Second Regular Session Sixty-fourth General Assembly STATE OF COLORADO INTRODUCED LLS NO. 04-0092.01 Jery Payne HOUSE BILL 04-1017 HOUSE SPONSORSHIP Berry, Borodkin, Larson, McFadyen, Pommer, Spence, Stafford, Welker, and Williams S. SENATE SPONSORSHIP May R., and Isgar House Committees Senate Committees Transportation & Energy A BILL FOR AN ACT Concerning the age at which a person may lawfully drive a motor vehicle. Bill Summary (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced and does not necessarily reflect any amendments that may be subsequently adopted.) Transportation Legislation Review Committee. Makes a legislative declaration. Requires a teenager to hold an instruction permit for 6 months before being eligible to get a driver's license. Raises, from 15 years and 6 months to 16 years old, the age at which a person is eligible for an instruction permit, unless the person has taken a driver training course that meets the standards of the national safety council. If the person has such education, raises, from 15 to 15 and 6 months, the age at which the person can get an instruction permit. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado: SECTION 1. Legislative declaration. (1) The general assembly hereby finds that driving a motor vehicle safely is a skill that requires significant technical ability and sound judgment, based upon significant education and experience, before the driver is able to continuously make the necessary decisions. The accident rate for sixteen-year-old drivers is over two and one-half times as high as for eighteen-year-old drivers, and for sixteen-year-olds the rate is about twice as high at night as during the day. Over thirty percent of teenagers are involved in at least one accident during their first year of driving. Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for persons who are fifteen to twenty years old. (2) Therefore, the general assembly hereby declares that educating aspiring young drivers will promote the development of the judgment and skills necessary for safe driving, helping to ensure the safety of Colorado's youth. SECTION 2. 42-2-104 (1) (c), Colorado Revised Statutes, is amended to read: 42-2-104. Licenses issued - denied - repeal. (1) Except as otherwise provided in this article, the department may license the following persons in the manner prescribed in this article: (c) Any person at least sixteen years of age or older who has not reached his or her twenty-first birthday but less than twenty-one years of age who has held an instruction permit for six months, as a minor driver. SECTION 3. 42-2-106 (1) (a) and (1) (b), Colorado Revised Statutes, are amended to read: 42-2-106. Instruction permits and temporary licenses. (1) (a) Any Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this subsection (1), a minor of the age of fifteen who is at least sixteen years within six months prior to such minor's sixteenth birthday, or any person who, except for such person's lack of instruction in operating a motor vehicle, a motorcycle, or a motor-driven cycle, would otherwise be qualified to obtain a license under this article of age may apply for a temporary instruction permit in accordance with sections 42-2-107 and 42-2-108. The department shall issue such permit entitling the applicant, while having such permit in such applicant's immediate possession, to drive a motor vehicle, a motorcycle, or a motor-driven cycle upon the highways for a period of six months when accompanied by a licensed driver, twenty-one years of age or over, who is actually occupying the front seat in close proximity to the driver, or in the case of a motorcycle or a motor-driven cycle, under the immediate proximate supervision of a licensed driver, twenty-one years of age or over, authorized under this article to drive a motorcycle or a motor-driven cycle. Any such instruction permit may be extended for an additional period of ninety days. (b) Any minor of the age of fifteen years and six months who is enrolled in a driver education course approved by the department has completed a driver training program that meets the standards and contains the curriculum of the national safety council education program may apply for a minor's instruction permit, pursuant to the provisions of sections 42-2-107 and 42-2-108. Upon the presentation of a written or printed statement signed by the parent or guardian and the instructor of the driver education course that such minor is enrolled in an approved driver education course, the department shall issue such permit entitling the applicant, while having such permit in such applicant's immediate possession, to drive any motor vehicle, excluding a motorcycle or motor-driven cycle, under the supervision of the parent or guardian who cosigned the application for the minor's instruction permit providing if such parent or guardian holds a valid driver's license. Such permit shall also entitle the applicant to drive any motor vehicle, including a motorcycle or motor-driven cycle, which is marked so as to indicate that it is a motor vehicle used for instruction and which is properly equipped for such instruction upon the highways when accompanied by or under the supervision of an approved driver education instructor who holds a valid driver's license. Driver education instructors giving instruction in motorcycle safety must have a valid motorcycle driver's license and must have successfully completed an instruction program in motorcycle safety approved by the department. Such permit shall expire twenty days after the applicant's sixteenth birthday. SECTION 4. Effective date - applicability. This act shall take effect July 1, 2004, and shall apply to licenses and instruction permits issued on or after said date. SECTION 5. Safety clause. The general assembly hereby finds, determines, and declares that this act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, and safety.