PRINTER'S NO. 3689
No. 2684 Session of 1996
INTRODUCED BY STISH, JUNE 11, 1996
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION, JUNE 11, 1996
AN ACT
1 Amending Title 75 (Vehicles) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
2 Statutes, restricting persons eligible for operator's
3 licenses.
4 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
5 hereby enacts as follows:
6 Section 1. Section 1503 of Title 75 of the Pennsylvania
7 Consolidated Statutes is amended to read:
8 § 1503. Persons ineligible for licensing.
9 (a) General rule.--The department shall not issue any
10 driver's license to, or renew the driver's license of, any
11 person:
12 (1) Whose operating privilege is suspended or revoked in
13 this or any other state except as otherwise provided in this
14 title.
15 (2) Whose operating privilege is suspended or revoked in
16 any other state upon grounds which would authorize the
17 suspension or revocation of the operating privilege under
18 this title.
1 (3) Who is a user of alcohol or any controlled substance
2 to a degree rendering the user incapable of safely driving a
3 motor vehicle. This paragraph does not apply to any person
4 who is enrolled or otherwise participating in a methadone or
5 other controlled substance treatment program approved by the
6 Governor's Council on Drug and Alcohol Abuse provided that
7 the person is certified to be competent to drive by a
8 physician designated by the Governor's Council on Drug and
9 Alcohol Abuse.
10 (4) Who has been adjudged to be afflicted with or
11 suffering from any mental disability or disease and who has
12 not at the time of application been restored to competency by
13 the methods provided by law.
14 (5) Whose name has been submitted under the provisions
15 of section 1518 (relating to reports on mental or physical
16 disabilities or disorders).
17 (6) Who is required by the department to take an
18 examination until the person has successfully passed the
19 examination.
20 (7) Who is under 18 years of age except in accordance
21 with subsections (b) and (c).
22 (8) Who has repeatedly violated any of the provisions of
23 this chapter. The department shall provide an opportunity for
24 a hearing upon invoking this paragraph.
25 (9) Who has completed a high school program which is
26 approved by the Department of Education and which accords the
27 person the status of high school graduate or, if attending
28 high school or an equivalency program, has a scholastic
29 average of C+ or better.
30 (b) Minors completing training course.--The department shall
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1 issue a driver's license to a person 17 years of age who:
2 (1) has successfully completed a driver's training
3 course approved by the department; and
4 (2) has not been involved in an accident for which they
5 are partially or fully responsible in the opinion of the
6 department or is convicted of any violation of this title.
7 (c) Junior driver's license.--The department may issue a
8 junior driver's license to a person 16 or 17 years of age who is
9 a high school graduate or who has a scholastic average of C+ or
10 better under rules and regulations adopted by the department and
11 subject to the provisions of this section. A junior driver's
12 license shall automatically become a regular driver's license
13 when the licensee attains 18 years of age.
14 (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), no licensed
15 junior driver shall drive a vehicle upon a public highway
16 between 12 midnight and 5 a.m. unless accompanied by a spouse
17 18 years of age or older, a parent or a person in loco
18 parentis.
19 (2) A licensed junior driver conforming to the
20 requirements of section 1507 (relating to application for
21 driver's license or learner's permit by minor) may drive a
22 vehicle upon a public highway between 12 midnight and 5 a.m.
23 between their home and their activity or employment or in the
24 course of their activity or employment if they are a member
25 of a volunteer fire company authorized by the fire chief to
26 engage in fighting fires, engaged in public or charitable
27 service or employed and they are carrying an affidavit signed
28 by their fire chief, supervisor or employer indicating the
29 probable schedule of their activities. Upon termination of
30 the junior driver's activity or employment, the junior
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1 licensee shall surrender the affidavit to the fire chief,
2 supervisor or employer. If the junior licensee shall fail to
3 surrender the affidavit, the employer, fire chief or
4 supervisor shall immediately notify the Pennsylvania State
5 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 for which they are partially or fully
10 responsible in the opinion of the department or is convicted
11 of any violation of this title, the department may suspend
12 the operating privileges of such person until the person
13 attains 18 years of age or for a period of time not exceeding
14 90 days.
15 (4) Any junior licensee or other person violating any
16 provision of this subsection is guilty of a summary offense.
17 Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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