Special Rules for Junior Drivers
You are a junior driver if you have a junior learners permit. If you pass your road test during your first six months of valid permit status, you will be issued a limited-use junior license (Limited Class DJ or MJ). This limited license is subject to the regional restrictions described in “Regional Restrictions For a Limited Junior License.” When your learner permit and limited-use license, combined, are valid for six months, the DMV will automatically send you a full-use junior license (Class DJ or MJ) by postal mail. If you pass your road test after six months of valid permit status, you will be issued a full-use junior license.
Driving Alone with a Junior License or Limited Junior License
If you hold a Junior License in the counties of Nassau or Suffolk, or a Limited Junior License in the upstate counties (except Westchester, Rockland and Putnam): You may drive alone between home and your employment, including farm work, if you carry the appropriate proof of employment. Your employer should complete a Certificate of Employment (MV-58A), available from the DMV Internet Office, by request from a DMV Call Center, and at local motor vehicle offices. In the upstate counties only, instead of an employment certificate, you may carry a letter from your employer. The letter must be dated and signed by your employer, and must show the business name, address, and telephone number where you work. It also must list your name, date of birth, license identification number, job description, and days, hours and location of employment.
The address and telephone number at which the employer may be contacted must be included for verification by a judge or police officer.
When driving alone between your home and a qualifying school course or approved work-study program (NOT a club or SPORT), you must carry proof of enrollment. This must be a letter, dated and signed by an appropriate school or program official, on the school or program letterhead, and show the address and telephone number of the official for verification by a magistrate or police officer. The letter also must include the date(s), hour(s) and location(s) of the school course or program activity, your name, date of birth, and license identification number.
In the upstate counties if you have a Limited Junior License, you may drive alone between your home and a medical appointment for yourself or a member of your immediate family or household, if you carry a written statement to that effect from a licensed medical practitioner. You may also drive without adult supervision to transport your child, or a child of an immediate family member, to and from regularly scheduled daycare.
Driver Education
If you are age 17, you are eligible for a senior driver license (Class D or M) if you have a junior driver license or limited junior driver license and have completed a state-approved high school or college driver education course. To convert your junior license to a senior license, bring your junior license and the Student Certificate of Completion (MV-285) that you received from your instructor to any motor vehicle office. You must surrender your certificate and junior license to receive the senior license. If you do not convert your junior license to a senior license, you are subject to the restrictions for junior drivers until you are age 18, even if you carry the completion certificate with you. You may also give your certificate with your junior permit to the license examiner at your road test. You will automatically receive a senior license when you are eligible.
Probation Period for All Other New Licensed Drivers
If you are age 18 or older when you pass your road test for a driver license, or obtain a license following revocation, you will be on probation for six months. If you are convicted of speeding, reckless driving, following too closely, participating in a speed contest, or two other traffic violations while on probation, your license will be suspended for 60 days. If you are found guilty of committing one of the above violations, or two other moving violations during this second probation period, your license will be revoked for at least six months. When the revocation or suspension ends, you will be on probation for another six months.
Alcohol and Other Drug Violations for Drivers Under 21
If you are under age 21 when arrested, your permit, license, or driving privileges will be revoked for at least one year if you are convicted of any alcohol- or drug related driving violation, or if there is a judge's finding that you refused to submit to a chemical test (including a test under the state's "Zero Tolerance Law". Even if you complete an approved Drinking Driver Program in fewer days, your revocation will continue until the end of the scheduled period of revocation. A second violation or judge's finding within five years requires revocation for one year or until you turn age 21, whichever is longer. These penalties apply even if you are adjudicated as a youthful offender, or if you were arrested or convicted out of state.
New Laws For Young Drivers
*On August 22, 2009 Governor Paterson signed legislation which strengthened our Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) law. The new law went into effect on February 22, 2010 and included the following provisions:
* Remove the limited use junior license phase of the current GDL law and now requiring the learner’s permit be held for at least 6 months.
* Reduce from two to one the number of non-family passengers allowed in a vehicle driven by a junior permit/license holder when not accompanied by a parent, guardian or person "in loco parentis."
* Prohibit the use of portable electronic devices while operating a motor vehicle while in motion (applies to drivers of all ages).
* Provide that certain licensing sanctions that result from certain violations committed while a person holds a junior permit/license will be imposed against whatever permit or license the person holds at the time of conviction.
