HCS/SCS/SBs 392, 393, & 267 - This act creates a graduated driver's licensing system for those 15 to 18 years of age, allows all driver's licenses for everyone over the age of 21 to be valid for six years and modifies the conditions of granting a limited driving privileges.

GRADUATED DRIVER'S LICENSE - This act establishes a graduated driver's license system. Under the first stage, a 15 year old applicant must pass a vision test and signs test to get a temporary instruction permit. The temporary permit instruction holder can operate a motor vehicle for 12 months with the permit and must be accompanied by a driver who is 21 years of age or older when driving. Beginning January 1, 2001, no permit will be granted unless the parent or legal guardian gives written permission and in so signing state that they will provide a minimum of ten hours of behind the wheel driving instruction.

Beginning January 1, 2001, any person between the age of 16 and 18 years of age may apply for an intermediate driver's license which shall be distinguishable from a license issued to those 18 years of age or older. An applicant shall:

1) Successfully complete the driver's test;

2) Have had a temporary instruction permit for at least 6 months or a valid license from another state;

3) Complete 20 hours of supervised driving under the temporary instruction permit;

4) Have no alcohol related offenses in the preceding 12 months; and

5) Have no non-alcohol related offenses in which points are assessed within the preceding 6 months.

An intermediate driver's license holder shall not operate the vehicle between the hours of 1:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m. unless accompanied by a parent, grandparent or legal guardian. He or she may travel during those hours if it is to or from a school event/program, place of employment or an emergency situation. Any intermediate licensee accumulating 6 or more points in a twelve month period may be required to successfully complete a driver improvement program. An intermediate licensee who, for the preceding 12 month period, had no alcohol related contacts and no traffic convictions for which points are assessed, upon reaching the age of 18 years may receive without further examination, other than the vision test, a license granting full driving privileges.

No person upon reaching the age of 18 years whose intermediate driver's license is denied, suspended, canceled or revoked in this state or any other state, may apply for a full driver's license until driving privileges are fully reinstated. Any person whose intermediate driver's license has been revoked shall upon receipt of notice of reinstatement, pass the complete driver examination and apply for a new license at proper fee.

This act prohibits those under age eighteen from receiving a driver's license if their parents or legal guardians file a certified document with the Department of Revenue stating that the Director shall not issue a driver's license. This act shall not apply to persons who are legally emancipated. The parents or legal guardians may later file an additional document to reinstate the child's ability to receive a driver's license. This portion of the act is similar to SB 307 (1999).

DRIVER'S LICENSES - This act requires all applicant's for a driver's license to take and successfully complete a sign recognition test before a license may be issued. All applicants, 21 years or older, for a chauffeur's or operator's license will be issued a license for 6 years to expire on the person's date of birth. The fee for a chauffeur's license is doubled from $15 to $30. The fee for an operator's license is doubled from $7.50 to $15. Applicants between 18 and 21 who apply for a chauffeur's license will be issued a 3 year license that will expire on the applicant's date of birth. The fee is $15. Applicants under the age of 21 who apply for an operator's license will be issued a 3 year license that will expire on the applicant's date of birth. Nondriver's licenses will be issued for a period of 6 years and will expire on the person's date of birth. The fee is $6.00. A person reaching the age of 70 may be issued a nonexpiring nondriver's license.

The fee for a commercial driver's license (CDL) is doubled from $20 to $40. A duplicate CDL will cost $20. All applicants for a CDL, 21 years of age or older, will be issued a 6 year license expiring on the applicant's date of birth. Applicants between the age of 18 and 21 will be issued a 3 year CDL expiring on the applicant's date of birth. The fee is $20.

FEE AGENTS - Fee agents will be able to collect $4.00 (up from $2.50) beginning July 1, 2000 for six year driver's licenses.

LIMITED DRIVING PRIVILEGES - This act clarifies Section 302.309, RSMo, by stating that a limited driving privilege cannot be issued until the person has served two years of a five year license denial or has served three years of a ten year license denial. The act also prohibits the granting of a limited driving privilege to anyone convicted of the crime of involuntary manslaughter while operating a motor vehicle in an intoxicated condition.
STEPHEN WITTE