Oklahoma 2024 Regular Session

Oklahoma House Bill HB1962 Latest Draft

Bill / Enrolled Version Filed 05/09/2023

                            An Act 
ENROLLED HOUSE 
BILL NO. 1962 	By: Newton of the House 
 
   and 
 
  Jech and Stephens of the 
Senate 
 
 
 
 
 
 
An Act relating to driver licenses; amending 47 O.S. 
2021, Section 6-105, as amended by Section 42, 
Chapter 282, O.S.L. 2022 (47 O.S. Supp. 2022 , Section 
6-105), which relates to farm vehicle special 
permits; deleting certain special permit; allowing 
individuals of a certain age to make appl ication for 
a farm permit; authorizing operation of certain 
vehicles; specifying scenarios when permit may b e 
used by permit holders of a certain age; providing 
requirements for farm permit issuance; providing 
restrictions for permit holders of a certain age; 
prohibiting use of certain device while driving; 
providing exception; defining term; providing for 
suspension and revocation of permit; requiring 
certain affidavit; stating content requirements for 
affidavit; disallowing the admissibility of certain 
evidence; and providing violations resulting in 
license restrictions . 
 
 
 
 
SUBJECT: Driver licenses 
 
BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA: 
 
SECTION 1.     AMENDATORY    47 O.S. 2021, Section 6 -105, as 
amended by Section 42, Chapter 282, O.S.L. 2022 (47 O.S. Supp. 2022, 
Section 6-105), is amended to read as follows: 
 
Section 6-105. A. Unless a legal custodial parent or legal 
guardian has filed an objection to licensure pursuant to Section 6- ENR. H. B. NO. 1962 	Page 2 
103.1 of this title, any person under eighteen (18) years of age who 
is in compliance with or n ot subject to Section 6-107.3 of this 
title may be permitted to operate: 
 
1.  A Class D motor vehicle under the graduated driver license 
provisions prescribed in subsections B through E of this section; 
 
2.  A motorcycle under t he provisions prescribed in su bsection H 
of this section; or 
 
3.  A farm vehicle under the provisions prescribed in subsection 
I of this section. 
 
B. Any person who is at least fifteen (15) years of age may 
drive during a session in which the driver is bein g instructed in a 
driver education course, as set out in subparagraphs a, b, c, d and 
e of paragraph 1 of subsection C of this section, by a certified 
driver education instructor who is seated in the right front seat of 
the motor vehicle. 
 
C.  Any person: 
 
1.  Who is at least fifteen and one-half (15 1/2) years of age 
and is currently receiving instruction in or has successfully 
completed driver education.  For purposes of this section, the term 
"driver education" shall mean: 
 
a. a prescribed secondary school driver education course, 
as provided for in Sections 19-113 through 19-121 of 
Title 70 of the Oklahoma Statutes, 
 
b. a driver education course, certified by the Department 
of Public Safety, from a parochial, private, or other 
nonpublic secondary school, 
 
c. a commercial driver training c ourse, as defined by 
Sections 801 through 808 of this title, 
 
d. a parent-taught driver education course, certified by 
the Department of Public Safety.  The Department shall 
promulgate rules for any parent-taught driver 
education course, or 
 
e. a driver education course certified by a state other 
than Oklahoma; or  ENR. H. B. NO. 1962 	Page 3 
 
2.  Who is at least sixteen (16) years of age, 
 
may, upon successfully passing all parts of the driver license 
examination administered by Service Oklahoma, or an approved written 
examination proctor, except the driving examination, be issued a 
learner permit which will grant the permittee the privilege to 
operate a Class D motor vehicle upon the public highways only 
between the hours of 5:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. and while acc ompanied 
by a licensed driver who is at least twenty-one (21) years of age 
and who is actually occupying a seat beside the permittee; provided, 
the written examination for a learner permit may be waived by 
Service Oklahoma upon verification that the person has successfully 
completed driver education. 
 
D.  1.  Any person: 
 
a. who has applied for, been issued, and has possessed a 
learner permit for a minimum of six (6) months, and 
 
b. whose custodial legal parent or legal guard ian 
certifies to Service Oklahoma by sworn affidavit that 
the person has received a minimum of fifty (50) hours 
of actual behind-the-wheel training, of which at least 
ten (10) hours of such training was at night, from a 
licensed driver who was at least twe nty-one (21) years 
of age and who was properly licensed to operate a 
Class D motor vehicle for a minimum of two (2) years, 
 
