Kentucky Graduated Licensing Laws for New Drivers PDF

GRADUATED LICENSING LAWS FOR NEW DRIVERS Effective October 1, 2006. — The Graduated Licensing Program affects license holders under the age of 18. The Graduated Licensing Program requires the following: PERMIT PHASE • • • • • • • • • • • Driver must be 16 years old to apply for permit. Parent/Gua...

GRADUATED LICENSING LAWS FOR NEW DRIVERS Effective October 1, 2006. — The Graduated Licensing Program affects license holders under the age of 18. The Graduated Licensing Program requires the following: PERMIT PHASE • • • • • • • • • • • Driver must be 16 years old to apply for permit. Parent/Guardian must sign application for permit. Drivers must have 180-day instruction period after receiving permit. Permit holder must drive with a licensed driver 21 years old or older. Permit holder under the age of 18 may not drive between the hours of midnight and 6:00 a.m. unless the person can demonstrate good cause for driving. Parent/Guardian must certify 60 hours practice driving (10 hours must be at night) before road (skills) test can be administered. Documentation forms for this requirement are found in the back of this manual. This documentation is required before the skills test. Passenger restriction – limited to 1 (one) unrelated person under 20 years of age. Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs is prohibited. A driver under the age of 18 who accumulates more than six points may have their driving privilege suspended. No serious moving violations are allowed for those under 18 during the permit phase. If violation(s) occur, the applicant’s 180 day waiting period begins again from the date of the violation. INTERMEDIATE PHASE • • • • • • Must pass driving skills test after 180-day permit period. Kentucky State Police License Examiner will place the intermediate sticker onto the permit when applicant passes the skills test. Intermediate driver under the age of 18 may not drive between midnight and 6:00 a.m. unless the person can demonstrate good cause for driving. Passenger restriction – limited to 1 (one) unrelated person under 20 years of age. Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs is prohibited. A driver under the age of 18 who accumulates more than six points may have their driving privilege suspended. INTERMEDIATE PHASE CONTINUED No serious moving violations are allowed for intermediate drivers under 18. If violations occur, the applicant’s 180 day waiting period for license issuance begins again from the date of the violation. ALL INTERMEDIATE DRIVERS MUST COMPLETE A 4-HOUR SAFETY CLASS BEFORE GETTING A FULL LICENSE. THE GOAL OF THE 4-HOUR CLASS IS TO ENSURE A MINIMUM LEVEL OF KNOWLEDGE ABOUT DRIVER LICENSE LAWS AND TO REINFORCE SAFE DRIVING HABITS. Intermediate drivers who take a high school Driver Education Course or a course from an approved private driving school will not be required to take the 4-hour class offered by the Transportation Cabinet. • Driver’s License will be issued upon meeting all qualifications from permit and intermediate phases. • All drivers under the age of 21 are subject to “Zero Alcohol Tolerance.” Drivers who receive a permit before 18 years of age now have the option of completing an online Graduated License Course at https://www.myimprov.com/drivers-education/kentucky/ For more information regarding the Graduated Licensing Program, call Division of Driver Licensing at (502) 564-1257 The seat belt law is now a primary law in Kentucky. You may be stopped and given a ticket by a law enforcement officer if you are observed not wearing your seat belt. BUCKLE UP! IT’S THE LAW! THE LICENSING PROCESS To be eligible to apply for a Kentucky Operator’s License, Motorcycle License, or Moped License, you must have reached your sixteenth birthday, and your driving privilege must not have been withdrawn in this state or any other state. You will begin the process in the Circuit Court Clerk’s Office in your county of residence. When applying for an instruction permit or license for the first time, you must present the following: • Social Security Card. 1 • • • Birth Certificate. For applicants under the age of 18, the signature and license or social security number of parent or legal guardian must be listed on the application. No Pass/No Drive Form (See page 3 of this manual for details). These rules and regulations have been established by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet. The Circuit Court Clerk is required to follow these rules. It is their responsibility to determine that the application for a driver’s license is complete and accurate and that the applicant meets the requirements to apply for a Kentucky license. After the Clerk has prepared the application, the Kentucky State Police License Examiner will administer the tests. You will be given a vision screening test to determine if you meet minimum visual requirements and a written knowledge test of the information contained in this manual. If you fail the written test, you may return the next day that tests are given in your county. An applicant for a moped license, who has no other type of license, must take only the written test and vision screening test in order for a license to be issued. A road test is not required for a moped license. After passing the required tests, you will return to the Circuit Court Clerk’s Office where you will be issued an instruction permit. This permit is valid for three years and may be renewed. If the permit is not renewed within one year of the expiration date of the previous permit, the written and vision tests must be repeated. You may apply for the road skills test 180 days from the issue date of the first permit, if you are under the age of 21. Permit holders ages 16 and 17, must meet the Graduated