For DUI cases, where a restricted license is available (rather than CA driver’s license suspensions for other issues, like unpaid child support, a warrant for a missed court date, or for medical reasons), your license can only be suspended in two ways. Those two ways are by the DMV, or as a result of a court conviction for DUI. A California provisional driver license is the next step in a graduated driver license system. It is issued after the learner's permit and before a regular, unrestricted license. Most provisional licenses are issued between the ages of 16 to 18 years of age. As with the first restriction, everything becomes void if you are travelling with your parent, guardian, driving instructor, or other licensed California Driver 25 or older. Keep in mind that these are only the State mandated restrictions. If you are a parent and/or guardian you have the right to impose any other restriction that you choose.
With the increasing number of road accidents every year in California, the statistics have shown that almost 50% or more of the accidents happened are involved with the teenagers. The reason is very simple —rash driving, inexperienced driving, texting and driving or mere negligence. Whatever the reason may be, it is very risky to let your teenagers drive without understanding the implications of it. Hence, California State has enforced strict restrictions on the teenagers’ driving.
California DMV
California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) is a private organization which assists the public in getting their drivers license through various stages of approval. They are present in many locations throughout the state. The DMV helps in various processes like filling out the application process, taking your pictures for the Driver’s License ID cards, conducting eye examination for approving your license, distributing the driver’s handbook used for referring to various rules and regulations including the sample test details and questions for attending driver license tests, conducting the written tests, conducting behind the wheels test, and many more. Besides this, California DMV also collects and verifies your legal documents to ensure your legal presence in the state. California DMV enforces certain restrictions for obtaining your learner’s permit as well as the permanent Drivers license. Explore more about California DMV rules and restrictions from the official DMV website here :
Learner’s Permit Restrictions
- The teenager is never allowed to learn driving or drive on their own until they are qualified and get their permanent driver’s license. Hence, they should always be accompanied by a legal guardian, an instructor or one of their parents sitting beside them in the passenger seat.
- If you are trying to drive with the help of an instructor or a trainer, then he should be sitting with you in the front passenger seat and must have the steering and brake controllers with him. Besides this, parent or guardian can also accompany your instructor.
- All passengers including the driver must be using the firmly installed seat belt for safety when the teenager is driving the vehicle.
- You should be accompanied by a qualified trainer at all times during and this is a very strict restriction.
- Teenagers are banned from using their cell phones either for texting or talking. They are not even allowed to use their hands free while driving. Not just phones, other electronic devices including iPod, ipad or laptops are also not allowed to be used when driving.
Driver’s License Permit Restrictions
This restriction is applicable for the initial 6 months after you get the driver license and will be allowed to drive only with a certified instructor, a parent or a guardian sitting in the passenger seat just as in driving while you are on the learner’s permit . However make sure that the adult passenger sitting beside you should hold a valid California driver’s license. Also, the instructor who is training the teenager should be at least 20 years of age holding a valid driver’s license for California State and has been holding the driver’s license for at least 4 years without getting any suspension infractions from DMV or any other authorized body since last 4 years.
For the next 6 months you may drive with your parents, guardians or instructor or even your brothers or sisters above 20 years of age.
When you are less than 18 years of age, you should not be driving between 11PM in the night to 5 AM in the early morning. However, there may be certain exemptions applied to this where in all the teenage drivers are free to drive on their own in case you are going to school and have no means of public transport, in case of medical necessity, for employment, if you need to attend any religious activities, school events, etc. Until you reach the age of 18 years and above, all teenagers should use the permanently installed seat belts. Above all, you should never text and drive or call when you are driving. You are not even allowed to use your hands free or laptops or any video devices while driving.
Other Restrictions
Teenagers with ages 16-17 years who wish to drive their motorcycles for the first 6 months are not allowed to accompany any passengers with them. Besides this, they will not be allowed to drive any public service vehicle, vanpool vehicle or commercial vehicles. Any other teenagers above 18 years are not allowed to accompany passengers for the first 3 months.
All these restrictions are clearly endorsed in your Driver’s license. For example, one of the restrictions will read as First 12 months of your license tenure, you may not drive with passengers below 20 years of age and should not drive between 11 PM and 5 AM without having an adult passenger carrying valid Driver’s license.
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When You Have Your Permit
The most important thing to remember is that permit holders are not allowed to drive alone for any reason. You can only practice driving with a licensed driver who is 25 or older in the front seat.
It's important to log plenty of safe driving hours when you have your permit so that you'll be prepared to get your license.
For New License Holders
During the first year that you have your license, there are two important restrictions you must follow:
California Dl Restriction Codes
- You are prohibited from driving between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m.
- You cannot carry passengers who are younger than 20.
California teen driving laws, however, do allow for several exceptions. You can drive after curfew or with teenage passengers if you are accompanied by a California licensed driver who is at least 25. You can also drive past 11 p.m. if you have signed documentation stating:
- You're traveling to or from a school-related activity.
- Driving between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. is required for your job.
- You need to travel for medical reasons and have no alternative transportation options available.
California Driver's License Restriction Codes 47 59
Once you turn 18, regardless of how long you've had your license, these restrictions will no long apply and you'll be able to drive whenever you wish as long as you maintain a safe driving record.