Learner permit – Intermediate license – Fees – Restrictions – Penalties – Application – Parental notification

(a) (A) For the purposes of commercial driver licenses, a state of the United States and the District of Columbia. See Tennessee Code 55-50-102Vehicle: means every device in, upon, or by which any person or property is or may be transported or drawn upon a public highway, excepting devices moved by human power or used exclusively upon stationary rails or tracks. See Tennessee Code 55-50-102Violation: means a conviction except as otherwise provided in §. See Tennessee Code 55-50-102written: includes printing, typewriting, engraving, lithography, and any other mode of representing words and letters. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105Year: means a calendar year, unless otherwise expressed. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105(1) Any person who is fifteen (15) years of age or older, who has successfully passed the standard written test and visual examination for applicants of a state automotive license, and who has the written approval of the person’s parent or legal guardian may be issued a learner permit by the department of safety. A learner permit shall allow the person to operate a motor vehicle whenever the person is accompanied by a person who is at least twenty-one (21) years of age and is licensed to operate a motor vehicle. A person with a learner permit shall not operate a motor vehicle from ten o’clock p.m. (10:00 p.m.) to six o’clock a.m. (6:00 a.m.). (2) In addition to any other fees authorized by this chapter for the issuance of a learner permit, any person issued a learner permit under this section shall pay a five-dollar learner permit fee. (b) (1) A person may be issued an intermediate driver license if the person is sixteen (16) years of age or older and has: (A) Passed a driver license examination pursuant to § 55-50-322; (B) Had a learner permit pursuant to subsection (a), or its equivalent from another state, for not less than one hundred eighty (180) days; (C) Not accumulated six (6) or more points pursuant to the driver improvement program established in § 55-50-505 during the one-hundred-eighty day period immediately preceding application; (D) Presented certification by a parent, legal guardian or licensed instructor that the person has accumulated a minimum of fifty (50) hours of behind-the-wheel driving experience, including a minimum of ten (10) hours driving experience at night; and (E) Successfully demonstrated the person’s ability to exercise ordinary and reasonable control in the operation of an automobile. (2) Notwithstanding subdivision (b)(1), a person may be issued an intermediate driver license if the person is sixteen (16) years of age or older and has been licensed to drive in another state for at least ninety (90) days. (3) In addition to any other fees authorized by this chapter for the issuance of an intermediate driver license, any person issued an intermediate driver license under this section shall pay a five-dollar intermediate driver license fee. (c) (1) The intermediate driver license issued pursuant to this section shall be a regular Class D license; provided, that the word “INTERMEDIATE” is prominently printed thereon. (2) Except as otherwise provided by this section, a driver may apply for an unrestricted driver license one (1) year after receiving an intermediate driver license. All restrictions on vehicle operation pursuant to subsection (e) shall remain in full effect until the time successful application is made to the department for an unrestricted driver license. Upon successful application, the department shall have in place a procedure noting that the intermediate restrictions have been removed. (3) Upon attaining eighteen (18) years of age, any licensee may obtain a license without the word “INTERMEDIATE” as required in subdivision (c)(1) by paying the fee for a duplicate license. However, no person shall be required to obtain the duplicate license, until the license expires. (d) The department shall promulgate certificates to be completed by a driver with a valid unrestricted driver license pursuant to subdivision (b)(1)(D). For the purposes of issuing an intermediate driver license, the department shall only accept certificates promulgated by the department for this purpose. (e) (1) A person issued an intermediate driver license shall not operate a motor vehicle from eleven o’clock p.m. (11:00 p.m.) to six o’clock a.m. (6:00 a.m.) unless: (A) Accompanied by a parent or legal guardian; (B) Accompanied by a licensed driver twenty-one (21) years of age or older, designated by the parent or legal guardian; (C) Driving to or from scheduled specifically-identified school-sponsored activities and events, if the driver has in the driver’s possession written permission from the driver’s parent or legal guardian authorizing the driver to go to or from the specifically-identified scheduled school-sponsored activities and events; (D) Driving to or from full, or part-time employment, if the driver possesses written permission from the driver’s parent or legal guardian identifying