No teenage son or daughter can wait for the day that her or she can drive or operate a motor vehicle. In Texas the laws change it seems almost yearly about how and when a minor can operate the family vehicle.
Three decades ago it was simply having a parent take their child down to the local Texas DPS license office, and pay for a learners permit, and when they became sixteen they would be tested for knowledge and on the road with an officer grading their ability.
Today teens have to jump through many administrative hoops to obtain even their learners permit. A class that consists of thirty hours of instruction must be taken and passed before even applying for a permit to get time behind the wheel with a licensed adult riding along with them.
The parent or guardian and the student driver must also agree in writing and sign a document that they are under the Zero Tolerance Law. This means even on the first occurrence of the student driver being pulled over by law enforcement, and they can detect that any amount of alcohol is in their body, their permit, or license will be taken away.
Before any of the above occurs the student must prove that they are in school, and show through proof of attendance records, and or hardcopy of their enrollment paperwork. If they have already received their high school diploma, or G.E.D then the previous will not be needed.
Of course, the normal vision test, and a written exam must be taken and passed to receive what is now called an instruction permit instead of a "learner permit". This will be simply a piece of paper and not the standard photo ID the Class A licensed drivers receive.
This document will expire upon the student's sixteen birthday in which time they will have to take the next steps in getting their "Graduated Drivers License".
More driver education in the classroom and driving with an approved instructor will be required to obtain their drivers license. This will be called a Provisional Drivers License, and it comes with certain restrictions.
The first being a driving curfew for anyone under the age of 18 that restricts them from driving between the hours of 12 AM (midnight) until 5 AM the next that morning. There are exceptions to this rule, and they are:
1. Attending an official school activity.
2. If their job keeps them late due to scheduling.
3. Incase of a medical emergency.
There is also the requirement to have the minimum State mandated auto liability insurance; even before the instruction permit can be issued to the student driver.
Recently, the Texas Legislature added some new laws regarding requirements
For drivers under the age of 18 years of age: No use of wireless communications devices such as texting on a smart cell phone, or WiFi enabled devices while operating a motor vehicle.
Greg Baumgartner is a Houston auto accident attorney and the founder of the Baumgartner law firm, which is dedicated to helping personal injury victims seek civil justice. If you would like to speak with a Texas injury attorney call the Baumgartner firm.
