"Hardship" driver's license for kids under 16?

[va32h]

Has anyone heard of such a thing?

Yesterday I had to go to the DMV to change the address on my driver's license (yes, I know, I'm so lucky!)

Well I forgot to bring a book, so I spent 2 1/2 hours people-watching and chatting with the other poor souls who were waiting 2 1/2 hours.

One family was there to get a "hardship" driver's license for their daughter who was 15 1/2. Apparently, in Texas, you can apply for a some kind of waiver that allows you to get a license before the age of 16, if you have a hardship case.

Mom & dad were both in business suits, having taken the afternoon off to get this done before school started. The hardship they were claiming was that their work hours were such that the daughter needed to driver herself and her younger brother to and from school, and there is no schoolbus available.

They were about 30 people in line behind me, so I didn't stay to see how their case turned out, but I was really surprised that 1)such a 'hardship' clause existed and 2)needing to drive oneself to high school because both your parents work constituted a hardship.

I almost said "why not take the money you are going to spend on a car & insurance and hire someone to take your kids to and from school". When I worked, I had a college student who would pick up my oldest from school and take her to all her activities. I didn't even actually pay her, in fact! I let her do her laundry at our house, instead of having to go to the laundromat, and just reimbursed her for gas.

But I digress.

 

[golfgal]

I haven't heard of these, but in Minnesota you can get a farm permit at 14. It is so farm kids can drive farm vechiles, etc, but they can also drive cars during daylight hours.

In South Dakota ANYONE can get a license at 14 . Needless to say, there were a LOT of accidents involving very young kids-8th graders driving cars, scary

 

[floridaminnie]

I haven't heard of these, but in Minnesota you can get a farm permit at 14. It is so farm kids can drive farm vechiles, etc, but they can also drive cars during daylight hours.

In South Dakota ANYONE can get a license at 14 . Needless to say, there were a LOT of accidents involving very young kids-8th graders driving cars, scary

8th graders driving cars is very scary. I work in a middle school!

 

[grinningghost]

I can't believe I'm reading this - just last night my DD told me there's some kind of loophole in New York, where a 16 year old can get to drive after 9 for work. Normally, they can't drive after 9 until they're 18 unless they take driver ed.

I'd never heard of such a loophole before - I think she got false info.

 

[tikkipoo]

I have heard of this. I would say the cases I've heard of were not like this girl (poor kid!) There is usually only one parent in the family, and that parent is usually disabled and (now I'm only half sure about this part) the child has to work to help support the family. I'm not sure about that. Since there are two parents, it would seem that they would see it as a choice that they work the hours they do.?.

 

[Kermit]

I grew up in Texas, and I knew a few kids my age who did get hardship licenses. I didn't really agree with it then, and I especially don't agree with it now that I'm older. I think that the driving age should be raised, not lowered.

 

[mickman1962]

I can't believe I'm reading this - just last night my DD told me there's some kind of loophole in New York, where a 16 year old can get to drive after 9 for work. Normally, they can't drive after 9 until they're 18 unless they take driver ed.

I'd never heard of such a loophole before - I think she got false info.

it's not a loophole it's the way it has been at least since I was 16 (30 odd years ago) you can drive after 9 to and from work, school, religious activites as long as it is a direct route.

http://www.nydmv.state.ny.us/broch/c41.htm

 

[aprilgail2]

I'm still shocked that there were people in motor vehicle dressed in suits LOL....I dread goin to the motor vehicle by me, the body oder smell is terrible, there are people who look like bums sitting on the benches and more than half the place doesn't speak English....I want to go to a motor vehicle like yours!

 

[bettyann29]

I live in TX and I heard about it when I was a teenager.. I think the family has to prove a hardship.. I think there is a specific list or something but I may be wrong.. I dont know that this would be considered a hardship though.. as the parents could probably find someone to bring kids back and forth.. I live in DFW so I hope I dont live by this 15 yr old that will be out on the streets driving while Im out there..

 

[skiwee1]

I can't believe I'm reading this - just last night my DD told me there's some kind of loophole in New York, where a 16 year old can get to drive after 9 for work. Normally, they can't drive after 9 until they're 18 unless they take driver ed.

I'd never heard of such a loophole before - I think she got false info.

