New Law For Teenage Drivers

WATERBURY –– The Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles said a new law would begin on January 1, 2004, restricting passengers in vehicles driven by 16- and 17-year-olds.

The General Assembly enacted a type of law known as graduating licensing for this age group. In addition to increasing driver education requirements, the law imposes certain restrictions on highway operation by these drivers for certain periods of time after the license is issued.

For the first three months, the driver cannot transport more than one passenger, who must be the parent or legal guardian, a licensed driver instructor, or a person at least 20 years old who has held a license for four years and has not been suspended. The parent or legal guardian must be at least 25 years old.

For the second three-month period, the driver may transport any additional members of his or her immediate family.

Until the driver’s 18th birthday, the teenager may not transport more passengers than the number of seat safety belts installed in the vehicle.

Any person issued a motorcycle endorsement may not transport any passenger on a motorcycle for the first six months after obtaining the endorsement.

The new law will apply retroactively. This means that 16- or 17-year-olds who obtained a license between July 2003 and December 2003 will have some part of the new passenger restriction apply to them on January 1, 2004, when the new law becomes effective.

Violation of the new law carries an infraction and a fine. In case of a driver who has a second violation, the new law permits the commissioner of the Department of Motor Vehicles to suspend the license of the driver until he or she is 18 years old.