As Amended by Senate Committee
         

          Session of 1998
                   
SENATE BILL No. 417
         
By Committee on Transportation and Tourism
         
1-13
          10             AN ACT relating to drivers' licenses; concerning certain restrictions;
11             amending K.S.A. 1997 Supp. 8-237, 8-239 and 8-296 and repealing the
12             existing sections.
13            
14       Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Kansas:
15           New Section 1. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this act, any
16       person who   is at least 16 years of age and holds held a valid restricted
17       class C or class M driver's license, instruction permit, restricted in-
18       struction permit or farm permit on the effective date of this act may
19       continue to operate motor vehicles subject to the same conditions, limi-
20       tations and restrictions as contained in   (tri-stars)e law K.S.A. 8-237, 8-239 and
21       8-296, and amendments thereto, as in effect on June 30, 1998.
22           Sec. 2. K.S.A. 1997 Supp. 8-237 is hereby amended to read as fol-
23       lows: 8-237. The division of vehicles shall not issue any driver's license to
24       any person:
25           (a) Who is under the age of   16   17 16 years, except that the division
26       may issue a restricted class C or M license, as provided in this act, to any
27       person who: (1) Is at least 15 years of age; (2) has successfully completed
28       an approved course in driver training; (3) a signed affidavit of either a
29       parent or guardian, stating that the applicant has completed at least   50
30       20 hours of actual driving with at least 10 of those hours being at night;
31       and   (3) (4) upon the written application of the person's parent or guard-
32       ian. Except as hereafter provided, the application of the parent or guard-
33       ian shall be submitted to the division. The governing body of any city, by
34       ordinance, may require the application of any person who is under 16
35       years of age and who resides within the city to be first submitted to the
36       chief law enforcement officer of the city. The board of county commis-
37       sioners of any county, by resolution, may require the application of any
38       person who is under 16 years of age and who resides within the county
39       and outside the corporate limits of any city to be first submitted to the
40       chief law enforcement officer of the county. No ordinance or resolution
41       authorized by this subsection shall become effective until a copy of it is
42       transmitted to the division of vehicles. The chief law enforcement officer
43       of any city or county which has adopted the ordinance or resolution au-

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  1       thorized by this subsection shall make a recommendation on the appli-
  2       cation as to the necessity for the issuance of the restricted license, and
  3       the recommendation shall be transmitted, with the application, to the
  4       division of vehicles. If the division finds that it is necessary to issue the
  5       restricted license, it shall issue a driver's license to the person.
  6           A restricted class C license issued under this subsection shall entitle
  7       the licensee, while possessing the license, to operate any motor vehicle
  8       in class C, as designated in K.S.A. 8-234b, and amendments thereto. A
  9       restricted class M license shall entitle the licensee, while possessing such
10       license, to operate a motorcycle. The restricted license shall entitle the
11       licensee to operate the appropriate vehicle   at any time at any time:
12             (1)   Between the hours of 5 a.m. and 12 o'clock midnight:
13           (A) (1) While going to or from or in connection with any job, em-
14       ployment or farm-related work;   (2)   or
15           (B) (2) on days while school is in session, over the most direct and
16       accessible route between the licensee's residence and school of enroll-
17       ment for the purposes of school attendance;   (3)
18             (2) (3) when the licensee is operating a passenger car, at any time
19       when accompanied by an adult who is   (tri-stars)e   at least 21 years of age and is
20       a the holder of a valid commercial driver's license, class A, B or C driver's
21       license and who is actually occupying a seat beside the driver; or   (4)
22             (3) (4) when the licensee is operating a motorcycle, at any time when
23       accompanied by an adult who is   (tri-stars)e   at least 21 years of age and is a the
24       holder of a valid class M driver's license and who is operating a motorcycle
25       in the general proximity of the licensee.
26           Any licensee issued a restricted license under this subsection shall not
27       operate any motor vehicle with nonsibling minor passengers and any
28       conviction for violating this provision shall be construed as a mov-
29       ing traffic violation for the purpose of K.S.A. 8-255, and amend-
30       ments thereto.
31           A restricted driver's license issued under this subsection is subject to
32       suspension or revocation in the same manner as any other driver's license.
33       In addition, the division may suspend the restricted driver's license upon
34       receiving satisfactory evidence that: (1) The licensee has violated the re-
35       striction of the license, (2) the licensee has been involved in two or more
36       accidents chargeable to the licensee; or (3) the recommendation of the
37       chief law enforcement officer of any city or county requiring the rec-
38       ommendation has been withdrawn. The suspended license shall not be
39       reinstated for one year or until the licensee reaches the age of   16   17 16,
40       whichever period is longer.
41           Any licensee issued a restricted license under this subsection who is
42       under the age of   17 16 years and is convicted of two or more traffic
43       violations committed on separate occasions shall not be eligible to receive

