HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

152nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HOUSE BILL NO. 109

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 21 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE RULES OF THE ROAD.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE:

Section 1. Amend § 2712, Title 21 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline as follows:

§ 2712. Application for temporary instruction permits and Class D operator’s license for persons age 18 or older [Effective until fulfillment of contingency in 83 Del. Laws, c. 453, § 11].

(a) A Class D temporary instruction permit may be issued to a person age 18 years or older. A temporary permit shall entitle the applicant to drive during a 6-month 12-month period only when the applicant is accompanied by a licensed operator over the age of 21 who is actually occupying a seat beside the driver and there are no more than 2 other persons in the vehicle.

(b) If for any reason the applicant fails to pass the required examination during the 6-month 12-month period granted by the permit, the permit shall be void, and the fee paid therefor shall be forfeited unless the applicant requests an extension thereof and pays the sum of $5.00 therefor. Upon payment of the said sum, the Division shall immediately issue only 1 extension of the permit for an additional 6 months. If the applicant fails to pass the required examination within the additional 6-month period, the permit shall become void. forfeited.

Section 2. This Act takes effect 60 days after its enactment.

SYNOPSIS

Frequently, driver license applicants over the age of 18 require more than six (6) months practice time behind the wheel and to prepare for the skills exam. By providing the permit for a total of one (1) year, it will eliminate the need to request the extension and decreases the risk of them having to retake the knowledge exam if they do not request the extension prior to the six (6) months expiration of their permit, thus eliminating the need to start the process over. The limited window of one extension after the 6-month period is a frequent complaint from customers.