                    
                                                                                                    
"Dear Speaker Porter:                                                                               
                                                                                                    
Under the authority of art. II, sec. 17, of the Alaska Constitution, I am                           
allowing the following bill passed by the second session of the                                     
Twenty-second Alaska State Legislature to become law without my                                     
signature and am transmitting the engrossed and enrolled copies to the                              
Lieutenant Governor's Office for permanent filing:                                                  
                                                                                                    
      SENATE CS FOR CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 397(TRA)                                                  
      "An Act exempting a person driving certain motor vehicles,                                    
      aircraft, or watercraft from driver licensing requirements; and                               
      providing for an effective date."                                                             
                                                                                                    
      Chapter No. 140, SLA 2002                                                                     
      [Effective Date:  July 11, 2002]                                                              
                                                                                                    
                                                                                                    
I am letting this bill become law without signature because it will have                            
no real effect on current behavior and practice regarding operation of                              
off-highway vehicles.  The public was largely unaware of the current                                
law requiring driver's licenses for these vehicles and it rarely, if ever,                          
was enforced.  This change will basically match law to practice.                                    
                                                                                                    
In taking this action, however, I hope future legislatures will evaluate                            
whether a policy is needed for operation of off-highway motor                                       
vehicles by younger Alaskans in the interest of public health and                                   
safety.                                                                                             

2002-08-14                     House Journal                      Page 4085
                                             Sincerely,                                            
                                             /s/                                                    
                                             Tony Knowles                                           
                                              Governor"