Politics & Government

Series of New Driving Laws Take Effect

Among the new laws on the books Oct. 1, 2013: anyone convicted of distracted driving will get a point on their license and boat owners who owe property taxes on their vessels won't be able to register them.

By Ronald DeRosa

A series of new motor vehicle laws will go into effect today, Tuesday, Oct. 1, including a penalty of one point on the driver’s license of anyone convicted of distracted driving.

The General Assembly passed the new DMV laws in the last session, and the new rules cover a wide range of topics including penalties, driving tests and registrations.

“These are important for DMV customers and citizens to know, and many help to increase safety awareness,” said DMV Commissioner Melody A. Currey.

Here are the new laws that go into effect Oct. 1:

Registrations

  • Electric vehicle registrations changed from annual to biennial.
  • Snowmobile and All-Terrain Vehicle registrations are changed from March 31 to two years from the registration date.

Driver Testing

  • A highway work zone safety and driver responsibility question must be on every knowledge test.
  • A question about the dangers of distracted driving, including ban on use of cell phones and electronic devices, must be on every knowledge test.

Property Tax

  • Owners of ATVs and boats will be prohibited from registering them if they owe property tax on a motor vehicle.

License Points – Operator Re-Training – Disqualification

  • One point will go on the driver license record of anyone convicted of distracted driving. Fines also will be increased.
  • DMV will change its policy so that two points are assessed on the driving record for convictions of violations of highway work zone safety laws. Fines also will be increased.
  • Drivers convicted of going in excess of 75 mph in a work zone and commercial drivers convicted of exceeding 65 mph will be required to attend the operator retraining program. Fines will also be increased.
  • For commercial driver license holders, the definition of “serious violation” will now include talking on a cell phone while operating a commercial vehicle and can lead to disqualification of the license. (Texting is already prohibited).

Driving Schools

  • Driver education classroom information must now include highway work zone safety and driver responsibilities
  • Driving schools can increase from $125 to $150 the cost for the required eight-hour road safe-driving practices information session all license applicants must attend.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here