HCS SCS SB 1001, 896 & 761 -- DRIVERS' LICENSES

SPONSOR:  Griesheimer (St. Onge)

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass" by the Committee on
Transportation by a vote of 12 to 0.

This substitute changes the laws regarding the licensure of
certain motor vehicle drivers.

LAWFUL PRESENCE

Applicants for a noncommercial driver's license who are 65 years
of age or older may use a previously issued Missouri driver's
license, instruction permit, or nondriver's license as proof of
lawful presence.

REVOCATION OF MOTOR CARRIER REGISTRATIONS

The Highways and Transportation Commission is allowed to suspend,
revoke, or cancel the registration, license, permit, or other
credential issued to a motor carrier if a federal agency or the
commission has issued an out-of-service order against the motor
carrier.  The law is applicable to out-of-service orders placing
a motor carrier's entire operation out of service but does not
apply to orders placing an individual driver or vehicle out of
service.  If the commission issues an order, the motor carrier
must not operate any commercial motor vehicle and must not allow
an employee to operate any commercial motor vehicle in intrastate
or interstate commerce.  After the commission has issued an
order, the motor carrier must surrender all license plates, motor
carrier licenses, registrations, permits, and other credentials.
After the commission has issued an order, the out-of-state motor
carrier will not be eligible to apply for the issuance or
reinstatement of any license, registration, permit, certificate,
or other credential until the out-of-service order has been
rescinded or the orders have been set aside by a court of proper
jurisdiction.  The substitute specifies that any federal or state
order will be admissible in administrative and court proceedings
and the orders will constitute prima facie evidence that the
motor carrier violated federal regulations or that the motor
carrier's operation of commercial motor vehicles poses an
imminent hazard.

INTERMEDIATE DRIVER'S LICENSE

Beginning January 1, 2007, parents or legal guardians of
applicants for a temporary instruction permit are required to
provide 40 hours of behind-the-wheel driving instruction.  A
minimum of 10 hours must occur during the nighttime hours.
Currently, only 20 hours are required.

For the first six months after the issuance of an intermediate
driver's license, the driver cannot operate a vehicle with more
than one passenger younger than 19 years of age who is not a
member of the driver's immediate family.  After the first six-
month time period has passed, the driver must not operate a
vehicle with more than three passengers younger than 19 years of
age who are not members of the driver's immediate family until he
or she receives a full driver's license.

An intermediate driver's licensee will have 30 days preceding his
or her eighteenth birthday to apply for and receive without
further examination full driving privileges if he or she has a
clean record as specified for the preceding 12 months.

Any person who violates the provisions regarding intermediate
drivers' licenses or temporary permits will be guilty of an
infraction, and no points will be assessed to his or her driving
record.

The portion of the substitute regarding lawful presence contains
an emergency clause.

FISCAL NOTE:  No impact on state funds in FY 2007, FY 2008, and
FY 2009.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters of the lawful presence portion of the
bill say that people over the age of 65 are those who are more
likely to have birth record problems, and the bill will eliminate
that stress.  Supporters of the commercial motor vehicle
provisions of the bill say that it allows for more efficient and
safe movement of goods.  Supporters also say motor vehicle
crashes are the number one killer of teens in Missouri.  This is
attributed to inexperience and inadequate driving skills, poor
judgment and decision making, and operation during high-risk
hours.  Distractions pose a great risk to all drivers, but
especially for new drivers.  Passengers can be a huge distraction
for teen drivers.

Testifying for the bill were Senator Griesheimer; Department of
Revenue; Department of Transportation; Missouri Safety Council;
Farmers Insurance Group; Missouri Insurance Coalition; and
Missouri Coalition for Roadway Safety.

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

Robert Triplett, Legislative Analyst

Missouri House of Representatives
93rd General Assembly, 2nd Regular Session
Last Updated November 29, 2006 at 9:47 am