Young Drivers

PERMIT PHASE DRIVERS AGE 15

• Parental consent necessary to obtain permit
  
• Must be enrolled in approved driver education course and must pass vision and knowledge tests
  
• Permit is valid for two years and must be held for a minimum of three months before a license is granted
  
• Practice driving must be supervised by parent or adult age 21 or older
  
• All occupants under age 18 must wear safety belts
  
• Number of passengers limited to one in front seat and to the number of safety belts in back seat
  
• 11 p.m. curfew Sunday-Thursday; midnight Friday and Saturday (local curfews may differ)
  
• Legal blood alcohol content (BAC) limit is .00
  

Sanctions

• Limit of one court supervision for serious offenses
  
• Unlicensed individuals convicted of a serious moving violation must continue to drive on a learner's permit for six months before obtaining license
  
• Not eligible for a restricted driving permit or a judicial driving permit
  
• Individuals age 15 and under caught driving without a permit ineligible to obtain license until age 18

INITIAL LICENSING PHASE DRIVERS AGE 16-17

• Parental consent required to obtain license; parent must verify that a minimum 25 hours of behind-the- wheel practice have taken place
  
• All occupants under age 18 must wear safety belts
  
• As of January 1, 2004, limited to one passenger under the age of 20 for the first six months following issuance of the license, or until the driver reaches age 18, whichever occurs first. Siblings, stepsiblings, children and stepchildren of the driver are exempt. Number of passengers limited to one in front seat and to the number of safety belts in back seat.
  
• 11 p.m. curfew Sunday-Thursday; midnight Friday and Saturday only for 16-year-olds
  
• Legal blood alcohol content (BAC) limit is .00

Sanctions

• Limit of one court supervision for serious offenses
  
• Conviction of any moving violation before age 18 generates Secretary of State warning letter to parent and teen
  
• Conviction of two moving violations in a 24-month period results in a minimum one-month suspension. Suspension length is determined by seriousness of the offenses and the driver's prior driving history.
  
• Suspended drivers required to attend remedial driver education course, pay $70 reinstatement fee, and be retested

FULL LICENSING PHASE DRIVERS AGE 18-20

• Legal blood alcohol content (BAC) limit is .00

Sanctions

• Limit of one court supervision for serious offenses
  
• Conviction of two moving violations in 24-month period results in a minimum one-month suspension. Suspension length is determined by seriousness of the offenses and the driver's prior driving history.
  
• Suspended drivers required to pay $70 reinstatement fee

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