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A Junior Operators License…

Any person under the age of 18 who applies for a “Junior Operator’s License” on or after November 4, 1998 (the date the law takes effect), is subject to all of the provisions of the new law. This is true whether you obtained a Learner’s Permit before or after that date. Taking the road test on or after that date means that you will be subject to:

  1. The requirement that you have possessed a Learner’s Permit for a full six (6) months before you take the road test;
  2. The requirement that you have a driving record free of offenses and free of surchargeable events for a six (6) consecutive month period immediately prior to the taking of the road test (for example, a motor vehicle violation conviction in the week prior to a scheduled road test would prevent you from taking the road test and a new six [6] month period would have to begin);
  3. The requirement that you have successfully completed a Driver Education Program approved by the Registrar, which includes thirty (30) hours of classroom instruction, six (6) hours of in-car behind-the-wheel driving experience and six (6) hours of in-car experience observing another Permit holder’s supervised driving; and
  4. The requirement that you completed twelve (12) hours of supervised driving experience in addition to the driving experience in the Driver Education Program.

Restrictions on the Holder of a Junior Operator’s License (JOL)

(1) JOL Obtained Prior to November 4, 1998

If you obtained your JOL prior to November 4, 1998 and you are still under age 18, you will become subject to:

  1. The unexpired portion of the six month passenger restriction. The passenger restriction becomes effective on November 4, 1998. It applies to any JOL holder under the age of 18 during the first six (6) months after obtaining the JOL, even if the JOL holder obtained the JOL prior to November 4th. As a JOL holder, you may be subject to some portion of the six (6) month period if you have not had the JOL for the full six (6) months by November 4, 1998 and you have not turned 18 years of age by that date. For example:
    1. a JOL holder who obtained the JOL prior to May 4, 1998 would not be subject to the passenger restriction at all, regardless of his/her age (obtained the JOL more than six [6] months prior to November 4, 1998);
    2. a JOL holder who obtained the JOL two (2) months before the effective date would still be subject to the passenger restriction for four (4) months after November 4, 1998 (if not yet 18);
    3. a JOL holder who turned age 18 prior to the effective date would not be subject to the passenger restriction; and
    4. a JOL holder who turned age 18 after the effective date would no longer be subject to the passenger restriction, even if the JOL holder had not completed the portion of the six (6) month restriction that applied to him or her.

General Rule: The passenger restriction that applies to you as a JOL holder under the age of 18, will be lifted once you have completed the six (6) month period (or the portion that applies to you) or upon reaching the age of 18, whichever occurs first.

  1. The provision that requires additional suspension penalties for anyone under the age of 21 who commits certain motor vehicle offenses on or after November 4, 1998 when alcohol or drug use is involved, including enhanced suspension penalties if you are under 18 at the time of the offense;
  2. The restriction that you may not operate a motor vehicle between the hours of 12:00 AM (midnight) and 5:00 AM (if still under age 18) unless you are accompanied by a parent or legal guardian;
  3. The provision that requires additional suspension penalties for anyone who commits certain motor vehicle offenses on or after November 4, 1998 involving speeding and/or drag racing while in possession of a JOL;
  4. The restriction that you may not operate a motor vehicle requiring a commercial driver’s license.

(2) JOL Obtained on or After November 4, 1998

If you obtain your JOL on or after November 4, 1998 you will be subject to all of the provisions of the new law, including:

  1. The six (6) month passenger restriction. As a JOL holder you may not operate a motor vehicle while a person under the age of 18, other than yourself or an immediate family member, is present in the vehicle unless you are accompanied by an operator, duly licensed in his state of residence, who is at least 21 years of age, who has at least one (1) year of driving experience and who is seated next to you. (Note: Black’s Law Dictionary defines “immediate family member” as the term generally referring to one’s parents, wife or husband, children, and brothers and sisters.)

General Rule: The passenger restriction that applies to you as a JOL holder under the age of 18 who obtained the JOL on or after November 4, 1998, will be lifted once you have completed the six (6) month period or upon reaching the age of 18, whichever occurs first.

  1. The provision that requires additional suspension penalties for anyone under the age of 21 who commits certain motor vehicle offenses on or after November 4, 1998 when alcohol or drug use is involved, including enhanced suspension penalties if you are under age 18 at the time of the offense;
  2. The restriction that you may not operate a motor vehicle between the hours of 12:00 AM (midnight) and 5:00 AM (if still under age 18) unless accompanied by a parent or legal guardian;
  3. The provision that requires additional suspension penalties for anyone who commits certain motor vehicle offenses on or after November 4,1998 involving speeding and/or drag racing while in possession of a JOL;
  4. The restriction that you may not operate a motor vehicle requiring a commercial driver’s license;