Jon Johnson File Photo/Gila Herald: A woman called the Sheriff’s Office after her father utilized her 15-year-old sister who has a learner’s driving permit as a designated driver for himself and his friends while they were intoxicated.
By Jon Johnson
GRAHAM COUNTY – A Graham County man utilized his 15-year-old daughter as a designated driver for him and his friends during a July 4 celebration to the chagrin of another daughter but not the law.
The second daughter called the Sheriff’s Office regarding her father’s actions because she didn’t want her sister to get in trouble since she only had a learner’s permit and not her driver’s license. She also didn’t feel it was safe for her sister to drive around a group of intoxicated men.
A deputy contacted the responding party at about 8:36 p.m. and advised that per Arizona Revised Statute 28-3154 a person with an instruction permit may drive as long as they are accompanied by a person at least 21 years of age who has a driver’s license and occupies a seat beside the permittee. The deputy added that since the statute didn’t mention any requirement of sobriety for the licensed passenger, her sister may legally be the designated driver for the group.
When informed of the legality of the situation, the responding party had no further questions and the case was concluded.
