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Ohio Teen Driving Legislation
Effective July 1, 1998

Ages 15 years and 6 months

May obtain a temporary permit. Permit is valid for one year.

Temporary permit holders under age 16 must carry their temporary permit and identification card, and be accompanied by their parent, guardian, custodian, or a licensed driving instructor who holds a valid drivers license or commercial driver license and occupies the seat beside them while operating a motor vehicle.

Total number of occupants in a motor vehicle driven by a temporary permit holder under age 16 may not exceed the number of originally installed safety belts.

All occupants (front and rear) of a motor vehicle driven by a temporary permit holder under age 16 will be required to wear safety belts

Age 16 and Older

Temporary permit holders age 16 and older must carry their temporary permit and identification card, and be accompanied by a licensed driver 21 years of age or older who occupies the seat beside them while operating a motor vehicle. Temporary is good for one year.

Total number of occupants in a motor vehicle driven by a temporary permit holder may not exceed the number of originally installed safety belts.

Curfew
Under Age 17

Holders of temporary permits issued on or after July 1, 1998, and who are under age 17, are prohibited from operating a motor vehicle between 1:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m. unless accompanied by their parent, guardian, or custodian who holds a valid drivers license or commercial drivers license and occupies the seat beside them.

Effective Jan. 1, 1999

Temporary permit holders will be required after Jan. 1, 1999 to verify they completed 50 hours of driving (including 10 at night) during the temporary permit period before they can be issued a probationary driver license (this is a license issued to an individual age 16 but under age 18).

All of the Items hich are ffective 7/1/98 will continue, as well as the following:

Curfew
Under Age 17

Holders of probationary licenses under age 17 will be prohibited from operating a motor vehicle between 1:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m. unless accompanied by their parent, guardian or custodian (affirmative defenses for emancipated minor, or work, school or emergency purposes).

Total number of occupants in a motor vehicle driven by a temporary permit holder may not exceed the number of originally installed safety belts.

Under Age 18

Temporary permit holders under age 18 shall not be issued a probationary license unless they have maintained a temporary permit for at least six months. In order to get a probationary license, a person must be 16 years of age or older.

Parental Driving Instruction

During the six months temporary permit period, temporary permit holders under 18 will be required to complete 50 hours of driving (including 10 at night) verified by their parent, guardian ,or custodian as one requirement to obtain a probationary driver license. This 50 hours is an addition to the driver education requirement. Those beginning classes before 1/1/99 will be subject to the current course hour requirement: 16 hours of classroom instruction and eight hours behind the wheel, or a driver education high school class of 36 hours and six behind the wheel.

Total number of occupants in a motor vehicle driven by a probationary driver license holder or temporary permit holder under age 18 may not exceed the number of originally installed safety belts.

All occupants (front and rear) of a motor vehicle driven by a probationary driver license holder or temporary permit holder under the age of 18 must wear safety belts.

Temporary permit holders and probationary license holders will be suspended for 90 days for accruing two moving violations before age 18, and one year suspension for three violations.

Temporary permit holders and probationary license holders who are convicted of certain traffic-related violations before they are 18 will be suspended for six months.

Please Note:

Those who turn 16 before July 1, 1998 and January 1, 1999 will not be subject to the six-month mandatory temporary permit period or the 50 hours of required temporary permit period driving time. On and after Jan. 1, 1999, any person applying for a probationary license must have had a temporary permit for six months, and have proof of the 50 hours of required temporary permit period of driving.