Pennsylvania Driver Licensing Police & Teen Commuter Law

teen drivers

Obtaining a Pennsylvania Junior Learner's Permit

You must be at to the lowest degree xvi years old to employ for a learner's permit. Also, before applying, you must take a medical professional conduct a physical exam and complete the "Medical Qualification Document" section of Form DL-180 to verify that you're medically capable of operating a vehicle.

And then you tin visit a licensing heart with the following items:

  • Completed Non-Commercial Learner's Permit Awarding (Form DL-180)
  • Completed Parent or Guardian Consent Form (DL-180TD) if you lot're under 18
  • Proof of your appointment of birth and identification (acceptable forms of identification can be found on the reverse side of Form DL-180)
  • Your Social Security card
  • A check or money society, payable to PennDOT, in the appropriate amount

An eye screening and knowledge exam are given, and once they're passed, a learner's permit is issued. The allow is valid for one year. When gaining driving experience y'all must exist accompanied by an adult 21 years or older.

Permit holders must exist accompanied by a licensed commuter at to the lowest degree 21-years-old or a parent, guardian, or spouse at to the lowest degree xviii-years-old and licensed. Young drivers may simply drive betwixt 11PM and 5AM if for employment or volunteer service. If a let holder accumulates six or more points, driving privileges volition be revoked for ninety days.

Obtaining a Junior Commuter's License

For those under age xviii, a six-month waiting period and at least 65 hours behind the bike with a learner'due south permit is required prior to taking the skills examination for a junior license. The 65 hours must include 10 hours of driving at nighttime and 5 hours of bad-weather driving. Those 18 or older tin have the test and receive a license at any time.

For drivers xviii and under who plan to obtain their graduated license earlier turning 18, a PennDOT canonical driver'southward education class must be completed. If not, a inferior license automatically becomes a graduated license upon turning 18.

The following restrictions must exist followed by drivers using a inferior license:

  • No driving between the hours of 11PM and 5AM is allowed unless a parent, guardian, or spouse over 17 years of age accompanies you in the vehicle. Yous may drive alone from 11PM to 5AM if you're involved with a public service, volunteer fire company, or employed during those hours. As proof, you must behave a notarized affirmation from your employer, supervisor, or fire primary confirming your schedule.
  • If an accident occurs for which y'all are partially or fully responsible, or if you commit certain moving violations, your license may be suspended until you are 18 years old or for a period of time not exceeding 90 days.
  • Drivers under 18 volition be suspended if they accrue six or more points or are bedevilled of driving 26 mph or more over the posted speed limit. The first suspension will be for a period of xc days. Any subsequent occurrences will outcome in 120 days of intermission.
  • Teens with a junior license without a parent in the vehicle cannot accept more than one friend or similar person under age 18 (who is not a member of the household) as a rider. If you are not in an accident for half dozen months, you will be allowed to carry up to three passengers with the same criteria.

Obtaining a Graduated Driver's License

It'south possible to obtain a regular license 1 year subsequently receiving your junior license and still be under 18. To do and so, yous must accept passed a PennDOT approved driver preparation program, have no violations or accidents on your record, and have the consent of your parents, guardian, or spouse. If you meet these criteria, you tin can graduate to a full license as young as 17 and a half.

To utilise for your regular license before turning 18 you must fill out the awarding form (DL-59) and mail it to PennDOT. If your application is canonical, you will receive an update carte to carry with your Junior Driver's License. If you do not meet the requirements to graduate to a regular license earlier turning eighteen, you must wait to have the inferior license restrictions lifted automatically when you practise turn 18.

Pennsylvania's Zero Tolerance Law

Pennsylvania´s Nix Tolerance Law carries serious consequences for those under 21 who are convicted of driving with any amount of alcohol in their blood. Those under 21 who are convicted of driving under the influence with a .02 claret alcohol content or greater face up astringent penalties, including a 12-to-18-month license pause, 48 hours to vi months in jail, and fines from $500 to $five,000.

A vehicle does non have to exist involved in lodge for those under 21 to lose their driving privileges. It is against the police for an individual under the age of 21 to consume, possesses or ship booze, or lie most their historic period to obtain alcohol and conduct a fake identification card. If bedevilled, the minimum penalties are a fine of up to $500, plus courtroom costs; a 90-day license interruption for the first offense; a ane-year pause for the 2d offense; and a 2-year interruption for the third and subsequent offenses. The courts may require offenders to be evaluated to determine the extent of the involvement with alcohol and may also require successful completion of a program of alcohol education, intervention or counseling.

Additional Impacts on Your Commuter´due south License: If y'all practice not take a driver´s license, you lot will exist ineligible to utilise for a learner´s permit for the fourth dimension menstruation of the intermission. If you are under 16 years of historic period, your suspension will not begin until your 16th birthday, provided you acknowledge your suspension, and it is received any time prior to your 16th birthday. In improver to serving a pause, a restoration fee must be paid before your driverʼs license will be returned or your awarding for a Not-Commercial Learner´s Permit (DL-180) considered for processing.

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