VPD NEWS

 

Teen Driving Law Changes - House Bill 343
Summary & Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Signed into law Jan. 4, this legislation places certain restrictions on the operation of motor vehicles by probationary license holders and temporary instruction permit holders who are less than 18 years of age. The law goes into effect Friday, April 6, 2007.

 Changes include the following:

  • Probationary driver license holders under the age of 17 will not be permitted to operate a motor vehicle with more than one person who is not a family member in the vehicle, unless accompanied by the license holder's parent, guardian, or legal custodian.  Studies conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety have shown that one passenger doubles the risk of a crash among teen drivers, two passengers triple the risk, and three or more passengers increase the risk by more than six.

 

  • Probationary driver license holders between 17 and 18 years of age will be restricted from driving between the hours of 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. unless the holder is accompanied by a parent or guardian, with the following exceptions: an emergency situation, driving to or from a school activity, or driving to or from work. Travel to or from work is permitted provided the teen has written documentation from the employer.

 

  • Probationary license holders under the age of 17 are prohibited from driving between midnight and 6 a.m. unless accompanied by a parent or guardian with the same exceptions as above. This is a change to the previous restriction of 1 a.m. to 5 a.m.

 
  • Permit holders under the age of 18 will be prohibited from driving between the hours of midnight and 6 a.m., unless accompanied by a parent, guardian or legal custodian who holds a valid license. This is a change to the previous restriction of 1a.m. to 5 a.m.

 
  • If a probationary driver license holder under the age of 17 is convicted of having committed one moving violation during the first six months of having a driver's license, the person must be accompanied by a parent or guardian whenever operating a motor vehicle during the six-month period commencing on the date on which the person is convicted of or pleads guilty to the moving violation or until the person turns 17.

4507.071 Probationary license - restrictions -- violations.

(A) No driver’s license shall be issued to any person under eighteen years of age, except that a probationary license may be issued to a person who is at least sixteen years of age and has held a temporary instruction permit for a period of at least six months.

(B)(1)(a) No holder of a probationary driver’s license who has not attained the age of seventeen years shall operate a motor vehicle upon a highway or any public or private property used by the public for purposes of vehicular travel or parking between the hours of midnight and six a.m. unless the holder is accompanied by the holder’s parent or guardian.

 

(2)(a) Subject to division (D)(1)(a) of this section, division (B)(1)(a) of this section does not apply to the holder of a probationary driver’s license who is traveling to or from work between the hours of midnight and six a.m. and has in the holder’s immediate possession written documentation from the holder’s employer.

(b) Division (B)(1)(b) of this section does not apply to the holder of a probationary driver’s license who is traveling to or from work between the hours of one a.m. and five a.m. and has in the holder’s immediate possession written documentation from the holder’s employer.

 

 

 

 

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