Driver License Program requirements listed on pages 1 and 2, before a road test will be administered. If you are age 21 or over, you must hold your permit 30 days before being eligible to take the road test. Please check with the local Examiner or Circuit Court Clerk for the testing availability in your county. If you fail the road test, you are required by law to wait seven days before another test can be administered. Once you have passed the road skills test, the Examiner will record the results and send you back to the Circuit Clerk’s Office for your license to be issued. Drivers under age 18 will receive intermediate status after successful completion of the road test. Your driver’s license record is maintained by the Transportation Cabinet, Division of Driver Licensing, in Frankfort. This agency keeps track of all traffic citations, accidents, suspensions, reinstatements, and assignments to traffic school. They alone have control of your driving file. Any questions concerning licensing qualifications or your driving record should be directed to that agency. Driving is an enormous responsibility. In your hands you place your life and the lives of all drivers and pedestrians around you. Please study this manual, and have a safe driving career. This manual will give you information on safe driving rules and practices to help you become a safer driver. The information will help you pass the driver test. The Kentucky Driver Manual is also available on the Internet: Kentucky State Police Web Site: www.kentuckystatepolice.org Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Web Site: www.transportation.ky.gov 2 CHANGE OF ADDRESS OR NAME If you change your address or name for any reason, you must obtain a duplicate license within 10 days. You may be cited by a police officer for not changing your address or name. If your name change is a result of marriage or divorce, please bring the proper legal documents showing proof. Contact your Circuit Court Clerk’s Office to make these changes. RENEWAL OR DUPLICATE LICENSE Your permit or license is valid from the date issued through the expiration date shown on the permit or license. All licenses issued after July, 2000, will expire 30 days from the license holder’s birth date, unless suspended or revoked. If you are 21 or over, you may renew your license up to six months before the expiration date by applying in person at your local Circuit Court Clerk’s Office. If you lose your license, a duplicate may be obtained by applying at your local Circuit Clerk’s Office. You must show positive identification, such as a social security card and a typed proof of residence address, to get a duplicate permit or license. RESIDENTS SERVING IN THE MILITARY Residents serving in the military may renew by mail or by personal designee when, at the time of expiration, they are outside the Commonwealth of Kentucky. This does not include CDL renewals. HOW TO OBTAIN A KENTUCKY DRIVER’S LICENSE WHY ARE DRIVERS LICENSED? • To ensure that each driver has the basic skills necessary to be a safe, efficient, and responsible driver. WHO NEEDS A KENTUCKY LICENSE? • Any current or new resident of Kentucky who plans to drive a motor vehicle. WHO DOES NOT NEED A KENTUCKY DRIVER’S LICENSE? • • • • • Any person in the Armed Forces of the United States who has an operator’s license from the United States, and who is operating an official vehicle in the course of his service to our country. Members of the military on active duty and their dependents who hold a valid license from another state. Nonresidents working in Kentucky who hold a valid license from another state. Full-time students enrolled in school or college with a valid license from another state. Operators of road machinery, farm tractors, or other farm implements being used for the purpose for which they were designed. WHO MAY NOT HAVE A LICENSE? • • • • • Anyone under 16 years of age. Anyone whose license has been suspended or revoked and not reinstated. Any person judged by a court to be mentally incompetent. Anyone who has a physical or mental impairment which makes it unsafe for him to drive. Any person who is unable to understand highway warnings or direction signs in the English language. WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS FOR OBTAINING A KENTUCKY LICENSE? • • • • The applicant must be a resident of Kentucky. Applicants must be at least 16 years of age. (A first-time applicant must bring his social security card and original or certified copy of his birth certificate). A parent or legal guardian must sign the application, if the applicant is under the age of 18. Applicants must pass the vision, knowledge and skills tests. 3 WHERE DO I GET MY LICENSE? • You must apply at the Circuit Court Clerk’s Office in your county of residence. (For more information regarding testing day(s), you may contact your local Examiner or Circuit Court Clerk) WHAT MUST I BRING WITH ME TO APPLY FOR A PERMIT OR LICENSE? • • • • Your social security card, which has not been laminated. An original or certified copy of your birth certificate. The parent or legal guardian of applicants under the age of 18 must sign the application. A legal guardian must have a certified copy of guardianship papers. No Pass/No Drive (Form) For Applicants under the age of 18 applying for an instruction permit or transfer license, a completed school compliance verification form issued by the public, private or home school the minor is attending must be submitted to the circuit clerk’s office in accordance with 601 KAR13:070 and No Pass/No Drive. Loss of license or permit can occur for dropping out of school or for academic deficiency in accordance with KRS 159.051/601 KAR 13:070. WHAT WILL THE TEST TO OBTAIN A PERMIT CONSIST OF? • • • • A vision examination is