Dear Friend,

Driving is a big responsibility. Once you get behind the wheel there is the potential to harm not only yourself and your passengers, but also others on the road. That’s why the Assembly passed a new law allowing motorists under 18 to learn the rules of the road at a pace that ensures they are better prepared for this serious responsibility.

Drivers under the age of 18 who apply for a learner’s permit on or after Sept. 1, 2003 will be required to hold the permit for a minimum of six months and obtain 20 supervised hours of driving before they will be eligible to take a road test and obtain a junior license. All permit holders and junior licensees under 18 — regardless of whether they obtained their permit or license before or after Sept. 1 — will have to follow a few other new rules to help ensure they become safe, reliable drivers.

This brochure provides details about the new graduated license laws and will help make sure young drivers are prepared for their new responsibilities.

If you have any questions please contact my office at (718) 492-6334.

Sincerely, Assemblyman Felix W. Ortiz

• 6 month holding period before road test could be scheduled (if permit is obtained on or after 9/1/03)
• Supervising driver must be 21 years old (currently 18)
• All occupants must be in seat belts or appropriate child safety seat
• Front seat passenger can only be supervising driver
• Passenger restrictions: only 2 under the age of 21 who are not immediate family members; doesn’t apply if accompanied by parent, guardian, driver’s ed teacher or driving instructor
• 20 hours experience required in order to get junior license (if permit is obtained on or after 9/1/03)
• Suspension/Revocation: for "serious" traffic violations (3 points or more) such as: reckless driving, speeding more than 10 mph over the limit, following too closely, failing to obey stop/yield signs, failing to obey traffic signals, or for 2 or more "minor" traffic infractions (2 points or less)

• Can be obtained prior to expiration of six month permit holding period
• Valid only for operation to/from school, work, medical appointments, day care, any other place, if accompanied by licensed parent
• Not valid for operation in the following counties: Nassau, Suffolk, Kings, Queens, New York, Bronx, Richmond, Westchester, Rockland or Putnam (i.e. all 16/17 year olds are eligible to receive the limited junior license regardless of place of residence, but all persons holding such limited license are barred from driving in the aforementioned counties)
• All occupants must be in seat belts or appropriate child safety seats
• Passenger restrictions: only 2 under the age of 21 who are not immediate family members; doesn’t apply if accompanied by parent, guardian, driver’s ed teacher or driving instructor
• Suspension/Revocation: for "serious" traffic violations (3 points or more) such as: reckless driving, speeding more than 10 mph over the limit, following too closely, failing to obey stop/yield signs, failing to obey traffic signals, or for 2 or more "minor" traffic infractions (2 points or less)

• Must be at least 16.5 years of age
• All occupants must be in seat belts or appropriate child safety seats
• Passenger restrictions: only 2 under the age of 21 who are not immediate family members; doesn’t apply if accompanied by parent, guardian, driver’s ed teacher or driving instructor
• Suspension/Revocation: for serious traffic violations (3 points or more) such as: reckless driving, speeding more than 10 mph over the limit, following too closely, failing to obey stop/yield signs, failing to obey traffic signals, or for 2 or more "minor" traffic infractions (2 points or less)