H.B. 206

This document includes House Committee Amendments incorporated into the bill on Thu, Feb 27, 2014 at 3:01 PM by lerror. -->              1     

DRIVER LICENSE TESTING REVISIONS

             2     
2014 GENERAL SESSION

             3     
STATE OF UTAH

             4     
Chief Sponsor: Steve Eliason

             5     
Senate Sponsor: Deidre M. Henderson

             6     
             7      LONG TITLE
             8      General Description:
             9          This bill modifies the Uniform Driver License Act by amending provisions relating to
             10      driver license testing.
             11      Highlighted Provisions:
             12          This bill:
             13          .    provides that if an applicant has been issued an equivalent learner permit by another
             14      state or branch of the United States Armed Forces, the applicant is subject to the
             15      driver education, testing, age, and fee requirements;
             16          .    provides that an applicant for an original or provisional class D license shall pass a
             17      knowledge test approved by the division;
             18          .    provides that a percentage of the test questions included in the knowledge test shall
             19      cover the topic of major causes of traffic related deaths as identified in statistics
             20      published by the Utah Highway Safety Office; and
             21          .    makes technical corrections.
             22      Money Appropriated in this Bill:
             23          None
             24      Other Special Clauses:
             25           H. [ None ] This bill takes effect January 1, 2015. .H
             26      Utah Code Sections Affected:
             27      AMENDS:


             28           53-3-210.5 , as last amended by Laws of Utah 2012, Chapter 176
             29     
             30      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             31          Section 1. Section 53-3-210.5 is amended to read:
             32           53-3-210.5. Learner permit.
             33          (1) Beginning on August 1, 2006, the division, upon receiving an application for a
             34      learner permit, may issue a learner permit effective for one year to an applicant who is at least
             35      15 years of age.
             36          (2) (a) The learner permit entitles an applicant that is 18 years of age or older to operate
             37      a class D motor vehicle only if:
             38          (i) a person 21 years of age or older who is a licensed driver is occupying a seat beside
             39      the applicant; and
             40          (ii) the applicant has the learner permit in the applicant's immediate possession while
             41      operating the motor vehicle.
             42          (b) The learner permit entitles an applicant that is younger than 18 years of age to
             43      operate a class D motor vehicle only if:
             44          (i) (A) an approved driving instructor is occupying a seat beside the applicant;
             45          (B) the applicant's parent or legal guardian, who must be a licensed driver, is
             46      occupying a seat beside the applicant; or
             47          (C) a responsible adult who has signed for the applicant under Section 53-3-211 and
             48      who must be a licensed driver, is occupying a seat beside the applicant; and
             49          (ii) the applicant has the learner permit in the applicant's immediate possession while
             50      operating the motor vehicle.
             51          (3) The division shall issue a learner permit to an applicant who:
             52          (a) is at least 15 years of age;
             53          (b) has passed the knowledge test required by the division;
             54          (c) has passed the physical and mental fitness tests; and
             55          (d) has submitted a nonrefundable fee for a learner permit under Section 53-3-105 .
             56          (4) (a) The division shall supply the learner permit form.
             57          (b) The form under Subsection (4)(a) shall include:
             58          (i) the applicant's full name, date of birth, sex, Utah residence address, height, weight,


             59      and eye color;
             60          (ii) the date of issuance and expiration of the permit; and
             61          (iii) the conditions and restrictions contained in this section for operating a class D
             62      motor vehicle.
             63          (5) An application and fee for a learner permit entitle the applicant to:
             64          (a) not more than three attempts to pass the knowledge test for a class D license within
             65      one year; and
             66          (b) a learner permit after the knowledge test is passed.
             67          (6) (a) If an applicant has been issued a learner permit under this section or an
             68      equivalent by another state or branch of the United States Armed Forces, the applicant may be
             69      issued an original or provisional class D license from the division upon:
             70          (i) completing a driver education course in a:
             71          (A) commercial driver training school licensed under Part 5, Commercial Driver
             72      Training Schools Act; or
             73          (B) driver education program approved by the State Board of Education or the division;
             74          (ii) passing a knowledge test approved by the division that complies with the
             75      requirement of Subsection (6)(d);
             76          [(ii)] (iii) passing the skills test approved by the division;
             77          [(iii)] (iv) reaching 16 years of age; and
             78          [(iv)] (v) paying the nonrefundable fee for an original or provisional class D license
             79      application under Section 53-3-105 .
             80          (b) In addition to the requirements under Subsection (6)(a), an applicant who is 17
             81      years of age or younger is required to hold a learner permit for six months before applying for a
             82      provisional class D license.
             83          (c) An applicant is exempt from the requirement under Subsection (6)(a)(i) if the
             84      applicant:
             85          (i) is 19 years of age or older;
             86          (ii) holds a learner permit for three months before applying for an original class D
             87      license; and
             88          (iii) certifies that the applicant, under the authority of a permit issued under this
             89      chapter, has completed at least 40 hours of driving a motor vehicle, of which at least 10 hours


             90      were completed during night hours after sunset.
             91          (d) Fifty percent of the test questions included in the knowledge test required under
             92      Subsection (6)(a)(ii) shall cover the topic of major causes of traffic related deaths as identified
             93      in statistics published by the Utah Highway Safety Office.
             93a           H. Section 2. Effective date.
             93b          This bill takes effect January 1, 2015. .H




Legislative Review Note
    as of 1-28-14 1:00 PM


Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel


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