Driving Time Restrictions
Drivers may drive by themselves or with a non family passenter from 5 AM-9 PM
From 9 PM-5 AM Young Drivers must drive ONLY under the immediate supervision of
1. Parent
2. Guardian
3. Person "in loco parentis"
4. Driver Education Teacher
The Person in loco parentis MUST be at least 21 and have a license valid for the vehicle being driven
You are a junior driver if you have a junior learners permit. If you pass your road test during your first six months of valid permit status, you will be issued a limited-use junior license (Limited Class DJ or MJ). This limited license is subject to the regional restrictions described in “Regional Restrictions For a Limited Junior License.” When your learner permit and limited-use license, combined, are valid for six months, the DMV will automatically send you a full-use junior license (Class DJ or MJ) by postal mail. If you pass your road test after six months of valid permit status, you will be issued a full-use junior license.
Driving Alone with a Junior License or Limited Junior License
If you hold a Junior License in the counties of Nassau or Suffolk, or a Limited Junior License in the upstate counties (except Westchester, Rockland and Putnam): You may drive alone between home and your employment, including farm work, if you carry the appropriate proof of employment. Your employer should complete a Certificate of Employment (MV-58A), available from the DMV Internet Office, by request from a DMV Call Center, and at local motor vehicle offices. In the upstate counties only, instead of an employment certificate, you may carry a letter from your employer. The letter must be dated and signed by your employer, and must show the business name, address, and telephone number where you work. It also must list your name, date of birth, license identification number, job description, and days, hours and location of employment.
The address and telephone number at which the employer may be contacted must be included for verification by a judge or police officer.
When driving alone between your home and a qualifying school course or approved work-study program (NOT a club or SPORT), you must carry proof of enrollment. This must be a letter, dated and signed by an appropriate school or program official, on the school or program letterhead, and show the address and telephone number of the official for verification by a magistrate or police officer. The letter also must include the date(s), hour(s) and location(s) of the school course or program activity, your name, date of birth, and license identification number.
In the upstate counties if you have a Limited Junior License, you may drive alone between your home and a medical appointment for yourself or a member of your immediate family or household, if you carry a written statement to that effect from a licensed medical practitioner. You may also drive without adult supervision to transport your child, or a child of an immediate family member, to and from regularly scheduled daycare.
Driver Education
If you are age 17, you are eligible for a senior driver license (Class D or M) if you have a junior driver license or limited junior driver license and have completed a state-approved high school or college driver education course. To convert your junior license to a senior license, bring your junior license and the Student Certificate of Completion (MV-285) that you received from your instructor to any motor vehicle office. You must surrender your certificate and junior license to receive the senior license. If you do not convert your junior license to a senior license, you are subject to the restrictions for junior drivers until you are age 18, even if you carry the completion certificate with you. You may also give your certificate with your junior permit to the license examiner at your road test. You will automatically receive a senior license when you are eligible.
Probation Period for All Other New Licensed Drivers
If you are age 18 or older when you pass your road test for a driver license, or obtain a license following revocation, you will be on probation for six months. If you are convicted of speeding, reckless driving, following too closely, participating in a speed contest, or two other traffic violations while on probation, your license will be suspended for 60 days. If you are found guilty of committing one of the above violations, or two other moving violations during this second probation period, your license will be revoked for at least six months. When the revocation or suspension ends, you will be on probation for another six months.
Alcohol and Other Drug Violations for Drivers Under 21
If you are under age 21 when arrested, your permit, license, or driving privileges will be revoked for at least one year if you are convicted of any alcohol- or drug related driving violation, or if there is a judge's finding that you refused to submit to a chemical test (including a test under the state's "Zero Tolerance Law". Even if you complete an approved Drinking Driver Program in fewer days, your revocation will continue until the end of the scheduled period of revocation. A second violation or judge's finding within five years requires revocation for one year or until you turn age 21, whichever is longer. These penalties apply even if you are adjudicated as a youthful offender, or if you were arrested or convicted out of state.
New Laws For Young Drivers
*On August 22, 2009 Governor Paterson signed legislation which strengthened our Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) law. The new law went into effect on February 22, 2010 and included the following provisions:
* Remove the limited use junior license phase of the current GDL law and now requiring the learner’s permit be held for at least 6 months.
* Reduce from two to one the number of non-family passengers allowed in a vehicle driven by a junior permit/license holder when not accompanied by a parent, guardian or person "in loco parentis."
* Prohibit the use of portable electronic devices while operating a motor vehicle while in motion (applies to drivers of all ages).
* Provide that certain licensing sanctions that result from certain violations committed while a person holds a junior permit/license will be imposed against whatever permit or license the person holds at the time of conviction.
Driving Time Restrictions
Drivers may drive by themselves or with a non family passenter from 5 AM-9 PM
From 9 PM-5 AM Young Drivers must drive ONLY under the immediate supervision of
1. Parent
2. Guardian
3. Person "in loco parentis"
4. Driver Education Teacher
The Person in loco parentis MUST be at least 21 and have a license valid for the vehicle being driven