Politics & Government
A Not-So-Happy Birthday: Drivers Tests Cancelled Amid NJ State Shutdown
For those turning 17 this weekend, the government shutdown ruined any plans of driving adult-free as all drivers tests were cancelled.
MORRISTOWN, NJ — In New Jersey, turning seventeen means one thing: taking your drivers test. Scheduled between six months and a year in advance, how the test goes can make or break a high schoolers birthday.
Unfortunately for some New Jersey teens, their birthday driving plans were ruined by the government shutdown. All Motor Vehicle Commission locations are closed during the shutdown, cancelling road tests for teenagers with early July birthdays.
Now I can't take my drivers test tmrw cuz the government shut down how does the government even shut down
— Ry (@thee_ryanhacker) July 3, 2017
when your state government decides to shut down so you can't take your drivers test... can i just move ?
— laurelll •• TODAY!!! (@r5swildheartss) July 1, 2017
Adding to the frustration, teen drivers told NJ.com they weren't warned their road tests had been suddenly cancelled-- they found out through the news.
Find out what's happening in Morristownfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
"I'm really, really mad. I had to wait three months to take it and now I may have to wait even longer because the government can't decide on an agreement," 17-year-old Caroline Malone told NJ.com. Her test had already been postponed once, due to a knee injury.
Teens with birthdays aren't the only ones with ruined plans: a local Boy Scout troop saw their camping trip ruined when they were kicked out of a state park Saturday morning, and state beaches remain closed during the Fourth Of July holiday weekend.
Find out what's happening in Morristownfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Image via Rusty Clark, Flickr
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