Enrolled Copy H.B. 308
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Driving by Minors Amendments
2025 GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Chief Sponsor: Jill Koford
Senate Sponsor: Wayne A. Harper
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LONG TITLE
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General Description:
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This bill modifies who may supervise a minor with a learner permit.
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Highlighted Provisions:
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This bill:
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▸ allows an individual with a learner permit who is younger than 18 years old to drive with
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an adult other than a parent, in certain circumstances.
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Money Appropriated in this Bill:
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None
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Other Special Clauses:
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None
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Utah Code Sections Affected:
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AMENDS:
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53-3-210.5, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2021, Chapter 247
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Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
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Section 1. Section 53-3-210.5 is amended to read:
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53-3-210.5 . Learner permit.
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(1) The division, upon receiving an application for a learner permit, may issue a learner
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permit effective for 18 months to an applicant who is at least 15 years old.
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(2)(a) The learner permit entitles an applicant that is 18 years old or older to operate a
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class D motor vehicle only if[:]
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[(i)] a person 21 years old or older who is a licensed driver is occupying a seat
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beside the applicant[; and] .
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[(ii) the applicant has the learner permit in the applicant's immediate possession while
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operating the motor vehicle.] H.B. 308 Enrolled Copy
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(b) The learner permit entitles an applicant that is younger than 18 years old to operate a
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class D motor vehicle only if:
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(i)[(A)] an approved driving instructor is occupying a seat beside the applicant;
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[(B)] (ii) the applicant's parent or legal guardian, who must be a licensed driver, is
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occupying a seat beside the applicant;[ or]
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[(C)] (iii) a responsible adult who has signed for the applicant under Section 53-3-211
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and who must be a licensed driver, is occupying a seat beside the applicant;[ and]
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or
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[(ii)] (iv) a responsible individual 21 years old or older who is not the parent or legal
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guardian is occupying a seat beside the applicant and:
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(A) the parent or legal guardian is not a licensed driver;
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(B) the individual occupying the seat beside the applicant has in the individual's
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immediate possession evidence that the individual is authorized by the parent
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or legal guardian to accompany the applicant while operating the motor
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vehicle; and
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(C) the individual occupying the seat beside the applicant is a licensed driver.
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(c) [the] The applicant [has] shall have the learner permit in the applicant's immediate
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possession while operating the motor vehicle.
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(3) The division shall issue a learner permit to an applicant who:
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(a) is at least 15 years old;
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(b) has passed the knowledge test required by the division;
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(c) has passed the physical and mental fitness tests; and
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(d) has submitted a nonrefundable fee for a learner permit under Section 53-3-105.
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(4)(a) The division shall supply the learner permit form.
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(b) The form under Subsection (4)(a) shall include:
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(i) the applicant's full name, date of birth, sex, Utah residence address, height, weight,
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and eye color;
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(ii) the date of issuance and expiration of the permit; and
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(iii) the conditions and restrictions contained in this section for operating a class D
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motor vehicle.
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(5) An application and fee for a learner permit entitle the applicant to:
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(a) not more than three attempts to pass the knowledge test for a class D license within
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one year; and
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(b) a learner permit after the knowledge test is passed.
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(6)(a) If an applicant has been issued a learner permit under this section or an equivalent
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by another state or branch of the United States Armed Forces, the applicant may be
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issued an original or provisional class D license from the division upon:
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(i) completing a driver education course in a:
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(A) commercial driver training school licensed under Part 5, Commercial Driver
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Training Schools Act; or
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(B) driver education program approved by the State Board of Education or the
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division;
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(ii) passing a knowledge test approved by the division that complies with the
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requirement of Subsection (6)(d);
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(iii) passing the skills test approved by the division;
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(iv) reaching 16 years old; and
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(v) paying the nonrefundable fee for an original or provisional class D license
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application under Section 53-3-105.
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(b) In addition to the requirements under Subsection (6)(a), an applicant who is 17 years
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old or younger is required to hold a learner permit for six months before applying for
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a provisional class D license.
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(c) An applicant is exempt from the requirement under Subsection (6)(a)(i) if the
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applicant:
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(i) is 19 years old or older;
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(ii) holds a learner permit for three months before applying for an original class D
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license; and
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(iii) certifies that the applicant, under the authority of a permit issued under this
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chapter, has completed at least 40 hours of driving a motor vehicle, of which at
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least 10 hours were completed during night hours after sunset.
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(d) Fifty percent of the test questions included in the knowledge test required under
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Subsection (6)(a)(ii) shall cover the topic of major causes of traffic related deaths as
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identified in statistics published by the Highway Safety Office.
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Section 2. Effective Date.
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This bill takes effect on May 7, 2025.
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