PRINTER'S NO. 1375
No. 1128 Session of 1999
INTRODUCED BY WHITE, CONTI, GERLACH, MELLOW, EARLL, COSTA,
BODACK, THOMPSON, STOUT, GREENLEAF, CORMAN, O'PAKE, PUNT,
BOSCOLA, HART, TOMLINSON AND SCHWARTZ, OCTOBER 4, 1999
REFERRED TO TRANSPORTATION, OCTOBER 4, 1999
AN ACT
1 Amending Title 75 (Vehicles) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
2 Statutes, further providing for junior driver's licenses.
3 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
4 hereby enacts as follows:
5 Section 1. Section 1503 of Title 75 of the Pennsylvania
6 Consolidated Statutes, amended June 25, 1999 (P.L.164, No.23),
7 is amended to read:
8 § 1503. Persons ineligible for licensing; license
9 issuance to minors; junior driver's license.
10 (a) Persons ineligible for licensing.--The department shall
11 not issue a driver's license to, or renew the driver's license
12 of, any person:
13 (1) Whose operating privilege is suspended or revoked in
14 this or any other state.
15 (3) Who is a user of alcohol or any controlled substance
16 to a degree rendering the user incapable of safely driving a
17 motor vehicle. This paragraph does not apply to any person
1 who is enrolled or otherwise participating in a methadone or
2 other controlled substance treatment program approved by the
3 Department of Health provided that the person is certified to
4 be competent to drive by a physician designated by the
5 Department of Health.
6 (4) Who has been adjudged to be afflicted with or
7 suffering from any mental disability or disease and who has
8 not at the time of application been restored to competency by
9 the methods provided by law.
10 (5) Whose name has been submitted under the provisions
11 of section 1518 (relating to reports on mental or physical
12 disabilities or disorders).
13 (6) Who is required by the department to take an
14 examination until the person has successfully passed the
15 examination.
16 (7) Who is under 18 years of age except in accordance
17 with subsections (b) and (c).
18 (8) Who has repeatedly violated any of the provisions of
19 this chapter. The department shall provide an opportunity for
20 a hearing upon invoking this paragraph.
21 (b) License issuance to minors.--The department shall issue
22 a driver's license to a person 17 years of age who:
23 (1) has successfully completed a driver's training
24 course approved by the department; and
25 (2) for a period of 12 months after passing the
26 examination under section 1505(e) (relating to learners'
27 permits) and receiving a junior driver's license:
28 (i) has not been involved in an accident reportable
29 under section 3746(a) (relating to immediate notice of
30 accident to police department) for which they are
19990S1128B1375 - 2 -
1 partially or fully responsible in the opinion of the
2 department; or
3 (ii) has not been convicted of any violation of this
4 title.
5 (c) Junior driver's license.--The department may issue a
6 junior driver's license to a person 16 or 17 years of age under
7 rules and regulations adopted by the department and subject to
8 the provisions of this section. A junior driver's license shall
9 automatically become a regular driver's license when the junior
10 driver attains 18 years of age.
11 (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), no licensed
12 junior driver shall drive a vehicle upon a public highway
13 between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. unless accompanied by a spouse 18
14 years of age or older, a parent or a person in loco parentis.
15 (2) A licensed junior driver conforming to the
16 requirements of section 1507 (relating to application for
17 driver's license or learner's permit by minor) may drive a
18 vehicle upon a public highway between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m.
19 between the junior driver's home and activity, event or
20 employment or in the course of the junior driver's activity,
21 event or employment if the junior driver is a member of a
22 volunteer fire company authorized by the fire chief to engage
23 in fighting fires, is engaged in public or charitable
24 service, is traveling to, from or in connection with a
25 school-sponsored event or is employed and is carrying an
26 affidavit or certificate of authorization signed by the
27 junior driver's fire chief, supervisor, school official or
28 employer indicating the probable schedule of the junior
29 driver's activities. Upon termination of the junior driver's
30 activity, event or employment, the junior driver shall
19990S1128B1375 - 3 -
1 surrender the affidavit or certificate to the fire chief,
2 supervisor, school official or employer. If the junior driver
3 shall fail to surrender the affidavit or certificate, the
4 employer, fire chief, school official or supervisor shall
5 immediately notify the Pennsylvania State Police.
6 (3) In addition to the other provisions of this title
7 relating to the suspension or revocation of operating
8 privileges, in the event that a licensed junior driver is
9 involved in an accident reportable under section 3746(a) for
10 which the junior driver is partially or fully responsible in
11 the opinion of the department or is convicted of any
12 violation of this title, the department may suspend the
13 operating privileges of the junior driver until the junior
14 driver attains 18 years of age or for a period of time not
15 exceeding 90 days.
16 (4) Any junior driver or other person violating any
17 provision of this subsection is guilty of a summary offense.
18 Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
I2L75RLE/19990S1128B1375 - 4 -