required. (Minimum visual acuity of 20/40 is required, or the applicant will be referred to a vision specialist.) A written knowledge test which will contain questions regarding driving rules, regulations, procedures, and highway signs. You will find all information for the test in this manual. Applicants must make a minimum score of 80% to pass this test. Tests can be given orally for applicants who cannot read the English language. However, the signs portion of the test must be answered by the applicant from his own knowledge and understanding. Tests in several foreign languages are available. ARE SPECIAL PROGRAMS AVAILABLE? • A bioptic program with special training provided by the Kentucky Office for the Blind is available. For further information regarding this program, call 1-800-895-3863. WHEN ARE ROAD TESTS GIVEN IN MY COUNTY? • Please check with your local Examiner or Circuit Court Clerk regarding the schedule for your county. A complete listing of counties requiring appointments for road tests are listed in the back of this manual. For counties that require an appointment, the appointment must be made before a test will be administered. WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS FOR TAKING THE ROAD TEST? • A valid Kentucky permit which has been held for 180 days by applicants under the age of 21 and 30 days by applicants 21 and older. There are no exceptions to the waiting periods. • A licensed driver 21 years of age or older must accompany you to the testing site. • The vehicle you use for testing must be properly registered, and proof of liability insurance is required. One of the following will be required as proof: 1. A proof-of-insurance card furnished by the insurance company. 2. A current insurance policy for that vehicle. 3. A binder from an insurance agent, in writing, stating that insurance is in force. • Drivers under the age of 18 must successfully meet requirements of the Graduated Driver License Program, on pages 1 and 2, before the road test is administered. NOTE: Rental cars must have the driver’s name listed on the rental contract as an operator. WHAT EQUIPMENT IS REQUIRED FOR MY VEHICLE? BRAKES. Every motor vehicle, when operated upon a highway, shall be equipped with brakes adequate to control the movement of, and to stop and hold, the vehicle. There shall be separate means of applying the brakes, each of which shall be effective to apply the brakes to at least two wheels. If the separate means are connected in any way, they shall be so 4 constructed that failure of any one part of the operating mechanism shall not leave the motor vehicle without brakes on at least two wheels. LIGHTS. Your vehicle must have two headlights and two taillights. Headlights on high beam must be strong enough to light the road sufficiently to reveal a person 350 feet ahead. They must not shine a glaring light into the eyes of an oncoming driver. When approaching an oncoming vehicle at night, you must use the low beam the last 500 feet before meeting and passing. When following a vehicle, dim your lights before coming closer than 200 feet of the vehicle in front of you. The rear light, or taillight, must be red and must be lighted and placed so it can be seen 500 feet behind your vehicle. A vehicle must also be equipped with at least two red brake lights to the rear. All motor vehicles must have brake lights. No person shall operate any vehicle required by law to be licensed upon a highway unless it is equipped with a mechanical signal device that would indicate an intention to stop or suddenly decrease speed by illuminating at least two red lights on the rear of the vehicle. LICENSE PLATE. The vehicle must be properly registered with the licensed plate properly displayed and unobstructed. The registration plate must be illuminated so that the letters and numbers of the plate can be read 50 feet away at night. WINDSHIELD WIPER. A windshield wiper is required on the driver’s side of the windshield. The windshield on every motor vehicle shall be equipped with a device for cleaning rain, snow, or other moisture from the windshield. The device shall be so constructed as to be controlled by the operator of the vehicle. HORN. Every motor vehicle, and bicycle, when in use on a highway, must be equipped with a horn or other device capable of making an abrupt sound sufficiently loud enough to be heard under ordinary traffic conditions. Every person operating an automobile or bicycle shall sound the horn or sound device when necessary to warn of the approach of his vehicle. Do not use the horn or sound device unnecessarily. A MUFFLER poisonous fumes. must be on the exhaust to reduce noise and annoying smoke, while protecting the occupants from A REARVIEW MIRROR must be so attached that you can see at least 200 feet to the rear of your car. STEERING GEAR must be in good condition and not have more than one-fourth (1/4) turn free play. SAFETY GLASS is required equipment for all windows on cars manufactured after 1968. TURN SIGNALS. Mechanical turn signals are required equipment on your vehicle and must be in working order. SAFETY BELTS AND SHOULDER BELTS are required for all passenger vehicles built after December 31, 1967. Light trucks and multi-purpose vehicles are required to have safety belts if built after December 31, 1971. If all passenger safety belts are not in working order, the test will not be given. WHAT EQUIPMENT MUST I NOT HAVE ON MY VEHICLE? There are certain items that are unlawful to place on a motor vehicle. When taking the driver’s test, your vehicle must not have: • Any red or blue light showing to the front. Green lights are also undesirable. • Any siren, bell, or whistle. • A muffler cutout. • Signs, posters, or stickers on the windshield or any other window in the car, unless required by law. 5