may be issued an intermediate Class D license upon successfu lly 
passing all parts of the driver license examin ations administered b y 
Service Oklahoma; provided, the written examination, if it has not 
previously been administered or waived, may be waived by Service 
Oklahoma upon verification that the person has successfully 
completed driver education or the drivi ng examination may be waived 
by Service Oklahoma upon successful passage of the examination 
administered by a certified designated examiner, as provided for in 
Section 6-110 of this title. However, notwithstanding the da te of 
issuance of the learner permit, if the person has been convicted of 
a traffic offense which is reported on the driving record of that 
person, the time period specified in subparagraph a of this 
paragraph shall be recalculated to begin from the date o f conviction 
for the traffic offense, and must elapse before that person may be 
issued an intermediate Class D license.  If the person has been 
convicted of more than one traffic offense which is reported on the  ENR. H. B. NO. 1962 	Page 4 
driving record of that person, the time peri od specified in 
subparagraph a of this paragraph shall be recalculated to begin from 
the most recent date of conviction, and must elapse before that 
person may be issued an intermediate Class D license. 
 
2.  A person who has been issued an intermediate Clas s D license 
under the provisions of this subsection: 
 
a. shall be granted the privilege to operate a Class D 
motor vehicle upon the public highways: 
 
(1) only between the hours of 5:00 a.m. and 10:00 
p.m., except for driving to and from work, 
school, school activities, and church activiti es, 
or 
 
(2) at any time, if a licensed driver who is at least 
twenty-one (21) years of age is actually 
occupying a seat beside the intermediate Class D 
licensee, or if the intermediate Class D licensee 
is a farm or ranch resid ent, and is operating a 
motor vehicle while engaged in farming or 
ranching operations outside the limits of a 
municipality, or driving to and from work, 
school, school activities, or church activities, 
and 
 
b. shall not operate a motor vehicle with more tha n one 
passenger unless: 
 
(1) all passengers live in the same household as the 
custodial legal parent or legal guardian, or 
 
(2) a licensed driver at least twenty-one (21) years 
of age is actually occupying a seat beside the 
intermediate Class D licensee. 
 
E.  Any person who has been issued an intermediate Class D 
license for a minimum of: 
 
1.  One (1) year; or 
 
2.  Six (6) months, if the person has completed both the driver 
education and the parent-certified behind-the-wheel training  ENR. H. B. NO. 1962 	Page 5 
provisions of subparagraph b of paragraph 1 of subsection D of this 
section, 
 
may be issued a Class D license. However, notwithstanding the date 
of issuance of the Class D license, if the person has been convicted 
of a traffic offense which is reported on the driving record of that 
person, the time periods specifi ed in paragraph 1 or 2 of this 
subsection, as applicable, shall be recalculated to begin from the 
date of conviction for the traffic offense, and must elapse before 
that person may be issued a Class D license.  If the person has been 
convicted of more than one traffic offense which is reported on the 
driving record of that person, the time periods specified in 
paragraph 1 or 2 of this subsection, as applicable, shall be 
recalculated to begin from the most recent date of convic tion, and 
must elapse before th at person may be issued a Class D license. 
 
F.  Learner permits and intermediate Class D licenses shall be 
issued for the same period as all other driver licenses.  The 
licenses may be suspended or canceled at the discretion o f the 
Department for violation of restrictions, for failing to give the 
required or correct information on the application, for knowingly 
giving false or inaccurate information on the application or any 
subsequent documentation related to the granting of d riving 
privileges, for using a hand-held electronic device while operating 
a motor vehicle for non-life-threatening emergency purposes or for 
violation of any traffic laws of this state pertaining to the 
operation of a motor vehicle. 
 
G.  Service Oklahoma shall promulgate rules establishing 
procedures for removal of learner permit and intermediate Class D 
license restrictions from the permit or license upon the permittee 
or licensee qualifying for a less restricted or an unres tricted 
license. 
 
H.  Any person fourteen (14) years of age or older may apply for 
a restricted Class D license with a motorcycle-only restriction.  
After the person has successfully passed all parts of the motorcycle 
examination other than the driving exam ination, has successfully 
completed a certified state-approved motorcycle basic rider course 
approved by the Department of Public Safety, in conjunction with 
Service Oklahoma, and has met all requirements provided for in the 
rules of the Department and Service Oklahoma, Service Oklahoma shall 
issue to the person a r estricted Class D license with a motorcycle-
only restriction which shall grant to the person, while having the  ENR. H. B. NO. 1962 	Page 6 
license in the person's immediate possession, the privilege to 
operate a motorcycle or motor-driven cycle: 
 
1.  With a piston displacement not to exceed three hundred (300) 
cubic centimeters; 
 
2.  Between the hours of 4:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. only; 
 
3.  While wearing approved protective headgear; and 
 
4.  While accompanied by and re ceiving instruction fro m any 
person who is at least twenty-one (21) years of age and who is 
properly licensed pursuant to the laws of this state to operate a 
motorcycle or motor-driven cycle, and who has visual contact with 
the restricted licensee. 
 
