Driving

Dear Parents,

Effective January 1, 2006 new driving restrictions will be made for persons less than 18 years of age. The restrictions for persons les than 18 years of age are as follows:

Provisional driver license restrictions during the first year

• Are issued a provisional driver license (DL) on or after January 1, 2006, or
• Already hold a provisional DL issued on or after January 1, 2005.

Provisional Driving Restrictions —You must be accompanied and supervised by a licensed parent, guardian or other licensed driver 25 years of age or older or a licensed or certified driving instructor when you:

• Transport passengers under 20 years of age at any time, for the first twelve months.
• Drive between 11 pm and 5 am for the first twelve months.

To determine if these restrictions apply to you, look at the date on your driver license.  The date printed just to the left of your photograph is the date these restrictions begin.  The new restrictions apply for 12 months following this date.  For example:  If the date on your license is May 7, 2005, you will have the above restrictions through May 7, 2006.  Violation of either restriction can result in a fine and/or community service.

Persons under 18 may not be employed to drive a motor vehicle. When you turn 18 years of age, the provisional part of your license ends. You may continue to drive as an adult using your photo license, which will expire on your 5th birthday after the date you applied.

Exceptions to Restrictions

When reasonable transportation is not available and it is necessary for you to drive, the law grants the following exceptions for minors to drive between 11 pm and 5 am or to transport an immediate family member unaccompanied and unsupervised.

The law requires that you must carry a note explaining why you must drive and when the necessity will end.

• Medical Necessity
  The note must be signed by your physician and contain a diagnosis and probable date when recovery will end your need to drive.
• School or School–Authorized Activities
  The note must be signed by your school principal, dean, or his or her designee and include a reason for the school or school–authorized activity and the date when the activity will end.
• Employment Necessity
  The note must be signed by your employer and verify employment and the date your employment will end.
• Immediate Need of Family Member
  The note must be signed by your parent or legal guardian and include the reason and date the necessity will end.
• Emancipated Minor
  No documentation is needed for this exemption, however you must have already declared yourself emancipated by completing a DMV form and by providing Proof of Financial Responsibility (SR 1P) in lieu of your guarantors’ signatures when you applied for your instruction permit.

If your student must drive siblings to and from school, your student must carry a note explaining why he or she must transport other people and when the necessity will end. The note must be signed by the parent/guardian. In the case that your son or daughter must drive after 11PM from a school function, BMHS will provide a note to the student which will provide the date of the function and the time the function will end. The note will only grant permission for your student to drive from the function to your student’s home. Please note that the only BMHS functions that may possibly end by 11PM are the Homecoming Dance and the Senior Prom and therefore the school will not be providing notes for other school functions. Also note thatit is the student’s responsibility to pick-up the note at the end of the school function and BMHS will not assume any liability for those students who forget to pick-up the note. If you have any questions regarding the new restrictions for provisional licenses, please visit the DMV website at http://www.dmv.ca.gov.