“New Teen Driving Law Set For July The law applies to any California driver under the age of 18 who applies for a license on or after July 1”

“For most teenagers the ability to own a driver’s license is the ability to own freedom. For me it’s no exception. I, like many other teens, long for the day that I can drive off into the sunset. Unfortunately it’s going to get tougher for teens to start driving.
Last year Senator Tim Leslie authored a bill aimed at drivers between the ages of 16 and 18. Senate Bill 1329, after being introduced, was signed by the California Legislature. The bill will be officially enforced starting on July 1st of this year. Any teenager under the age of 18 who applies for a driver’s license on or after July 1 will be faced with it.

Here are the provisions of the law:
For the first six months after you get your license, you can’t drive unsupervised between the hours of 12:00 am and 5:00 am. The adult accompanying you must be 25 or older and be approved with a signed statement from your parents.
Before taking the road test, potential drivers must first have their learner’s permit for a total of six months (not one month like it was before). Within the first 5 months of obtaining a license, you can’t transport passengers under the age of 20.
You must have 50 hours of behind-the-wheel practice with a parent , including 10 hours at night (it used to be you only needed 30 hours). Additional hours will also be added for Driver’s education and Driver’s training.
During the second six months after being issued a license, you may transport passengers under the age of 20 between the hours of 5 am and midnight without supervision. After this point the driver may also drive between the hours of midnight and 5 am without being accompanied by a supervisor only if reasonable transportation facilities are inadequate in the following circumstances:
Medical necessity. You must have a signed doctor’s statement that contains a diagnosis and probable date when sufficient recovery will have been made to terminate the necessity.
When you must attend school or school activities. You must have a signed statement from the school principal or school staff member, containing a probable date that the schooling or school activity will have completed.
When you need to go to work. You must have a signed statement from you employer, verifying employment and containing a probable date that the employment will be completed.
When the driver needs to drive an immediate family member. You must keep a signed statement from a parent or legal guardian verifying the reason and containing a probable date that the necessity will have ceased.
Also, you can’t get pulled over for violating one of these restrictions. Law enforcement officers can only enforce these rules if they have stopped you for something else, such as speeding or coming to an incomplete stop at a stop sign.”

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