The restricted licensee may ap ply on or after thirty (30) days 
from date of issuance of the restricted Class D license with a 
motorcycle-only restriction to have the restriction of being 
accompanied by a licensed driver removed by successfully completing 
the driving portion of an exami nation. 
 
The written examination and driving examin ation for a restricted 
Class D license with a motorcycle-only endorsement shall be waived 
by Service Oklahoma upon verification that the person has 
successfully completed a c ertified state-approved motorcycle basic 
rider course approved by the Department and Service Oklahoma. 
 
I.  Service Oklahoma may in its discretion issue a special 
permit to any person who has attained the age of fourteen (14) 
years, authorizing such person to operate farm vehicles b etween the 
farm and the market to haul commodities grown on the farm; provided, 
that the special permit shall be temporary and shall expire not more 
than thirty (30) days after the issuance of the special permit.  
Special permits shall be issued only to fa rm residents and shall be 
issued only during the time of the harvest of the principal crops 
grown on such farm.  Provided, however, Service Oklahoma shall not 
issue a special permit pursuant to this subsection until Service 
Oklahoma is fully satisfied after the examination of the application 
and other evidence furnished in support thereof, that the person is 
physically and mentally developed to such a degree that the 
operation of a motor vehicle by the person would not be inimical to 
public safety. 
  ENR. H. B. NO. 1962 	Page 7 
1.  Any person who is less than sev enteen (17) years of age but 
is at least fourteen (14) years of age and who resides upon a farm 
in this state or is employed for compensation upon a farm in this 
state may apply to Service Oklahoma for a farm permit authorizing 
such person, while possessin g the permit, to operate any Class D 
motor vehicle. 
 
2. a. A farm permit shall entitle the licensee, who is at 
least fourteen (14) years of age but less than sixt een 
(16) years of age, to operate the appropriate motor 
vehicles at any time: 
 
(1) while going to or from or in connection with any 
farm job, employment, or other farm-related work, 
 
(2) on days while school is in session, over the most 
direct and accessible route between the 
licensee's residence and school of enrollment for 
the purpose of school atte ndance; provided, that 
the privilege shall only extend to those 
licensees who reside on a farm and c ommute 
directly from their place of residence to the 
school in which they are enrolled, or 
 
(3) when the licensee is operating a passenger car at 
any time when accompanied by an adult who is the 
holder of a valid commercial driver license, 
Class A, B, C, or D driver license and who is 
actually occupying a seat beside the driver. 
 
b. For a period of six (6) months, a farm permit shall 
entitle the licensee who is at least sixteen (16) 
years of age to operate the appropriate motor vehicles 
at any time: 
 
(1) from 5:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., 
 
(2) while going to or from or in conn ection with any 
farm job, employment, or other farm -related work, 
 
(3) while going to or from au thorized school 
activities, 
  ENR. H. B. NO. 1962 	Page 8 
(4) while going directly to or from any religious 
worship service held b y a religious organization, 
or 
 
(5) while the licensee is oper ating a passenger car 
at any time while accompanied by an adult who is 
the holder of a valid co mmercial driver license, 
Class A, B, or C driver license, and who is 
actually occupying a seat besid e the driver. 
 
After such six-month period, if the licensee h as complied with the 
provisions of this subsection, such farm permit shall entitle the 
licensee to operate the appropriate motor vehi cles at any time 
without the restrictions required by this subs ection. 
 
3.  A farm permit shall be issued only if: 
 
a. the applicant can prove that such applicant resides or 
works on a farm by submitting the signed affida vit of 
either a parent or guardian st ating that the applicant 
lives on a farm, 
 
b. the applicant has successfully completed the 
examination requirements in Secti on 6-110 of this 
title, and 
 
c. the applicant does not live on a farm but works on a 
farm and the applicant submits the signed affidav it of 
the applicant's employer and parent or guardian 
attesting to such employment. 
 
4.  Any licensee issued a farm permit u nder this subsection: 
 
a. who is less than sixteen (16) years of age shall not 
operate any motor vehicle with nonsibling mino r 
passengers, 
 
b. who is at least sixteen (16) years of age, for a 
period of six (6) months after reaching sixteen (16) 
years of age, shall not operate any motor vehicle with 
more than one passenger who is less than eighteen (18) 
years of age and who is not a member of the licensee's 
immediate family, or 
  ENR. H. B. NO. 1962 	Page 9 
c. who is at least fourteen (14) years of age, but less 
than sixteen (16) years of age, shall not operate any 
motor vehicle on interstate or turnpike high way 
systems, nor shall a licensee operate a motor vehicle 
within the limits of a city with a population in 
excess of one hundred thousand (100,000) persons 
according to the latest Feder al Decennial Census. 
 
