§407. Applications of minors; revocation; applications of persons less than twenty-one years of age

            A.(1) The application of any minor applying for operating privileges shall not be granted, unless it is signed by either the father or mother of the applicant, who has legal custody of the applicant, otherwise, by the tutor or other person having custody of him. However, only the domiciliary parent may sign if joint custody has been awarded. A license issued to a minor shall be issued upon compliance with the other provisions of this Chapter.

            (2)(a) Upon completion of a driver's education course approved by the Department of Public Safety and Corrections, public safety services, and upon passing a visual examination and a road knowledge test, including rules of the road, signs, and signals, sharing the road with motorcycles and tractor/trailer trucks, knowledge of distracted driving issues, knowledge of trailer safety, knowledge of appropriate driver conduct when stopped by a law enforcement officer, knowledge of accessible parking and access aisles, and not less than two questions relative to railroad and highway grade railroad safety, an applicant at least fifteen years of age, but less than seventeen years of age, applying for the first time may be issued a Class "E" learner's license. The license may be issued for a four-year period at the same fee as a Class "E" driver's license and must be maintained for at least one hundred eighty days, unless prior to such time the driver reaches seventeen years of age, prior to being converted to a Class "E" intermediate driver's license. The Class "E" learner's license shall authorize the holder to drive while being accompanied by a licensed parent, guardian, adult at least age twenty-one or older, or licensed sibling at least age eighteen or older.

            (b) Any applicant at least sixteen years of age, but less than seventeen years of age, moving into Louisiana from another state shall be eligible for the issuance of a Class "E" intermediate driver's license provided such applicant meets all other requirements for licensure in Louisiana and furnishes the department with proof of successful completion of an equivalent driver's education course and proof of issuance of a learner's license for a minimum of one hundred eighty days, unless prior to such time the driver reaches seventeen years of age, from the state of previous residence.

            (3) The Class "E" learner's license may be converted to a Class "E" intermediate license upon the applicant being at least sixteen years of age and meeting the following conditions:

            (a) The applicant's parent or legal guardian shall provide a signed statement to the department attesting that the applicant has completed a minimum of fifty hours of supervised driving practice with a licensed parent, guardian, or adult at least age twenty-one or older. At least fifteen of these hours must be nighttime driving.

            (b) The applicant shall pass an on-road driving skills test. An applicant may satisfy this requirement by one of the following means:

            (i) The applicant passes the test administered by an employee of the department.

            (ii) The applicant provides a certificate to the department from an agent or properly licensed and contracted third-party tester as provided in this Chapter.

            (c) The applicant shall have held the Class "E" learner's license for at least one hundred eighty days if he is not seventeen years of age while remaining accident free, except where the licensee was not at fault, and receiving no convictions for moving violations or violations of the seat belt or curfew laws of this state or any law pertaining to drug or alcohol use, to which the applicant's parent or legal guardian shall attest by providing a signed statement to the department.

            (4) The intermediate license shall restrict those under the age of seventeen from driving between 11:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. unless otherwise accompanied by a licensed parent or guardian, a licensed adult at least twenty-one years of age, or a licensed sibling at least eighteen years of age. In addition to a licensed parent, sibling, or guardian, there may be other members of the licensee's immediate family in the vehicle. Unless accompanied by a licensed parent, guardian, or adult at least age twenty-one or older, an intermediate licensee may not between the hours of 6:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. transport more than one passenger that is under twenty-one years of age and not a member of the intermediate licensee's immediate family. When the intermediate licensee is accompanied by a driver's education instructor, there may be one or more fellow driver's education students in the vehicle. The intermediate licensee shall not place the vehicle in motion until every occupant of the vehicle has been restrained by a properly fastened seat belt or other occupant restraint system unless such person is not required to be restrained pursuant to R.S. 32:295.1.

            (5) Upon completing the Class "E" intermediate licensing stage, and upon demonstrating that the licensee has remained accident free, except in cases where the licensee was not at fault, has received no convictions for moving violations, and has received no convictions for violations of the seat belt or curfew laws of this state or any laws pertaining to drug or alcohol use for twelve consecutive months after being issued his intermediate license, an applicant may be issued full Class "E" driving privileges.

