INDIANAPOLIS -
An Indianapolis driver's education school that closed without notice has caused a roadblock for hundreds of young drivers hoping to get their licenses.
A Auto Driving School abruptly closed its three locations last month. The office at 3333 Founders Road is empty. A note posted on the door by the building's landlord reads, "There's no information on A Auto's future location or plans."
Carolyn Marsan's teenage daughter Julia got her driver's permit last summer after signing up for the state-approved driving school and successfully completing the course.
Now 16 and a half, Julia was ready to get her license, but when Marsan went to pick up the records, she found the school closed, with no contact information and no way to prove Julia took the course.
"We're out the $400 we spent on the class, but we're also out the 36 hours of time on her part, taking the class," Marsan said.
According BMV spokesman Dennis Rosebrough, to get their license, drivers under the age of 18 must either take a state-approved driver's ed class or show they've completed 50 hours of supervised driving by submitting a signed log.
Rosebrough said teenage drivers who take driver's ed can get their driver's license 90 days earlier. They also have the option of taking their driving test at the school or the BMV.
Clare Kelly, a junior at Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School, was one of many Brebeuf students who attended driver's ed at A Auto's Founders Road location.
She heard from friends Thursday that the school had closed.
"It means I don't have drivers ed taken care of and I was counting on that because I need to get my license," she said.
Her mother, Mary Ann Bromer-Kelly, added, "and I was counting on the breaks you get on insurance because they do give you breaks if you go thru driver's ed."
Bromer-Kelly added, "It's very upsetting. We can't easily afford another driving school and we've been doing what they told us to do all along."
Rosebrough said the BMV had recovered some student records from A Auto owner, Gary Baxter, and was working to recover the rest.
This isn't the first Baxter has faced questions about his business practices.
In September, 13 Investigates discovered the BMV had cited Baxter for several violations. He was accused of selling learner permits to immigrants without classroom instruction and on BMV property.
The BMV revoked the school's permit waiver, meaning it wouldn't accept driving test results from the school. And in February, the BMV revoked A Auto's license after Baxter closed its three schools. Rosebrough said state law requires driver's ed schools to have a physical location.
Unless her driving school records are found, Clare Kelly, about to turn 17, must start the road to getting her license all over. That means taking another course or logging 50 hours behind the wheel. Neither is very appealing. She just wants her license.
"It's very important. A lot of times recently, I've been stranded at home or at school and I have to call someone to pick me up. if I had a license, I could drive myself. I wouldn't have to worry about it. That's my goal now," Kelly said.
But instead of being in the driver's seat, she and others feel like they've been taken for a ride.
Eyewitness News tried to contact Baxter several different ways, but was unable to reach him.
Rosebrough said parents hoping to recover their teen's driver's ed records from A Auto can contact the BMV at 888-692-6841.