Any conviction for violating this paragraph shall be construed as a 
moving traffic violation.  Service Oklahoma may, in its discretion, 
suspend the permit of an individual f or violation of this paragraph. 
 
5.  Any licensee issued a farm permit under this subsection 
shall not operate a wireless communication device while driving a 
motor vehicle, except that a licensee may operate a wireless 
communication device while driving a motor vehicle to report illegal 
activity or to summon medical o r other emergency help. 
 
6.  As used in this subsection, "farm" means any parcel of land 
for which the owner has an agricultural exemption permit issued by 
the Oklahoma Tax Commission . 
 
7. a. A farm permit issued under this subsection is subject 
to suspension or revocation in the same manner as any 
other driver license. 
 
b. A farm permit may be suspende d in accordance with 
Section 6-113 of this title for any violation of 
restrictions under this subsection. 
 
c. Service Oklahoma shall suspend the farm permit upon 
receiving satisfactory evidence that the licensee has 
been involved in two or more accidents ch argeable to 
the licensee and such sus pended license shall not be 
reinstated for one (1) year . 
 
8.  Any licensee issued a farm permit under this subsection 
shall provide, prior to reaching sixteen (16) years of age, a signed 
affidavit of either a parent or g uardian stating that the applicant 
has completed at least fifty (50) hours of adu lt-supervised driving 
with at least ten (10) of those hours being at night.  The adult-
supervised driving required by this paragraph shall be conducted by 
an adult who is at l east twenty-one (21) years of age and is the 
holder of a valid commercial driver l icense, Class A, B, C, or D 
driver license.  Evidence of failure of any licensee who was  ENR. H. B. NO. 1962 	Page 10 
required to complete the fifty (50) hours of adult -supervised 
driving under this subs ection shall not be admissible in any action 
for the purpose of determining any aspect of c omparative negligence 
or mitigation of damages. 
 
9.  Any licensee issued a farm permit under this subsection who: 
 
a. is under sixteen (16) years of age and is convict ed of 
two or more moving traffic viol ations committed on 
separate occasions shall not be eligible to receive a 
driver license which is not restricted, in accordanc e 
with the provisions of subparagraph a of paragraph 2 
of this subsection, until the person r eaches seventeen 
(17) years of age, 
 
b. is at least sixteen (16) years of age but less th an 
seventeen (17) years of age and is convicted of two or 
more moving traffic violations committed on separate 
occasions shall not be eligible to receive a driver 
license which is not restricted, in accord ance with 
the provisions of subparagraph b of parag raph 2 of 
this subsection, until the person reaches eighteen 
(18) years of age, or 
 
c. fails to provide the affidavit required under 
paragraph 8 of this subsection shall not be eligible 
to receive a driver license which is not restricted, 
in accordance with the provisions of subparagraph a of 
paragraph 2 of this subsection, until the person 
provides such affidavit to Service Oklahoma or the 
person reaches seventeen (17) years of age, whichever 
occurs first. 
 
J.  As used in this section: 
 
1.  "Hand-held electronic device" means a mobile telephone or 
electronic device with which a user engages in a telephone call, 
plays or stores media, including but not limited to music and video, 
or sends or reads a text message while requiring the use of at least 
one hand; and 
 
2.  "Using a hand-held electronic device" means engaging any 
function on an electronic device. 
  ENR. H. B. NO. 1962 	Page 11 
K.  All driver education courses provided for in paragraph 1 of 
subsection C of this section shall include education regarding the 
dangers of texting while driving and the effects of being under the 
influence of alcohol or other intoxicating substance while driving. 
 
 
 
  ENR. H. B. NO. 1962 	Page 12 
Passed the House of Representatives the 8th day of May, 2023. 
 
 
 
  
 	Presiding Officer of the House 
 	of Representatives 
 
 
Passed the Senate the 26th day of April, 2023. 
 
 
 
  
 	Presiding Officer of the Senate 
 
 
OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR 
Received by the Office of the Governor this ____________________ 
day of ___________________, 20_______, at _______ o'clock _______ M. 
By: _________________________________ 
Approved by the Governor of the State of Oklahoma this _____ ____ 
day of ___________________, 20_______, at _______ o'clock _______ M. 
 
 
 	_________________________________ 
 	Governor of the State of Oklahoma 
 
OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE 
Received by the Office of the Secretary of State this __________ 
day of ___________________, 20_______, at _______ o'clock _______ M. 
By: _________________________________