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  1       a driver's license which is not restricted in accordance with the provisions
  2       of this subsection until the person reaches   18 17 years of age.
  3           (b) Who is under the age of 18 years, except as provided in K.S.A.
  4       1997 Supp. 8-2,147, and amendments thereto, for the purpose of driving
  5       a commercial or class A or B motor vehicle.
  6           (c) Whose license is currently revoked, suspended or canceled in this
  7       or any other state, except as provided in K.S.A. 8-256, and amendments
  8       thereto.
  9           (d) Who is a habitual drunkard, habitual user of narcotic drugs or
10       habitual user of any other drug to a degree which renders the user in-
11       capable of safely driving a motor vehicle.
12           (e) Who has previously been adjudged to be afflicted with or suffering
13       from any mental disability or disease and who, at the time of making
14       application for a driver's license, has not been restored to capacity in the
15       manner provided by law. Application of this limitation to any person
16       known to have suffered any seizure disorder is subject to the provisions
17       of paragraph (7) of subsection (e) of K.S.A. 8-247, and amendments
18       thereto.
19           (f) Who is required by the motor vehicle drivers' license act to take
20       an examination, unless the person has successfully passed the examina-
21       tion.
22           (g) Who is at least   16   17 16 years of age and less than   17   18 17 years
23       of age, who is applying for a driver's license for the first time since reach-
24       ing   16   17 16 years of age and who, three times or more, has been ad-
25       judged to be a traffic offender under the Kansas juvenile code or a ju-
26       venile offender under the Kansas juvenile justice code, by reason of
27       violation of one or more statutes regulating the movement of traffic on
28       the roads, streets or highways of this state, except that, in the discretion
29       of the director, the person may be issued a driver's license which is re-
30       stricted in the manner the division deems to be appropriate. No person
31       described by this subsection shall be eligible to receive a driver's license
32       which is not restricted until the person has reached the age of   17   18 17
33       years.
34           Sec. 3. K.S.A. 1997 Supp. 8-239 is hereby amended to read as fol-
35       lows: 8-239. (a) Any person who is at least 14 years of age may apply to
36       the division for an instruction permit. The division may in its discretion,
37       after the applicant has successfully passed all parts of the examination
38       other than the driving test, issue to the applicant an instruction permit
39       which shall entitle the applicant while having such permit in such person's
40       immediate possession to drive a passenger car upon the public highways
41       for a period of one year subject to the restrictions herein contained. The
42       division may issue an instruction or restricted instruction permit to any
43       person who is at least 14 years of age and under the age of   16   17 16 years

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  1       only upon the written application of a parent or guardian of the minor.
  2       The one having the instruction permit may operate a passenger car at any
  3       time when accompanied by an adult who is   (tri-stars)e   at least 21 years of age,
  4       is a the holder of a valid commercial driver's license, class A, B or C
  5       driver's license, who has had at least one year of driving experience and
  6       who is occupying a seat beside the driver. Any person who is at least 14
  7       years of age may apply for an instruction permit to operate a motorcycle
  8       either separate from or in conjunction with an instruction permit to op-
  9       erate a passenger car, and such permit shall entitle the permittee to op-
10       erate a motorcycle if such person is accompanied by an adult who is   (tri-stars)e
11         at least 21 years of age, is a the holder of a valid class M driver's license,
12       who has had at least one year of driving experience and who is riding a
13       motorcycle in the general proximity of the permittee.
14           (b) The division upon receiving proper application may issue in its
15       discretion a restricted instruction permit effective for a school year or for
16       a more restricted period to an applicant who is at least 14 years of age
17       and who is enrolled in a driver-education program which includes practice
18       driving and which is approved by the division, even though the applicant
19       has not reached the legal age to be eligible for a driver's license. Such
20       instruction permit shall entitle the permittee when the person has such
21       permit in such person's immediate possession to operate a passenger car
22       only on a designated highway or within a designated area but only when
23       an approved instructor is occupying a seat beside the permittee or when
24       such permit has been endorsed by an approved instructor to operate a
25       passenger car with a parent or guardian who is the holder of a valid
26       commercial driver's license, class A, B or C driver's license, who has had
27       at least one year of driving experience and who is occupying a seat beside
28       the driver.
29           (c) The division, in its discretion, may issue a temporary driver's per-
30       mit to an applicant for a classified driver's license permitting the applicant
31       to operate a motor vehicle within such classification while the division is
32       completing its investigation and determination of all facts relative to such
33       applicant's right to receive a driver's license. The division may issue such
34       a temporary driver's permit to any applicant whose employer certifies
35       that such permit is necessary to complete seasonal agricultural operations
36       of the employer. Any such temporary driver's permit issued pursuant to
37       this subsection shall be in the immediate possession of the permittee
38       while operating a motor vehicle, and it shall be invalid on the date spec-
39       ified thereon, which shall not be more than 15 days after its issuance, or
40       when the applicant's license has been issued or for good cause has been
41       refused.
42           Sec. 4. K.S.A. 1997 Supp. 8-296 is hereby amended to read as fol-
43       lows: 8-296. (a) Any person who is less than   16   17 16 years of age but is

