Anyone from PA that can help with learner's permit?

[N.Bailey]

Hi everyone

My son is 15 (will be 16 in November of '06) and a lot of local people have been telling him that there is a new law in PA that if you were born in or after 1990 (he was born in 1990) you would not be able to get a PA driver's license until you hit 18 years of age.

I called our Driver's center, but they're only open on Tuesdays and Saturday (and I keep forgetting to call on those days) and can't get anyone there. I finally called our local state police, but the guy said he'd not heard of that, but to be sure, check the driver's center. I think he was a little annoyed that I called. OOOOPPPPS!

I've checked the web and I can't get any site to verify it either.

Last night my friend from Tennessee came by (is visiting family for the holidays) and she too heard that the law has been changed to 18.

My son is SUPER upset because he's been so excited to get his car and license in '06. I mean, it seems like that's all he's living for right now. I can understand though because I remember how excited I was and his dad can certainly remember too.

BTW: We do have the booklet for studying for the written test and it says 16 with NO mention of the law having changed. If it did change, I don't know when that could have been, so maybe it was since these books have been printed.

Can anyone help???? PLEASE???

 

[Marseeya]

It's still 16 as far as I know. They have a junior license from 16-18, but that's it -- I haven't seen that anything has changed, and I've been keeping up with licensing requirements. My son will be 15 in February.

Anyway, my driver's licensing center apparently has the same days as yours, but I called AAA because they would be up to date on all the laws and she said it's still 16.

Your DS can rest easy.

 

[Barb D]

http://www.onlinedmv.com/PA_Pennsylvania_dmv_department_of_motor_vehicles.htm

 

[golfgal]

http://www.drivereducationinabox.com/pennsylvania/drivers-ed.php

I found this. I wonder if the terminology is what is confusing? I am assuming this is current information from the PA DMV. This is how it works in MN, too. You get a conditional license at 16 with some restrictions and then at 18 you can get your "adult" license.

 

[mickeyboat]

http://www.dmv.state.pa.us/young_drivers/young_driver_faq.shtml#Q01

I found this.

Denae

 

[makinorlando]

I googled PA Driving Laws, and came with with several references to the "Young Driver Law" that was effective in 1999. This is when they put added restrictions on nightime driving, number of passenegers and the 50 hours behind the wheel practice. I found nothing at all the references any new laws.


www.dmv.state.pa.us/young_drivers/young_driver_faq.shtml

(Not from PA now, but from there and all my family still lives there!)

 

[belleandthebeast]

I checked with our license department, here's what I found-

In the state of PA-

At the age of 16, you can apply for a learners permit. You must have 6 months "on the road" training and some hours of classroom training in order to get your license which means, at the very least, you cannot get your license until your 16 1/2. This is explained in the learners permit book which your son should be able to get from school.

There were trying to institue a new law, but apparently, it never happened.I would double check with your local drivers center but I checked w/ 2 of our license departments (2 different offices), just to be sure. I heard about the new law, too, because my DB would not have been able to get his license unitl he was 18 either.

Hope that helps.

 

[N.Bailey]

Thanks for all your help. Every site that's been listed here, I've already visited. LOL I just couldn't find a single thing to back up that the law had been changed. Maybe the confusion is stemming from the jr. license?

Anyway, my son stood beside me as I read all your responses and he's totally thrilled! We knew he'd not be able to get his license for 6 months, so that wasn't a shock. He'll still be able to drive during that time if we're in the vehicle with him.

I hate to drive, so I welcome letting him take over! At 16, he'll be a better driver than I am.

If I remember on Saturday, I'll call to double check!