| The State of Maryland treats a driver's license as a | | | | eligible for a full license. Even one moving violation |
| privilege, not a right. While the state of Maryland | | | | means that the 18-month clock will restart on your |
| encourages all new drivers to practice driving, your | | | | provisional license. MD TRANS § 16-111(d)(1). |
| conduct as a driver can put your driving privilege in | | | | Parents and new drivers may come up with additional |
| jeopardy. Maryland provides for a graduated licensing | | | | agreements about teen driving privileges. Parents have |
| system so that young drivers can practice driving in a | | | | to co-sign for a license application, and parents can file |
| safe environment, and earn greater privileges as they | | | | a written request to suspend the license, if necessary. |
| gain more experience. | | | | MD TRANS § 16-108. |
| In Maryland, you can obtain a learner's permit at age 15 | | | | If you have completed all the conditions necessary, |
| years, 9 months. MD TRANS § 16-103(c)(1). This is | | | | and have held a provisional license without incident for |
| your first step to obtaining a license. Once you obtain | | | | at least 18 months, you can apply for a full license |
| your learner's permit, you must practice driving, including | | | | once you are 17 years, 9 months old. MD TRANS |
| driving at night, while under the supervision of a | | | | § 16-103(c)(3). |
| licensed driver. MD TRANS § 16-105(b)(1). The | | | | New Drivers and Drunken Driving Violations |
| state of Maryland requires that you log at least 60 | | | | Whether you are a teen driver or an adult, a Maryland |
| hours of practice driving accompanied by a licensed | | | | police officer can pull you over if he or she suspects |
| adult, who is at least 21 years old. At least 10 practice | | | | that you are driving under the influence of alcohol or |
| hours must occur between dusk and dawn. MD | | | | drugs. But if you are a teen driver, the consequences |
| TRANS § 16-105(d)(2)(ii). | | | | can be more severe. The Maryland Motor Vehicle |
| You must hold a learner's permit for at least six | | | | Administration imposes an alcohol restriction on the |
| months, and must be at least 16 years, 3 months old | | | | license of every driver under the age of 21. MD |
| before you can obtain a provisional license. MD | | | | TRANS § 16-113(b)(1). Therefore, a driver who is |
| TRANS § 16-103(c)(2). You must also show | | | | under 21 years old faces license suspension, fines and |
| through a certified log that you have completed the 60 | | | | other criminal penalties if his or her blood alcohol |
| hours of practice driving with a licensed adult. MD | | | | content (BAC) measures .02 or greater. If a driver is |
| TRANS § 16-105(d)(2)(iii). At this point, you can | | | | convicted of driving while impaired or driving while |
| apply for a provisional license. | | | | intoxicated, the driver's motor vehicle insurance will in all |
| Once you obtain a provisional license, you can legally | | | | probability be terminated. |
| drive, but you are subject to several conditions. | | | | In fact, a driver who is under 21 and who is convicted |
| Unfortunately, you cannot drive with friends in your | | | | of driving while impaired or driving while intoxicated |
| vehicle for at least the first six months that you hold | | | | could be required to participate in the Ignition Interlock |
| your provisional license. You can only drive with family | | | | System Program for up to three years to retain a |
| members, such as a parent, brother or sister or | | | | driver's license. MD TRANS § 16-113(b)(4). The |
| stepsibling. You cannot use a wireless communication | | | | Ignition Interlock System Program requires that the |
| device, such as a cell phone, while driving while you | | | | convicted driver install a device in the vehicle that he or |
| have a provisional license. You may also not drive | | | | she will use. The driver must blow into the device to |
| between the hours of midnight and 5 a.m. unless | | | | test for breath alcohol content. If the BAC is above a |
| accompanied by a licensed driver who is at least 21 | | | | certain limit, the vehicle will not start. These devices |
| years old or while driving to or from a work, school, | | | | can be costly to use, on top of other fines that the |
| volunteer or athletic activity. MD TRANS § | | | | state of Maryland will impose. |
| 16-113(d)(2),(3). | | | | New drivers who consume alcohol while driving risk |
| If you violate these conditions, or others, such as | | | | jeopardizing their driving privileges. For the safety of |
| committing a moving violation or a criminal offense, | | | | other drivers and passengers on the roads and for |
| your provisional license could be suspended. | | | | their own safety, new drivers should think before |
| Additionally, you must hold your provisional license for | | | | drinking. |
| at least 18 consecutive months before you will be | | | | |