Intermediate License Q & A Fact Sheet
and Intermediate License - Scenarios
What is an Intermediate Driver License (IL)?
An Intermediate Driver License (IL), sometimes referred to as a
"teen" or "graduated" license, is issued to a driver
under the age of eighteen.
When does the Intermediate Driver License law go into
effect:
On July 1, 2001.
Why is an IL necessary?
The Legislature has recognized the need to develop a graduated licensing
system because of the high incidence of motor vehicle crashes involving
youthful drivers. The purpose of the IL is to improve highway safety
by progressively developing and improving the skills of younger drivers in
the safest possible environment, there by reducing the number of vehicle
crashes.
What happens to driver licenses issued prior to the
effective date of the law?
There will be no effect on licenses issued to drivers under the age of
eighteen prior to the law's effective date. Only a license issued on
or after July 1, 2001 will be considered an IL.
How long is a person required to have an IL?
An IL continues until the driver turns eighteen years of age.
What happens when they have satisfied the IL requirements,
do they come in and get another license, a PLO, or does it just
automatically change?
When a driver reaches age eighteen, the IL automatically becomes a regular
driver license. We want drivers to just keep their IL until the
expiration date (5 years after issue), but these drivers can come in and pay
$2 for a replacement. Since Examining doesn't want to encourage any
unnecessary workload, the preference is to tell customers that their IL
becomes a regular license on their 18th birthday.
What are the requirements to obtain an IL?
An applicant for an IL must:
a. Be at least sixteen years of age.
b. Have possessed a valid Instruction Permit for six
months.
c. Pass a driver license examination.
d. Have passed an approved driver education course.
e. Be certified by the applicant's parent, guardian, or
employer to have had at least 50 hours of supervised driving experience,
with at least ten of those hours at night. The parent, guardian or
employer will also certify that the applicant has not been issued a notice
of traffic infraction or cited for a traffic violation that is pending at
the time of application for the IL.
f. Not have been convicted or found to have committed a
traffic infraction within the six-month period prior to the application for
an IL, and,
g. Not have been adjudicated for an offense involving the
use of alcohol or drugs during the period that the applicant held an
Instruction Permit.
Can they possess a valid instruction permit from
out-of-state?
Yes, an OS permit will meet the requirement. However, the LSR should
check the permit's issue date and/or expiration date to confirm that the
driver has possessed the permit for at least 6 months.
How is an IL different from a regular license?
An IL is different from a regular license in three ways:
a. First, the use of an IL is subject to certain
restrictions (discussed below).
b. Second, the holder of an IL is subject to licensing
sanctions if he or she commits or is convicted of traffic offenses or
violations of the license restrictions.
c. An IL is also different in appearance from the regular
driver license. It will have a unique header on the document that says
"Intermediate License".
What restrictions are placed on an IL?
Restrictions are:
a. For the first six months after issuance of an IL, the
holder of the license may not have any passengers in the vehicle under the
age of 20, except for members of the holder's immediate family.
b. After the first six months, the holder may not have
more than three passengers in the car under the age of 20, except for
members of the holder's immediate family.
c. The holder of an IL may not operate a vehicle between
the hours of 1 AM and 5 AM except when the holder is accompanied by a
parent, guardian, or a licensed driver who is at least twenty-five years of
age.
Are there any exceptions to the restrictions placed on an
IL?
The only exception to the restrictions is if it is necessary for the driver
to operate a motor vehicle for agricultural purposes, such as transporting
farm workers, products or farming supplies under the direction of a farmer.
How long to the restrictions remain on the IL?
The restrictions on the IL can remain in effect until the driver turns
eighteen years of age. However, twelve months after the issuance of an
IL, the restrictions will be removed if the holder has not been involved in
an automobile accident, regardless of fault, and has not committed or been
convicted of traffic offenses or violations of the license restrictions.
What happens if the holder of an IL commits or is convicted
of traffic offenses or violations of the restrictions on the license?
a. For a first traffic offense that is a Rules of the Road
violation, or for a first violation of the restrictions on a IL, a warning
letter will be sent to the driver's parent or guardian.
b. For a second such offense, the Department will suspend
the IL for six months or until the driver reaches age eighteen, whichever
occurs first. A notice of the suspension will be sent to the driver
and a copy of the notice will be sent to the driver's parent or guardian.
c. For the third such offense, the Department will suspend
the IL until the driver reaches age eighteen. A notice of the
suspension will be sent to the driver and a copy of the notice will be sent
to the driver's parent or guardian.
Note: A reissue fee will also be paid following any suspension.
Can a minor get an IL if they have had a drug or alcohol
related charge of MIP (Minor in Possession)?
If the minor had a MIP during the time when they held an instruction permit,
they would not be eligible to get an IL If the MIP occurred at a time
when the person did not have an instruction permit, it would not prevent
issuance of an IL.
