Spare the Road, Spoil the Child

Published: Sep 3, 2007

I got my driver's license on my 16th birthday in 1975. I remember very little about that day other than my mother and father making it perfectly clear that the first accident I caused or the first ticket I got would bring an end to my short driving career.

That was pretty much the rule all of my friends lived by. I can't say the warning didn't fade after a few months, as we took more and more chances. But I can assure you that had we caused any accidents or been cited for speeding, we would have been steering our Hush Puppies to school.

Have parents changed so much in 32 years?

I'm referring to Nick Bollea, son of wrestler Hulk Hogan, who within the first two months of getting his license received a speeding ticket for driving over 100 mph. Despite his reckless ways, neither the State of Florida nor his parents revoked his driving privileges.

What the heck is going on? I have had my share of speeding tickets, but I can't recall ever driving anywhere near 100 mph. Short of getting someone to the hospital, and there are ambulances for that, I can't think of a reason why someone in their right mind would drive that fast, let alone someone who is just learning to drive.

I'm not surprised that a 17-year-old would think that driving like a speed demon was "kewl." But I am shocked that in one year of driving, a kid can get three speeding tickets, including two for speeds in excess of 100 mph, and that his parents still allow him to get behind the wheel.

What are you thinking, Hulk?

Not only allowing him to drive, but giving him access to cars made to go well over 100 mph.

Sadly, because no one stepped up and told this boy that racing is not only not "kewl," it is also unacceptable, a young Marine named John Graziano lies in a hospital bed in a coma.

I am not one to tell any other parent how to discipline their child. My two daughters are only 2 and 3, but I can assure you that when they get their drivers' licenses in 13 years, the first accident or ticket they get will be their last for quite some time.

Accidents happen. People run red lights, speed and fail to stop at stop signs. But this accident was not unpredictable. Nick Bollea had a number of brushes with the law and did not learn his lesson.

I pray that Graziano fully recovers. Even if he does, Nick Bollea should be punished and punished harshly. Whatever consequences he's faced so far - if any - have failed to stop his continued bad behavior.

The State of Florida should step in and see that no one else is hurt or killed by his reckless driving.

The public cannot afford to spare the road, so it's time to stop spoiling the child.