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New Texas Laws Impacting
Driver License and Driver Education
Teen Drivers Education
requirements effective May 1, 2010
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32
hours of classroom
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7
hours behind the wheel with licensed instructor
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7
hours observation with licensed instructor
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20
hours behind the wheel with an adult 21 years or older (10 of the 20 hours must be at night)
Effective May 1, 2010, any student who receives a permit on or
after May 1, 2010. You can
download the TEA
20 Hour Log.
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*Beginning
March 1, 2010 all Teens must take the DPS
road test to obtain a Drivers License
after their 6 month waiting period is complete .
Applies
to all teens applying for a Driver License on or after September 1, 2009 regardless of when they took drivers education.
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*Beginning
March 1, 2010 all Teens who enroll with Driving School of North
Texas will take the written and and eye exam at the school but must
visit DPS to have their photo and fingerprints taken to complete the
permit process.
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*Effective
September 1, 2009, all occupants, front and back seat, must wear
seatbelts.
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*The cost of a Learners Permit
will be $16.00 effective March 1, 2010.
The permit will expire on the student's 18th
birthday.
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*The cost of a Provisional DL
will be $16.00 effective March 1,
2010.
The Drivers License will expire on
the student's 18th birthday.
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*New Graduated Driver License restrictions effective September 1,
2009
For the first 12 month period
following the issuance of the Teen's Drivers License the following
restrictions apply:
*No cell phone use of any kind
(dialing, talking, texting)
*One person in the car under 21 years old who is
not a family member
*No driving after midnight or before 5:00 am,
unless it is necessary for work, school or a
medical emergency
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*Effective
March 1, 2010 adults between ages of 18 and
25 applying for a Drivers
License must complete an approved 6 hours driver
education course.
A
person who has successfully completed this course will receive a
certificate and will not be required to test for a learners permit with the
DPS. However, applicant will have to take a road test (in-car) with
the DPS.
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WHEN CAN I DRIVE?
GRADUATED DRIVER'S LICENSE |
The Texas Graduated Driver License (GDL) was implemented as a result of
Senate Bill 577. This law changed original licensing requirements for
persons under the age of 18. GDL creates two phases of driving
requirements for minors. The effective date of this change in the law is
January 1, 2002. Basic requirements for obtaining a license have not
changed.
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Phase One: |
Applicants under the age of 18 must hold an instructional
permit (learner's permit) for a minimum of six months prior to receiving a
provisional Class A, B or C driver's license. In addition, the minimum age
of the person who must accompany any instruction permit holder while
driving is 21 years of age.
Once the student has held a valid instruction permit or hardship
license for a minimum of 6 months, has reached the age of 16 and has completed both the classroom and driving portions of
driver's education, they are eligible to graduate to Phase Two. |
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Phase Two:
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Phase Two restricts the driving privileges of teens under the age of 18
for 6 months after receiving their Class C
driver's license (your real Provisional Drivers License!) These teens
may not operate a vehicle with more than one passenger in the car under the age of 21 who is not a family member.
In addition, they may not drive between the hours of 12:00
a.m. and 5:00 a.m. unless it is necessary for the teen to attend or participate in employment or a school-related
activity or because of a medical emergency.
During the first 12 months of having their
Provisional License, the driver may NOT use a cell phone in any way,
dialing, talking on or texting.
The license restriction will state: TRC 545 424 applies until mm/dd/yy.
This date indicates when the second phase of the graduated driver's
license will expire for that individual. Upon completion of the 6 month
period, the above time and/or passenger restriction no longer apply. The
licensee may apply for a duplicate license at a DPS office to
remove this restriction. A fee is required to obtain a duplicate license.
If not, the restriction will be removed at the time the applicant renews
the license on their next birthday, provided the Phase Two, 6 month time
has lapsed.
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Provisional Driver's License
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All original licenses, other than an instruction permit, issued to persons
under 18 years of age will be marked "Provisional." The license
will be vertical and will be dated to expire on the applicant's next
birthday occurring after the date of issuance. A fee is required to obtain
this license. The renewal fee is required for each one year of renewal
period. No renewal notice will be sent as it is the responsibility of the
applicant to obtain a verification of enrollment and attendance from their
school. If the instruction permit or the driver's license is not due for
renewal a fee is required for a duplicate instruction permit or duplicate
license (i.e. lost license, change of address, removal of GDL
restriction.) |
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This 'n That
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| There are 46 states and the District of Columbia which have
some form of a graduated driver's license system. Studies have proven that
students become better and safer drivers when they learn to drive with few
distractions. |
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