Massachusetts

Rhode Island

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M a s s a c h u s e t t s   G r a d u a t e d   L i c e n s e   f o r   T e e n s

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Massachusetts now has laws governing drivers under the age of 18. The laws create an integrated system called Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL), whereby teen drivers must progress through a three-stage licensing process. GDL is designed to provide teens with the opportunity to gain driving experience and maturity while limiting their exposure to risky situations.

Learner’s Permit Restriction:
A driver operating under the Learner’s Permit must be accompanied by a person in the front passenger seat who is:
• at least 21 years of age
• is a licensed driver by his or her state of residence
• has been driving for at least one year

Applicant for Junior License must have:
• Attained age of 16 1/2 years.
• Held a Learner’s Permit for at least 6 months. (The 6 months immediately preceding your application must be free of any at-fault accidents, moving violations or drug or alcohol convictions.)
• Completed a certified Driver’s Education Program, including 30 hours of classroom instruction, 6 hours of behind-the-wheel instruction and 6 hours of in-car experience observing another permit holder’s supervised driving.
• Clocked 12 hours of supervised driving with a parent, guardian or designee, in addition to the 6 hours in a Driver Education Program.

Nighttime Restriction:
Junior Licensee must be accompanied by a parent/guardian between midnight and 5 a.m.; Unsupervised driving from 12-1 a.m. and 4-5 a.m. shall be enforced only as a secondary offense. Drivers must first be pulled over for another offense.

Passenger Restriction:
For the first 6 months after receiving a Junior Operator’s License: No passenger under the age of 18 is allowed unless there is a passenger age 21 or over in the front seat. Immediate family members -- wife, husband, brothers and sisters -- are exempt. Violation results in license suspension: (a) 1st Offense - 30 days; (b) 2nd Offense - 60 days (c) 3rd and subsequent - 90 days.

Operating Under the Influence:
If a driver under the age of 18 fails the breath test (.02 Blood Alcohol Concentration limit for drivers under 21) or refuses the breath test, the driver will receive an automatic minimum one-year license suspension.

Driving to endanger; drinking from an open container while driving; anyone under 21 purchasing or attempting to purchase alcohol results in license suspension:
1st Offense - 180 days.
2nd and subsequent Offense - 1 year.

Speeding:
1st Offense - $ violation calculated per 90 M.G.L. 20 ($50 plus $10 per m.p.h. if operating in excess of 10 m.p.h. over the posted speed limit)
2nd Offense - 180-day license suspension and $ violation.
3rd Offense - 1 year and $ violation.
Applicant for full license must wait until the full term of suspension is served while operating under Junior License.

For additional information on this law, visit the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles Web site at: http://www.state.ma.us/rmv

Back to Graduated

R h o d e   I s l a n d   G r a d u a t e d   L i c e n s e   f o r   T e e n s

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Rhode Island now has laws governing drivers under the age of 18. The laws create an integrated system called Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL), whereby teen drivers must progress through a three-stage licensing process. GDL is designed to provide teens with the opportunity to gain driving experience and maturity while limiting their exposure to risky situations.

Learner’s Permit Restriction:
With a Learner’s Permit, you may drive a motor vehicle under the following conditions:

• You must be in possession of the permit.
• You must be accompanied by a supervising driver in the front passenger seat. (A supervising driver is a properly licensed driver who has held a license for at least 5 years.)
• No person other than the supervising driver is located in the front seat.
• Every person occupying the vehicle is properly fastened by a seat belt or child restraint system.