ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Fifth Legislature, First Regular Session
graduated drive licenses; education program
Purpose
Allows a person to partially fulfill requirements for a class G driver license application by attending a driver education course offered by a certified defensive driving school or a traffic survival school.
Background
A person who is at least 16 but under 18
years old may apply for a class G driver license if the person has held a valid
instruction permit for at least six months, and the person has either:
1) satisfactorily completed a driver education program approved by the Arizona
Department of Transportation (ADOT); or 2) completed at least 30 hours of
supervised driving practice with a custodial parent or guardian, at least 10
hours of which were at night. An applicant must complete a driving examination
prior to being issued a class G license (A.R.S.
§ 28-3174).
The Arizona Supreme Court is required to supervise the use of defensive driving schools by the courts and adopt rules that establish criteria for the certification of qualified defensive driving schools and instructors used by the courts. Among other duties, the Arizona Supreme Court must establish an automated statewide database for keeping a record of persons who attend a defensive driving school (A.R.S. § 28-3395).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Allows a person to apply for a class G driver license if:
a) the person completes a driver education program offered by a traffic survival school or a certified defensive driving school approved by the Arizona Supreme Court; and
b) a custodial parent or guardian of the person certifies in writing that the person has completed at least 20 hours of supervised driving practice, at least 6 hours of which were at night.
2. Prohibits persons who attend a defensive driving school for driver education purposes from being included in the statewide database of individuals who have attended a defensive driving school.
3. Modifies the definition of traffic survival school to mean a school that is licensed pursuant to statute and that offers educational sessions that are designed to improve the safety and habits of drivers and that are approved by ADOT.
4. Makes technical changes.
5. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
House Action
TRANS 2/3/21 DP 11-0-0-1
3rd Read 2/11/21 58-1-1
Prepared by Senate Research
March 3, 2021
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