            (6) The department may establish rules and regulations to extend the term of the intermediate license if an applicant's license has been suspended, the applicant has been placed on probation by a court due to a driving violation, or the applicant has violated any of the provisions of Paragraph (5) of this Subsection. The term of the extension of the intermediate license shall be for no less than thirty days nor more than one hundred eighty days from the end of any suspension or probation period, or from the date he would otherwise have been eligible to apply for a Class "E" permanent license in the case of a violation of Paragraph (5) of this Subsection. The applicant shall attend and successfully complete either an approved driver education course or prelicensing training course established under contract or license with the Department of Public Safety and Corrections, public safety services, regardless of any prior completion of such course, as a condition of reinstatement of the license suspended pursuant to this Paragraph. The licensee shall have the right to an administrative hearing to appeal the determination of the department to extend the applicant's intermediate license. The provisions of this Paragraph shall apply to any licensee who has not attained the age of eighteen.

            B. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, the department may deny the application or revoke the license of a minor upon the forwarding of a written request to the department by the parent, tutor, or other person having legal custody who has not signed the application for a license.

            C. The department may promulgate rules and regulations for the enforcement and administration of this Section.

            D. Beginning January 1, 2000, and thereafter, licenses issued pursuant to this Section to applicants less than twenty-one years of age shall contain a highly visible distinctive color to clearly indicate that the license has been issued to an applicant less than twenty-one years of age. The Department of Public Safety and Corrections, office of motor vehicles, shall promulgate rules and regulations no later than December 1, 1999, in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act to implement the provisions of this Section, including but not limited to the choice of color and placement on the license.

            E. Repealed by Acts 2010, No. 1039, §2, eff. Jan. 1, 2011.

            F. Any person under eighteen years of age shall be subject to the requirements of R.S. 32:431.1.

            G. In accordance with R.S. 9:2618, the department may develop a web-based application by which a minor's parent or legal guardian has the option to provide an electronic signature for all approvals, consents, or attestations required in connection with the application of a minor for any credential authorized in this Chapter which allows the operation of a motor vehicle. The provisions of this Subsection shall not apply to a first or initial issuance of any license or permit under this Chapter. The first-time or initial issuance shall be an in-person transaction.

            Amended by Acts 1976, No. 48, §1; Acts 1982, No. 64, §1; Acts 1984, No. 457, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1985; Acts 1986, No. 95, §1; Acts 1986, No. 558, §1; Acts 1989, No. 293, §1, eff. June 27, 1989; Acts 1989, No. 641, §1; Acts 1990, No. 962, §1, eff. July 25, 1990; Acts 1992, No. 382, §1, eff. July 1, 1993; Acts 1993, No. 382, §1, eff. July 1, 1993; Acts 1997, No. 725, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1998; Acts 1998, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 80, §2; Acts 1999, No. 434, §1, eff. June 18, 1999; Acts 1999, No. 556, §1; Acts 1999, No. 1095, §1; Acts 2001, No. 427, §1; Acts 2001, No. 945, §1; Acts 2003, No. 732, §2, eff. Jan. 1, 2004; Acts 2004, No. 216, §2; Acts 2004, No. 600, §1; Acts 2008, No. 688, §2, eff. June 1, 2009; Acts 2008, No. 768, §2, eff. Jan. 1, 2009; Acts 2009, No. 224, §6; Acts 2010, No. 1039, §§1, 2, eff. Jan. 1, 2011; Acts 2011, No. 294, §2; Acts 2011, No. 307, §1; Acts 2013, No. 62, §1; Acts 2016, No. 336, §1; Acts 2017, No. 286, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2018; Acts 2019, No. 327, §1; Acts 2020, No. 223, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2021; Acts 2023, No. 176, §1, eff. June 7, 2023.

NOTE: See Acts 2004, No. 600, §2, relative to application.