A host of laws concerning teenaged drivers goes into effect at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday, which could affect some teens' New Year's Eve plans. Here's a look at the highlights:
A driver
younger than 18 must have a learner's permit for at least a year before applying
for a graduated license.
While holding a permit, a teenager must get 40 or more hours of
supervised driving experience, including six hours at night. A parent or
guardian must sign an affidavit confirming the experience, or the teenager must
take an approved driver's education course, then complete 20 hours of supervised
driving, six of which must be at night. The course certificate must be presented
before a license will be issued. Under existing law, no drivers education class
or supervised instruction is required. Teens driving on a learner's permit,
however, must be accompanied by a person who is at least 21 -years-old and has a
valid driver's license.
Graduated license holders cannot drive between midnight and 6 a.m.,
with no exceptions. The current curfew is from 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. , with
exemptions for teens driving to and from work, school or church events, and in
emergencies.
Graduated license holders can drive with only family members in the car
for the first six months. Under existing law, teens are not permitted to drive
with more than three non-family passengers under the age of 21.
After six months, they can drive in a car with a maximum of three
nonfamily members younger than 21.
For more information on getting a driver's license and for guidelines on how
to teach a teen to drive, see: www.dmvs.ga.gov/license/index.html.