Graduated Driver Licensing

Graduated Driver Licensing

Click HERE to read about new Teen Driving Law Changes - House Bill 343 (effective 4/6/2007)

1.   Instructions for Temporary Permit Applicants under the age of 18

A.   Temporary permit packets are issued to applicants who are at least 15 years and 6 months. Remember to bring documentary proof of your age, identity and social security number (see “Digest of Ohio Motor Vehicle Laws” booklet page 2, for acceptable document list).

B.   A parent or legal guardian must co-sign the temporary permit application The parent or guardian must also present two verification documents of identification (see “Digest of Ohio Motor Vehicle Laws” booklet page 2, for acceptable document list). The acceptable identification documents information is also available on this Web site.

C.  Temporary permit holders must take the driver knowledge test and vision screening at the driver license examination station.

2.   Temporary Permit Use Rules for applicants under the age of 18

A.   After successful completion of the driver knowledge test, and vision screening the temporary permit holder is eligible to drive.

B. Driver must carry the application containing front & back data, this form must be carried with the photo ID card when driving.

C.  The temporary permit holder is at least fifteen years and six months of age, but less than sixteen years of age, the holder must be accompanied by licensed parent, guardian or certified driving instructor who actually occupies the seat beside the driver.

D.  The Ohio license driver must be the permit holders parent, legal guardian or a certified driving instructor. Once the permit holder is 16 years of age he or she may drive with a valid licensed driver 21 years of age or older.

E.   The temporary permit holder must complete 24 hours of classroom instruction and 8 hours of driving with a certified instructor.

F.   Obtain 50 hours (see Fifty Hour Affidavit - BMV 5791) of driving experience with at least 10 hours at night, certified by the parent. These hours are in addition to the driver education requirement.

G.  The temporary permit must be held for no less than 6 months before completing the skills test and obtaining the Ohio driver license.

3.   Temporary Permit/Driver License Restrictions for drivers under the age of 18

NOTE:	Effective Friday, April 6, 2007, the following changes apply to Ohio's graduated Driver License law which effects teenage drivers. For a copy of House Bill 343, go to: http://www.legislature.state.oh.us/bills.cfm?ID=126_HB_343

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 fatal 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 1:00 a.m. and 5:00 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 12:00 a.m. (midnight) and 6:00 a.m. unless accompanied by a parent or guardian with the same exceptions as above. This is a change to the previous restriction of 1:00 a.m. to 5:00 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 1:00 a.m. to 5:00 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 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 attains the age of 17.

Safety belts must be available to all passengers, and everyone must be buckled up. This applies to all Temporary Permit holders and those Licensed Drivers under age 18.

TEMPORARY PERMITS & PROBATIONARY LICENSE SUSPENSION RULES

Temporary permit holders and probationary license holders will be suspended for one year for accruing 3 moving violations before age18.
Temporary permit holders and probationary license holders may be suspended for six months if convicted of certain traffic-related violations before age 18.
Temporary permit holders and probationary license holders who are convicted of certain alcohol-related violations (4511.11 D.U.I.) before age 18 will be suspended for six months. If the offender is not yet 15½, the offender will not be eligible for a temporary permit until the age of 16.

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