New State Teen Driving Laws

Politics In Color
7/7/08

California and Washington state will follow the lead of a handful of other states and prohibit drivers from using hand-held cell phones while on the road, but will allow headsets. California teens can’t use their cell phones at all when driving. Anyone who violates the new laws risks a $76 fine for the first offense in California, and a $124 fine in Washington. Other states with similar laws are Connecticut, New Jersey, New York and Utah as well as Washington, D.C.

In the first six months of holding a new license, Arizona teens can’t drive between midnight and 5 a.m. and cannot have more than one other teen in the car who is not a relative. After similar laws in Connecticut and Minnesota take effect Aug. 1, only three remaining states will have no restrictions on newly licensed drivers: Arkansas, Kansas and North Dakota.

New Connecticut Teen Driving Laws

Connecticut Post
7/27/2008

The following are changes in state laws affecting 16- and 17-year-old drivers beginning Friday.

LEARNER'S PERMIT

• Required for 16- and 17-year-olds, vision and knowledge test required.
• Must complete an eight-hour safe driving course and 40 hours of practice driving with a licensed instructor or person at least 20 years old.
• No other passengers for first three months. After three months, may have immediate family as passengers.
• Must have permit for 180 days before applying for a license (20 days with completed driver training course).

NEWLY-LICENSED DRIVERS

• No passengers first three months except parents, legal guardian, licensed driving instructor, or a person at least 20 years old, licensed for at least four years (with no suspensions).
• During the next three months, may have immediate family members as passengers.

DRIVERS UNDER 18

• No cell phones (including hands-free devices) or mobile electronic devices while driving.
• No driving between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. except for employment, school, religious activities or for a medical emergency.
• Each passenger must wear a seat belt.

PENALTIES

• Immediate 48-hour suspension for 16- and 17-year-old drivers for violating driving restrictions, driving 20 mph or more over posted limit, driving under the influence, driving recklessly or racing a motor vehicle on a public highway.
• Police will seize the license and it will automatically be suspended for 48 hours. In addition, police are authorized to remove the vehicle from the scene.
• In order to regain possession of the license after 48 hours, the teen and their parent or guardian must go to the police station and sign a written statement acknowledging license has been returned.
• After conviction of a first offense, license suspension ranges from 30 days to six months, depending on the seriousness of the violation. Suspensions increase for all second and subsequent offenses.
• After suspension, driver must pay a $125 license restoration fee.

New Minnesota Teen Driving Laws

Courtesy Pioneer Press 7/30/08

Hey, teenage drivers, traffic texters and concertgoers, there's something for each of you in the new Minnesota laws. A host of new laws take effect Friday, and that means Minnesotans must make adjustments. Some will be large, some small. Read on for a selection of the new statutes and how they might affect you:

At The Wheel

If you send or read text messages or e-mails while you are driving, stop! Such multi-tasking will now be a petty misdemeanor.

If you are a teen with a new driver's license, for the first six months of driving you can have only one passenger — unless a parent or guardian is along. You can't drive between midnight and 5 a.m. unless you have a licensed passenger age 25 or older or are driving to or from a school event or work. You can't have more than three passengers younger than 20 unless you have a parent or guardian along. .....