If a person
was issued a license under the old law and then has their driving
privilege revoked, which law prevails at the time a new license is issued,
if done so prior to their 18th birthday?
The new Intermediate License law (RCW 46.20.0755).
If an IL is issued and it has been more than 6 months
since issuance and then the person violates their restriction, can we
re-impose the restrictions from the initial 6 month period or does it only
affect their ability to have an "unrestricted" IL?
No. We cannot re-impose the initial 6-month restrictions unless a new
license is being obtained after a revocation.
If a person with an IL makes it to the
"unrestricted" phase, and then notice is received of a violation
or accident that would have prevented them from meeting the criteria, do we
make the person go back to the second phase of restrictions?
Yes, if the violation occurred during the 1st year after issuance of the
IL. Re-imposing the restrictions would be in addition to issuance of a
warning letter.
Will there be a "flag" if a person received a
traffic infraction within a six month period prior to applying for a driver
license?
If there is a ticket on the record that falls within the 6 months prior to
when the LSR transmits the application to issue the IL, an error message
will be returned and the update will not be allowed.
Will a driver education waiver also waive the requirements
necessary to obtain an IL?
No. A minor under the age of eighteen must still meet the
requirements to obtain an IL, even though a waiver of the driver education
requirements may have been granted.
Do the requirements for the IL apply to a minor who has been
emancipated?
Yes. As long as they are under the age of eighteen, they must still
meet the same requirements as any other minor to obtain an IL.
Would a minor, under the age of 18, who moves to Washington
and has a valid out of state license, be subject to the IL requirements?
A minor with a valid out of state license would have to obtain an IL, and
meet all the same requirements noted above, but the drive test can be waived
since they possess a valid license.
How will a parent, guardian or employer certify that the
minor has completed the required driving practice before they obtain their
IL?
The parent, guardian, or employer will sign a statement on the license
application that certifies that the requirement of 50 hours of supervised
driving practice has been satisfied. The minor is also required to
sign the application and, under penalty of perjury, is certifying that the
information on it is true and correct.
Will a minor who completes both the written and drive tests
before July 1, 2001 be exempt from the IL requirements?
No. While it is possible for a person to take both the knowledge and
skill tests within 60 days of their 16th birthday, if their birthday occurs
after July 1, the license will be issued as an IL and all applicable
requirements must be satisfied. The key factor is the date the license
is issued, not when the tests were taken.
Intermediate License - Scenarios
Scenario 1: A minor completes both the knowledge and skill tests within 60 days of their 16th birthday before July 1, 2001. Will he/she still have to comply with the IL requirements?
Answer:
If the customer comes in and takes the written and drive tests within 60 days of their 16th birthday, they must be 16 and have their license issued before July 1, 2001 to avoid falling under the new requirements. The key is the date of issue, not when the tests were completed.
Scenario 2: An emancipated minor, who would be considered an adult by the state for all other purposes, applies for a license after July 1, 2001. Since they are emancipated, how would this situation be handled?
Answer:
While emancipated minors are legally considered adults in this state, they are still required to comply with all of the IL rules. There was no provision made by the legislature for exempting them from the IL. Process as you would any other IL application.
Scenario 3: A minor applies for a waiver of driver education because of a hardship situation. What would you do in relation to the IL?
Answer:
A waiver of driver education does not waive the standards that must be met for the IL. It only waives the requirement for driver education. If the person is under the age of 18, they must still qualify for an IL, and complete all the necessary requirements except for driver education, if a waiver is granted.
Scenario 4: It's after July 1, 2001 and a minor presents a TSE certificate (course taken in Washington) that doesn't have a driver training location code sticker on it. How would this situation be handled?
Answer:
Accept the certificate if the date of course completion was on or before June 30, 2001. Note the location of the training on the certificate and look up the required location code. Enter the code in the space on the application. If the certificate was issued on or after July1, 2001, and does not have the location code sticker, refer the driver back to their TSE instructor/school with directions to have a sticker added to the certificate.
Scenario 5: IL is in effect and a minor presents a TSE certificate from a school that is not on the training location code list. The certificate has a sticker with a number that does not appear on Washington's approved list. How would this situation be handled?
Answer:
If it's a school in Washington, accept the certificate and process the application offline. Contact Driver Examining headquarters to learn what code number has been assigned. If it's a non-Washington school, accept the certificate and assign the appropriate code (9998-public; 9999-commercial; or 9997-military).
Scenario 6: An adult has applied and qualified for their first Washington license. When the application is transmitted it comes back with an error code saying the record cannot be updated. The cursor returns to the space for the driver training school code. How would this situation be handled?
Answer:
A driver training school location code must be entered for all original license applications - including those by adults. Ask the customer if a driver training course has ever been taken, and if so, where the course was taken. Enter the appropriate code on the application and transmit.