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  1       at least 14 years of age and who resides upon a farm in this state or is
  2       employed for compensation upon a farm in this state may apply to the
  3       division of vehicles for a farm permit authorizing such person, while pos-
  4       sessing the permit, to operate any motor vehicle in class C, as designated
  5       in K.S.A. 8-234b, and amendments thereto. The farm permit shall entitle
  6       the licensee to operate such motor vehicles   at any time at any time:
  7             (1) Between the hours of 5 a.m. and 12 o'clock midnight:
  8             (1)   (A) (1) While going to or from or in connection with any farm
  9       job, employment or other farm-related work;   or
10             (2)   (B) (2) on days while school is in session, over the most direct
11       and accessible route between the licensee's residence and school of en-
12       rollment for the purpose of school attendance; or
13             (3)   (2) (3) when the licensee is operating a passenger car at any time
14       when accompanied by an adult who is   (tri-stars)e   at least 21 years of age, is a
15       the holder of a valid commercial driver's license, class A, B or C driver's
16       license and who is actually occupying a seat beside the driver.
17           (b) A farm permit shall be issued only if:
18           (1) The applicant can prove that such applicant resides or works on
19       a farm;
20           (2) the applicant has successfully completed the examination require-
21       ments in K.S.A. 8-235d, and amendments thereto; and   and
22           (3) the applicant submits the signed affidavit of either a parent or
23       guardian, stating that the applicant lives on a farm or, if the applicant
24       does not live on a farm but works on a farm, the applicant submits the
25       signed affidavit of the applicant's employer and parent or guardian, at-
26       testing to such employment  .  ; and 
27           (4) a signed affidavit of either a parent or guardian, stating that the
28       applicant has completed at least 50 hours of actual driving with at least
29       10 of those hours being at night.
30           (c) Any licensee issued a farm permit under this section shall not
31       operate any motor vehicle with nonsibling minor passengers and any
32       conviction for violating this provision shall be construed as a mov-
33       ing traffic violation for the purpose of K.S.A. 8-255, and amend-
34       ments thereto.
35           (d) As used in this section, ``farm'' means any parcel of land larger
36       than 20 acres which is used in agricultural operations.
37           (e) A farm permit issued under this section is subject to suspension
38       or revocation in the same manner as any other driver's license. A person
39       who has been issued a farm permit and who violates this section by driving
40       beyond the scope allowed in subsection (a) shall lose the farm permit and
41       shall be issued no other driver's license for a period of one year or until
42       the person reaches   16   17 16 years of age, whichever period is longer.
43           (f) Any licensee issued a farm permit under this section who is under

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  1       the age of   17 16 years and is convicted of two or more moving traffic
  2       violations committed on separate occasions shall not be eligible to receive
  3       a driver's license which is not restricted in accordance with the provisions
  4       of subsection (a), until the person reaches   18 17 years of age.
  5           Sec. 5. K.S.A. 1997 Supp. 8-237, 8-239 and 8-296 are hereby re-
  6       pealed.
  7           Sec. 6. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its
  8       publication in the statute book.
  9