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03 LC 19 5627
House Bill
124
By: Representatives Epps of the 90th, Stanley-Turner of the 43rd, Post 2, Jordan of the 83rd, Walker of the 115th, Thomas of the 43rd, Post 1, and others
By: Representatives Epps of the 90th, Stanley-Turner of the 43rd, Post 2, Jordan of the 83rd, Walker of the 115th, Thomas of the 43rd, Post 1, and others
A BILL TO BE
ENTITLED
AN ACT
AN ACT
To amend Article 2 of Chapter 5 of Title 40 of the Official
Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to issuance, expiration, and renewal of
drivers´
licenses, so as to change certain provisions relating to persons not to be
licensed; to require a course of driver education for certain applicants for
drivers´
licenses; to allow public schools to offer such courses over the summer and to
charge for them; to provide for standards for approval of driver education
courses; to provide an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other
purposes.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
GEORGIA:
SECTION 1.
Article 2 of Chapter 5 of Title 40 of the Official Code of
Georgia Annotated, relating to issuance, expiration, and renewal of
drivers´
licenses, is amended by striking subsection (a) of Code Section 40-5-22,
relating to persons not to be licensed, and inserting in its place the
following:
"(a)(1) The department shall not issueany a Class C
driver´s
license to any person who is under 18 years of age or Class M
driver´s
license to any person who is under the age of 16 years of
age, except that the department may, under subsection (a) of Code Section
40-5-24, issue a Class P instruction permit permitting the operation of a
noncommercial Class C vehicle to any person who is at least 15 years of age, and
may, under subsection (b) of Code Section 40-5-24, issue a Class D
driver´s
license permitting the operation of a noncommercial Class C vehicle to any
person who is at least 16 years of age. On and after January 1, 1985, the
department shall not issue any
driver´s
license to any person under 18 years of age unless such person presents a
certificate or other evidence acceptable to the department which indicates
satisfactory completion of an alcohol and drug course as prescribed in
subsection (b) of Code Section 20-2-142; provided, however, that a person under
18 years of age who becomes a resident of this state and who has in his or her
immediate possession a valid license issued to him or her in another state or
country shall not be required to take or complete the alcohol and drug course.
The department shall not issue a
driver´s
license or a Class P instruction permit for the operation of a Class A or B
vehicle or any commercial
driver´s
license to any person who is under the age of 18
years.
(2)(A) On and after January 1, 2004, the department shall not issue a Class C or Class M driver´s license to any person who is under 21 years of age unless such person presents acceptable evidence that he or she satisfactorily completed a driver education course:
(i) Approved by the department and in a driver training school and under the instruction of a driver training instructor licensed by the department under Chapter 13 of Title 43, 'The Driver Training School License Act'; or
(ii) In an accredited driver education program at a public high school and under the instruction of a driver training instructor licensed by the department for such a program.
Evidence of completion of a comparable driver education course shall be required in the event the person applying for a Class C or Class M driver´s license possesses a valid regular driver´s license previously issued to such person by the department or by any other jurisdiction.
(B) If a local school system offers a driver education program at one or more public high schools, it may offer such program as a summer school program and may charge an appropriate fee to cover expenses.
(C) The commissioner of motor vehicle safety shall, by rule or regulation, establish standards for approval of the driver education course provided for in subparagraph (A) of this paragraph, including without limitation requirements for course content and duration, attendance, and examinations. Such course shall be designed to educate young drivers about safe driving practices and the traffic laws of this state and to train young drivers in the safe operation of motor vehicles and shall consist of a minimum of 30 hours of classroom teaching and a minimum of six hours of behind-the-wheel instruction in a vehicle approved by the department for use as a driver training vehicle."
"(a)(1) The department shall not issue
(2)(A) On and after January 1, 2004, the department shall not issue a Class C or Class M driver´s license to any person who is under 21 years of age unless such person presents acceptable evidence that he or she satisfactorily completed a driver education course:
(i) Approved by the department and in a driver training school and under the instruction of a driver training instructor licensed by the department under Chapter 13 of Title 43, 'The Driver Training School License Act'; or
(ii) In an accredited driver education program at a public high school and under the instruction of a driver training instructor licensed by the department for such a program.
Evidence of completion of a comparable driver education course shall be required in the event the person applying for a Class C or Class M driver´s license possesses a valid regular driver´s license previously issued to such person by the department or by any other jurisdiction.
(B) If a local school system offers a driver education program at one or more public high schools, it may offer such program as a summer school program and may charge an appropriate fee to cover expenses.
(C) The commissioner of motor vehicle safety shall, by rule or regulation, establish standards for approval of the driver education course provided for in subparagraph (A) of this paragraph, including without limitation requirements for course content and duration, attendance, and examinations. Such course shall be designed to educate young drivers about safe driving practices and the traffic laws of this state and to train young drivers in the safe operation of motor vehicles and shall consist of a minimum of 30 hours of classroom teaching and a minimum of six hours of behind-the-wheel instruction in a vehicle approved by the department for use as a driver training vehicle."
SECTION 2.
This Act shall become effective on July 1, 2003.
SECTION 3.
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are
repealed.