New Teen Driving Law (as of July 1, 2005)

Beginning July 1, 2005, regardless of when you got your license, if you are under 18 you cannot drive a vehicle carrying a passenger under 21 unless you have held your driver license for at least 6 months. And, you cannot drive a vehicle carrying more than one passenger under 21 unless you have held your driver license for at least one year.

Exceptions to carrying passengers:

• If your parent or guardian is in the car with you, or
• If there is an adult passenger in the vehicle, 21 years of age or older, who has a valid license and has held a driver license for at least one year, or
• If the passenger under 21 needs emergency medical assistance, or
• If the passengers under 21 are members of your immediate family and they are all wearing seatbelts.

So, if you were issued your license on January 1, 2005, on July 1, 2005, you would be able to carry only one passenger under 21, but no more than one, until January 1, 2006, unless you meet one of the exceptions above.

There are also new restrictions on the time of day that you can drive. If you are under 18 you cannot drive between the hours of 12:00 midnight and 5:00am:

• Unless you have held your driver license for at least one year, or
• Unless your parent or guardian is in the car with you, or
• Unless there is an adult passenger, 21 years of age or older, in the vehicle who has a valid license and has held a driver license for at least one year, or
• Unless you are driving to school or a school-authorized activity and the school doesn't provide transportation (you will need a signed statement from the school official showing the date of the activity), or
• Unless you are driving because of employment; you must carry a signed statement from your employer verifying your employment, or
• Unless you are driving because of an emergency, or
• Unless you are an emancipated minor and your parent(s) or guardian(s) have not canceled your license.