GRADUATED LICENSING LAWS FOR NEW DRIVERS
Effective October 1, 2006. — The Graduated Licensing Program affects
license holders under the age of 18. The Graduated Licensing Program
requires the following:
PERMIT PHASE
• Driver must be 16 years old to apply for permit.
• Parent/Guardian must sign application for permit.
• Drivers must have 180-day instruction period after receiving permit.
• Permit holder must drive with a licensed driver 21 years old or older.
• Permit holder under the age of 18 may not drive between the hours of
midnight and 6:00 a.m. unless the person can demonstrate good cause for
driving.
• Parent/Guardian must certify 60 hours practice driving (10 hours must be
at night) before road (skills) test can be administered.
• Documentation forms for this requirement found in the back of this
manual. This documentation is required before the skills test.
• Passenger restriction – limited to 1 (one) unrelated person under 20 years
of age.
• Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs is prohibited.
• A driver under the age of 18 who accumulates more than six points may
have driving privilege suspended.
• No serious moving violations are allowed for those under 18 during the
permit phase. If violation(s) occur, the applicant’s 180 day waiting
period begins again from the date of the violation.
INTERMEDIATE PHASE
• Must pass driving skills test after 180-day permit period.
• Kentucky State Police License Examiner will place intermediate sticker
onto the permit when applicant passes the skills test.
• Intermediate driver under the age of 18 may not drive between midnight
and 6:00 a.m. unless the person can demonstrate good cause for driving.
• Passenger restriction – limited to 1 (one) unrelated person under 20 years
of age.
• Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs is prohibited.
• A driver under the age of 18 who accumulates more than six points may
have driving privilege suspended.
INTERMEDIATE PHASE CONTINUED
No serious moving violations are allowed for intermediate drivers under
18. If violations occur, the applicant’s 180 day waiting period for license
issuance begins again from the date of the violation.
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ALL INTERMEDIATE DRIVERS MUST COMPLETE A 4-HOUR
SAFETY CLASS BEFORE GETTING A FULL LICENSE. THE GOAL
OF THE 4-HOUR CLASS IS TO ENSURE A MINIMUM LEVEL OF
KNOWLEDGE ABOUT DRIVER LICENSE LAWS AND TO REINFORCE
SAFE DRIVING HABITS.
Intermediate drivers who take a high school Driver Education Course or a
course from an approved private driving school will not be required to take
the 4-hour class offered by the Transportation Cabinet.
• Driver’s License will be issured upon meeting all qualifications from
permit and intermediate phases.
• All drivers under the age of 21 are subject to “Zero Alcohol Tolerance.”
For more information regarding the Graduated Licensing Program, call the
Graduated Licensing Office at (502) 564-6800, ext. 5363, or (859) 622-2446.
The seat belt law is now a primary law in Kentucky. You may be stopped
and given a ticket by a law enforcement officer if you are observed not
wearing your seat belt.
BUCKLE UP! IT’S THE LAW!
THE LICENSING PROCESS
To be eligible to apply for a Kentucky Operator’s License, Motorcycle
License, or Moped License, you must have reached your sixteenth birthday,
and your driving privilege must not have been withdrawn in this state or
any other state. You will begin the process in the Circuit Court Clerk’s
Office in your county of residence.
When applying for an instruction permit or license for the first time, you
must present the following:
• Social Security Card.
• Birth Certificate.
• For applicants under the age of 18, the signature and license or social security
number of parent or legal guardian must be listed on the application.
• No Pass/No Driver Form (See page 6 of this manual for details).
These rules and regulations have been established by the Kentucky
Transportation Cabinet. The Circuit Court Clerk is required to follow these
rules. It is his responsibility to determine that the application for a driver’s
license is complete and accurate and that the applicant meets the requirements
to apply for a Kentucky license.
After the Clerk has prepared the application, the Kentucky State Police
License Examiner will administer the tests. You will be given a vision-
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screening test to determine if you meet minimum visual requirements and
a written knowledge test of the information contained in this manual. If you
fail the written test, you may return the next day that tests are given in your
county. Applicants may take the written test a total of six times. If you fail
the written test six times, you must wait six months before trying again.
An applicant for a moped license, who has no other type of license, must
take only the written test and vision screening test in order for a license to
be issued. A road test is not required for a moped license.
After passing the required tests, you will return to the Circuit Court Clerk’s
Office where you will be issued an instruction permit. This permit is valid
for one year and may be renewed. If the permit is not renewed within one
year of the expiration date of the previous permit, the written and vision
tests must be repeated.
You may apply for the road skills test 180 days from the issue date of the
first permit, if you are under the age of 21. Permit holders ages 16 and 17,
must meet the Graduated Driver License Program requirements listed on
pages 1 and 2, before a road test will be administered. If you are age 21 or
over, you must hold your permit 30 days before being eligible to take the
road test. Please check with the local Examiner or Circuit Court Clerk for
the testing availability in your county.
If you fail the road test, you are required by law to wait seven days before
another test can be administered. If you fail the road test six times, you
must wait six months before another test will be given. You will then have
only two attempts to pass the test.
Once you have passed the road skills test, the Examiner will record the
results and send you back to the Circuit Clerk’s Office for your license to
be issued. Drivers under age 18 will receive intermediate status after successful
completion of road test.
Your driver’s license record is maintained by the Transportation Cabinet,
Division of Driver Licensing, in Frankfort. This agency keeps track of all
traffic citations, accidents, suspensions, reinstatements, and assignments to
traffic school. They alone have control of your driving file. Any questions
concerning licensing qualifications or your driving record should be
directed to that agency.
Driving is an enormous responsibility. In your hands you place your life
and the lives of all drivers and pedestrians around you. Please study this
manual, and have a safe driving career.
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This manual will give you information on safe driving rules and practices
to help you become a safer driver. The information will help you pass the
driver test. The Kentucky Driver Manual is also available on the Internet:
Kentucky State Police Web Site:
www.kentuckystatepolice.org
Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Web Site:
www.kytc.state.ky.us/DRLIC/
www.transportation.ky.gov
CHANGE OF ADDRESS OR NAME
If you change your address or name for any reason, you must obtain a
duplicate license within 10 days. You may be cited by a police officer for
not changing your address or name. If your name change is a result of marriage
or divorce, please bring the proper legal documents showing proof.
Contact your Circuit Court Clerk’s Office to make these changes.
RENEWAL OR DUPLICATE LICENSE
Your permit or license is valid from the date issued through the expiration
date shown on the permit or license. All licenses issued after July, 2000,
will expire 30 days from the license holder’s birthdate, unless suspended or
revoked. If you are 21 or over, you may renew your license up to six
months before the expiration date by applying in person at your local
Circuit Court Clerk’s Office.
If you lose your license, a duplicate may be obtained by applying at your
local Circuit Clerk’s Office. You must show positive identification, such as
a social security card and a typed proof of residence address, to get a duplicate
permit or license.
RESIDENTS SERVING IN THE MILITARY
Residents serving in the military may renew by mail or by personal
designee when, at the time of expiration, they are outside the Commonwealth
of Kentucky. This does not include CDL renewals.
WHYARE DRIVERS LICENSED?
• To ensure that each driver has the basic skills necessary to be a safe, efficient,
and responsible driver.
driver's manual!...