More On Juvenile Law
A couple of weeks ago, I started talking about the new brochure available from the State Bar of California entitled “Kids and the Law”, and some of the less well-known laws and legal principles explained there. Here are a few more.
NEW DRIVER’S LICENSING LAWS. For those of us who grew up in California during the past half-century, we remember getting a learner’s permit at age 15 1/2 and a regular license as soon as possible after age 16, at which point we had the same privileges as any other drivers - we could go “cruisin’” any time, anywhere, and with anyone. That is no longer the case.
Changes to the Vehicle Code which became effective of July 1, 1998, provide that a driver under the age of 18 gets a provisional license which allows him or her to drive with the following restrictions:
- for the first 6 months, he may not drive between the hours of 12:00 midnight and 5:00 a.m. or with anyone under the age of 20 in the car unless accompanied by a licensed driver of at least 25 years of age.
- during the second 6 months of licensure, the driver still cannot drive during the hours of 12:00 midnight and 5:00 a.m. without a licensed driver 25 years of age being present, but can carry passengers under the age of 20.
JUNIOR DRIVING PERMIT. Minors over the age of 14 can obtain a junior permit under certain circumstances, such as when there is inadequate regular school transportation, inadequate transportation due to the illness of a family member, or when driving is essential to get to and from a job and the minor’s income is essential to the support of the family.
ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES IN VEHICLES. If anyone in a motor vehicle, driver or passenger, is under 21 years of age, it is illegal to carry a container of alcohol, open or closed, in the vehicle unless that minor person is accompanied by a parent, guardian, or adult relative, or is following their instructions. For example, if you are over 21 and you take your minor friend with you to buy beer, you have probably broken the law unless you place the beer in the trunk of the car or otherwise out of control of its occupants.