In MD you have to be off the streets at midnight unless you have a job that keeps you out later. We also have required drivers ed and 40 hours of extra driving before they get their license.

 

[becjlek]

Here it is called a school permit. You have to live a certain distance from the school and you can only drive to and from school and school events.

 

[Aimeedyan]

I had a friend in high school that had one. Her dad was dying of AIDS, and was in and out of the hospital and doctor's offices a lot. Her mom had to continue to work as much as possible, and she was an only child. Needless to say, she often had to drive him places, get herself to school and home, etc. He was blind at that point. If things made a turn for the worst during school hours, she would often have to leave school and meet her parents at the hospital.

She was 15. Most mature 15 year old I've ever known...

 

[chadfromdallas]

I've knew someone who was able to get a hardship. I don't see the problem with it nor do I think the age should be raised any more than it has been(18).

.. I live in DFW so I hope I dont live by this 15 yr old that will be out on the streets driving while Im out there..

Have you not lived in the DFW long? You can't tell a 15 year old driver from a 60 year old. This area has some of the worst drivers I've ever been on the roads with and that includes Florida /New York

Just last night I was videotaping a drunk driver at around 9pm as I was driving out to Denton. Many, many dumb people around this area.....

 

[TheOtherVillainess]

I have to agree with Chad. The drivers in TX are some of the worst I've ever seen.

TOV

 

[Carolinagirl1063]

I recently heard (this past week) that if there is a disabilty in the household they can get a license early. I just don't think most kids are mature enough to drive at 14 or 15. I know some adults who are not mature enough to drive! Maybe we should have to take a maturity test to drive? LOL

 

[christineann]

My son got one when he was in high school because of football practice and his church youth group. We had to get statements from his high school and from the church verifying the hours of the activities.

 

[arminnie]

I know that hardship exception has been available in Texas for at least 50 years.

A friend of mine from Mount Pleasant, Texas who is in her 60s told me how she got one at age 15 so she could drive herself to Dallas (over 100 miles) to see an orthodontist for her weekly appointments.

 

[SandiH]

Here's what I've found from the actual application for Hardship License in Texas.

"READ THIS NOTICE: The Department may issue a driver license to any minor who satisfies the requirements if the
Department finds that (1) the failure or refusal to issue such license to any such minor will work an unusual economic
hardship on the FAMILY of the applicant for the license, (2) the license should be granted to the minor because of
the sickness or illness of members of the family of the applicant, or (3) a license should be granted to the minor
because he is regularly enrolled in a vocational education program and requires a driver license to pursue the
program and has completed an approved course in driver education.
APPLICANT IS APPLYING FOR A RESTRICTED LICENSE UNDER THE FOLLOWING PROVISION(S):
( ) 1. An unusual economic hardship on the family of the minor.
( ) 2. A death-related emergency: Name of Deceased ___________________________________________________
Date of Death ____________________ Relationship to Deceased ______________________________
( ) 3. Sickness or Illness or Disability of Family Members (PHYSICIAN'S STATEMENT REQUIRED)
Name of Family Member _____________________________ Relationship _______________________
Family Physician ________________________________ Phone Number (____)___________________
( ) 4. Enrollment in a Vocational Education Program (CERTIFICATION FROM SCHOOL REQUIRED)
School ________________________________________ Phone Number (____)___________________
Address of School _____________________________________ City ___________________________
Time Classes Start ____________ End ____________ Days: MON TUES WED THUR FRI OTHER


AND

Explain in detail necessary driving of minor and why others cannot perform this function: NOTE: TRAVEL TO
PARTICIPATE IN SCHOOL ACTIVITIES SUCH AS BAND, SPORTS, ETC., WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED A SUFFICIENT
REASON TO ESTABLISH AN UNUSUAL ECONOMIC HARDSHIP."

I don't think that if taking her siblings and herself to school qualifies unless there are more extinuating circumstances.

 

[Lessa of Pern]

I'm glad the rules are more restrictive in the NYC/LI area than they are upstate...my dd, who turns 15 in november, won't be drving for a looong time...

 

[Topper]

Just last night I was videotaping a drunk driver at around 9pm as I was driving out to Denton

Shouldn't you have been paying attention to the road?