ODPS Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles Graduated Driver Licensing & Teen Driving Laws

Graduated Driver Licensing

Graduated licensing allows young drivers to improve their skills and driving habits, and restricts nighttime driving, when most teen driver accidents occur.

Instructions for Temporary Permit Applicants under the age of 18 [ + ]

• Temporary Instruction Permit Identification Cards (TIPIC) are issued to applicants who are at least 15 years and 6 months. Remember to bring documentary proof of your full legal name, date of birth, Social Security number, proof of citizenship or legal presence (U.S. Birth Certificate, valid U.S. Passport/Passport Card, Natualization Papers, or USCIS documents), and proof of residency. See the Acceptable Identification Document List.
• A parent or legal guardian must co-sign the temporary permit application The parent or guardian must also present two verification documents of identification. See the Acceptable Identification Document List.
• See "First Time License Examination" for specific information on how to obtain a TIPIC

Rules for holders of a Temporary Instruction Permit Identification Card (TIPIC) under the age of 18 [ + ]

• After successful completion of the driver knowledge test, and vision screening, the applicant is eligible to proceed to a Deputy Registrar License Agency to obtain the TIPIC.
• The TIPIC must be carried at all times when driving.
• The TIPIC holder must be at least fifteen years and six months of age, but less than sixteen years of age. The holder must be accompanied by a licensed parent, guardian or certified driving instructor who actually occupies the seat beside the driver.
• A parent or legal guardian who cannot accompany the minor may sign a Loco Parentis Affidavit. The affidavit permits a responsible driver 21 years of age to fulfill the parental responsibilities in the absence of the parent or legal guardian.
• Once the TIPIC holder is 16 years of age he or she may drive with a valid licensed driver 21 years of age or older.
• The TIPIC holder must complete 24 hours of classroom instruction and 8 hours of driving with a certified instructor.
• The TIPIC holder must complete 50 hours of driving with at least 10 hours at night. The 50 hours must be certified by a parent (see Fifty Hour Affidavit - BMV 5791).  These hours are in addition to the driver education requirement.
• The TIPIC must be held for no less than 6 months before completing the skills test and obtaining the Ohio driver license.

TIPIC/Driver License Restrictions for drivers under the age of 18 [ + ]

• Probationary driver license holders under the age of 17 will not be permitted to operate a motor vehicle with more than one person who is not a family member in the vehicle, unless accompanied by the license holder's parent, guardian, or legal custodian. Studies conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety have shown that one passenger doubles the risk of a fatal crash among teen drivers, two passengers triple the risk, and three or more passengers increase the risk by more than six.
• Probationary driver license holders between 17 and 18 years of age will be restricted from driving between the hours of 1:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m. unless the holder is accompanied by a parent or guardian, with the following exceptions: an emergency situation, driving to or from a school activity, or driving to or from work. Travel to or from work is permitted provided the teen has written documentation from the employer.
• Probationary license holders under the age of 17 are prohibited from driving between 12:00 a.m. (midnight) and 6:00 a.m. unless accompanied by a parent or guardian with the same exceptions as above. This is a change to the previous restriction of 1:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m.
• TIPIC holders under the age of 18 will be prohibited from driving between the hours of midnight and 6 a.m., unless accompanied by a parent, guardian, or legal custodian who holds a valid license. This is a change to the previous restriction of 1:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m.
• If a probationary driver license holder under the age of 17 is convicted of having committed one moving violation during the first six months of having a driver license, the person must be accompanied by a parent or guardian whenever operating a motor vehicle during the six-month period commencing on the date on which the person is convicted of or pleads guilty to the moving violation or until the person attains the age of 17.
• Safety belts must be available to all passengers, and everyone must be buckled up.  This applies to all TIPIC holders and licensed drivers under age 18.

TIPIC & Probationary License Suspension Rules [ + ]

• TIPIC holders and probationary license holders will be suspended for one year for accruing 3 moving violations before age18.
• TIPIC holders and probationary license holders may be suspended for six months if convicted of certain traffic-related violations before age 18.
• TIPIC holders and probationary license holders who are convicted of certain alcohol-related violations (4511.11 D.U.I.) before age 18 will be suspended for six months. If the offender is not yet 15½, the offender will not be eligible for a TIPIC until the age of 16.

Teen Driving Laws -
House Bill 343

Effective April 6, 2007, this legislation placed certain restrictions on the operation of motor vehicles by probationary license holders and temporary instruction permit holders who are less than 18 years of age.

Changes included the following:

Probationary driver license holders under the age of 17 [ + ]

• are not permitted to operate a motor vehicle with more than one person who is not a family member in the vehicle, unless accompanied by the license holder's parent, guardian, or legal custodian. Studies conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety have shown that one passenger doubles the risk of a crash among teen drivers, two passengers triple the risk, and three or more passengers increase the risk by more than six.
• are prohibited from driving between midnight and 6 a.m. unless accompanied by a parent or guardian with the same exceptions as above. This is a change to the previous restriction of 1 a.m. to 5 a.m.
• is convicted of having committed one moving violation during the first six months of having a driver's license, the person may be required to be accompanied by a parent or guardian whenever operating a motor vehicle during the six-month period commencing on the date on which the person is convicted of or pleads guilty to the moving violation or until the person turns 17.

Probationary driver license holders between 17 and 18 years of age [ + ]

• are restricted from driving between the hours of 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. unless the holder is accompanied by a parent or guardian, with the following exceptions: an emergency situation, driving to or from a school activity, or driving to or from work. Travel to or from work is permitted provided the teen has written documentation from the employer.

Also included is a change to the child restraint law, affecting drivers of all ages [ + ]

• When any child who is at least four years of age but not older than fifteen years of age is being transported in a motor vehicle, other than a taxicab or public safety vehicle as defined in section 4511.01 of the Ohio Revised Code, that is required by the United States department of transportation to be equipped with seat belts at the time of manufacture or assembly, the operator of the motor vehicle shall have the child properly restrained either in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions in a child restraint system that meets federal motor vehicle safety standards or in an occupant restraining device as defined in section 4513.263 of the Revised Code. This is still a secondary violation.  
  
• Whoever violates this section will be found guilty of a minor misdemeanor and shall be fined not less than $25. 
• If the offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to a violation of this section or of a municipal ordinance that is substantially similar, the offender is guilty of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree.

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