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Austin from Orange asks: Officer Antoine, I’ve been doing research on drivers licenses in the United States of America and found out that I don’t need a license to drive in the United States. I just wanted to know if that was true or not?

Answer: Good question Austin! If you keep this quote in mind you will be on the right track — driving is a privilege, NOT a right!!! Austin, I don’t know of a state in the United States of America that doesn’t require an operator of a motor vehicle to have a valid state-issued driver’s license before they get behind the wheel of a moving motor vehicle on the roadway. Austin, remember anyone can upload a video or make a statement on YouTube or online, so be careful where and whom you get your information from. Just because you can read it online doesn’t mean that it’s true. I can’t speak of all states in America, but believe me when I say everyone in Texas who operates a motor vehicle on the roads are required to have a valid state-issued driver’s license on their person. Austin, did I mention already that driving is a privilege not a right? The state of Texas giveth (driver’s licenses) and the state of Texas can take yours (driver’s license) away!  Austin, take caution when surfing the internet, especially if you find someone on YouTube saying that it’s your constitutional right to travel in the United States of America without a driver license. Austin, I would love to see you or anyone try to challenge a citation for driving with NO valid driver’s license in the municipal court of Port Arthur or ANY court in America!

Heather from Port Arthur asks: Officer Antoine, my mom and I just love and appreciate this column. Like many readers, we find ourselves turning to this section “Ask A Cop” first on Wednesday mornings. Officer Antoine, my mom’s driver’s license is due for renewal. She will turn 81 years of age on September 21 and I’ve tried to go online to request it, we’ve even mailed it in but the request was rejected. Now, Mom is afraid that something bad has happened to her license. What should we do?

Answer: Good question Heather! Tell your Mom to calm down, I believe I see the problem. Heather, your mom has reached beyond the magic age of license renewal (79). In Texas, once you have reached the age of 79 you will no longer be eligible to renew your license online or by mail — you must go up there in person. Licensed drivers in Texas must renew their license every six years, and Heather, when your Mom reaches the golden young age of 85 she will experience another change. Instead of renewing her license every six years she will have to go in every two years to renew her driver’s license.  Heather, I would like to extend to your mom, and I know she’s reading, a very happy birthday MOM!!!

Linda from Groves asks: Officer Antoine, thank you for providing such an outlet to the community about the importance of driving safe! I was a reluctant student of a Drive Safe seminar you taught in Port Arthur a few years ago, and I’ll be honest, that’s the day I became a safer driver on the roads of Southeast Texas.  You are an amazing teacher and everyone who drives a car should attend your class. I was at an intersection the other day while my husband was driving and we saw a car make a U-turn, and my husband got so angry he hit the roof. I didn’t know the answer either and we were a little reluctant to approach a Police Officer to ask this question. I told him I know just the Officer who I can ask and he will have an answer. Officer Antoine, is it illegal to make a U-turn at an intersection?

Answer: Good question Linda! I’m grateful your driving behavior has changed since attending one of my Drive Safe seminars. To date, I’ve been privileged to teach over 28,000 drivers and soon-to-be drivers in Drivers Ed classes all around this region. The number of citizens we’ve reached via The News and The Breeze 96.9 FM is probably mind-boggling. Linda, to hear feedback as yours only confirms we, under the watchful guidance of Chief Tim Duriso and the Port Arthur Police Department, will go that extra mile to connect and make Port Arthur and surrounding communities a safer place to commute. In Texas, it is NOT illegal to make a U-turn at an intersection if it can be safely done! Of course, the U-turn must be performed on a GREEN signal ONLY! So Linda, tell your husband he can fix the dent he put in the roof of his vehicle because making a U-turn at an intersection is okay in Texas. Keep in mind — if there’s no sign on the roadway that says no U-turn, it is permissible to make a legalone!!! 

Join Officer Antoine for Ask A Cop Live, on KSAP 96.9 FM, “The Breeze” radio station, every Tuesday (Today) for 1 hour from 1p-2p. Tune in and listen as Officer Antoine discusses in detail the newly released Ask A Cop article that printed in The News. You can also tune in via the Internet at www.ksapthebreeze.org. Feel free to call in and ask your question live to Officer Antoine at (409) 982-0247.  Remember to email your questions to Rickey.Antoine@portarthurtx.gov, or call 409-983-8673 and leave a message or voice mail question, or mail them to: Ofc. Rickey Antoine, 645 4th Street, Port Arthur, Texas, 77640. If you happen to see me in public you can Ask A Cop!