How can a minor get a Driving License in California?
Full Question:
I live with my aged mother in California after my father passed away. She cannot walk as she is physically ill. There is a car in my house, but I don’t have a license. I turned 15 years now. Can I apply for a Driving License now so that I can take my mom to hospital in an emergency? Its very urgent. Somebody please tell me how can I get a DL in this state.
05/10/2017 |
Category: Drivers License |
State: California |
#36953
Answer:
In California, the department will consider a minor, who is between the age of 14 years and 18 years, is eligible for a junior permit in some circumstances. Here are those circumstances:
The Department will issue a junior permit for operating a vehicle from residence to the school and return if your school or other transportation facilities are inadequate for regular attendance at school and at activities authorized by the school. The application for a junior permit shall be accompanied by a signed statement from the school principal verifying such facts.
The Department will issue a junior permit if reasonable transportation facilities are inadequate and operation of a vehicle by a minor is necessary due to illness of a family member. The application shall be accompanied by a signed statement from a physician familiar with the condition, containing a diagnosis and probable date when sufficient recovery will have been made to terminate the emergency.
The Department will issue a junior permit if transportation facilities are inadequate, and use of a motor vehicle is necessary in the transportation to and from the employment of the applicant. In order to get this benefit, the applicant's income from such employment is essential in the support of the family, or where the applicant's operation of a motor vehicle is essential to an enterprise from which an appreciable portion of the income of the family will be derived. The application shall be accompanied by a signed statement from the parents or the guardian, setting forth the reasons a permit is necessary.
The following are the statutes in this regard:
§ 12512. Age limit
Except as provided in Sections 12513, 12514, and 12814.6, no license to drive shall be issued to a person under the age of 18 years.
§ 12513. Junior permits; Criteria for issuance
(a) Upon application, successful completion of tests and compliance with Section 17700 to 17705, inclusive, the department may issue a junior permit to any person 14 years of age, but less than 18, who establishes eligibility as required by this section. A person is eligible when, in the opinion of the department, any one or more of the following circumstances exist:
School or other transportation facilities are inadequate for regular attendance at school and at activities authorized by the school. The application for a junior permit shall be accompanied by a signed statement from the school principal verifying such facts. A junior permit issued under this subsection shall be restricted to operating a vehicle from residence to the school and return.
Reasonable transportation facilities are inadequate and operation of a vehicle by a minor is necessary due to illness of a family member. The application shall be accompanied by a signed statement from a physician familiar with the condition, containing a diagnosis and probable date when sufficient recovery will have been made to terminate the emergency.
Transportation facilities are inadequate, and use of a motor vehicle is necessary in the transportation to and from the employment of the applicant and the applicant's income from such employment is essential in the support of the family, or where the applicant's operation of a motor vehicle is essential to an enterprise from which an appreciable portion of the income of the family will be derived. The application shall be accompanied by a signed statement from the parents or the guardian, setting forth the reasons a permit is necessary under this subsection.
(b) The existence of public transportation at reasonable intervals within one mile of the residence of the applicant may be considered adequate grounds for refusal of a junior permit.
(c) The department shall impose restrictions upon junior permits appropriate to the conditions and area under which they are intended to be used.
§ 12514. Junior permits; Duration; Revocation
(a) Junior permits issued pursuant to Section 12513 shall not be valid for a period exceeding that established on the original request as the approximate date the minor's operation of a vehicle will no longer be necessary. In any event, no permit shall be valid on or after the 18th birthday of the applicant.
(b) The department may revoke any permit when to do so is necessary for the welfare of the minor or in the interests of safety.
(c) If conditions or location of residence, which required the minor's operation of a vehicle, change prior to expiration of the permit, the department may cancel the permit.
(d) Upon a determination that the permittee has operated a vehicle in violation of restrictions, the department shall revoke the permit.
(e) A junior permit is a form of driver's license that shall include all information required by subdivision (a) of Section 12811 except for an engraved picture or photograph of the permittee, and is subject to all provisions of this code applying to driver's licenses, except as otherwise provided in this section and Section 12513.
(f) An instruction permit valid for a period of not more than six months may be issued after eligibility has been established under Section 12513.
(g) The department shall cancel any permit six months from the date of issuance unless the permittee has complied with one of the conditions prescribed by paragraph (3) of subdivision (a) of Section 12814.6.
