§ 47-6-107. Restricted licenses for unemancipated persons under 18 - Signature of legal parent or guardian - Liability - Financial responsibility - Cancellation or suspension.
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A. In addition to the requirements of Section 6-106 of this title, the application of any unemancipated person under the age of eighteen (18) years for a restricted license shall be signed and verified by the legal custodial parent or legal guardian of the applicant before a person authorized to administer oaths. The signature of the legal custodial parent or legal guardian shall be evidence that the legal custodial parent or legal guardian is willing to assume the obligation imposed under this act upon a person signing the application of a person under the age of eighteen (18) years. Provided, however, any unemancipated person under the age of eighteen (18) years who is in the permanent custody of the Department of Human Services, upon proof of financial responsibility in respect to the operation of a motor vehicle owned by him or her or if not the owner of a motor vehicle then with respect to the operation of any motor vehicle, in form and in amounts as required under the motor vehicle financial responsibility laws of this state, shall not be required to have his or her application for restricted license signed or verified by another person.
B. Any negligence or willful misconduct of a person under the age of eighteen (18) years when driving a motor vehicle upon a highway with the knowledge and consent of the person who signed the application for the restricted license shall be imputed to the person who has signed the application. Such person shall be jointly and severally liable with the minor for any damages caused by such negligence or willful misconduct, except as otherwise provided in subsection C of this section.
C. In the event a person under the age of eighteen (18) years deposits, or there is deposited upon his or her behalf, proof of financial responsibility in respect to the operation of a motor vehicle owned by him or her or if not the owner of a motor vehicle then with respect to the operation of any motor vehicle, in form and in amounts as required under the motor vehicle financial responsibility laws of this state, then the Department may accept the application of such person when signed by the legal custodial parent or the legal guardian of such person, and while such proof is maintained the legal custodial parent or legal guardian shall not be subject to the liability imposed under subsection B of this section.
D. The Department may, at its discretion, cancel or suspend the license of any person under the age of eighteen (18) years for any unlawful act, negligence or misconduct while driving a motor vehicle.
E. As provided in Section 6-103.1 of this title, any legal custodial parent or legal guardian who has signed the application of a person under the age of eighteen (18) years for a license may thereafter file with the Department of Public Safety a verified written request that the license of that person so granted be canceled. The Department shall then cancel the license of the person and the legal custodial parent or legal guardian who signed the application of the person shall be relieved from the liability imposed under this act by reason of having signed the application on account of any subsequent negligence or willful misconduct of the person in operating a motor vehicle.
F. The Department of Public Safety upon receipt of satisfactory evidence of the death of the legal custodial parent or legal guardian who signed the application of a person under the age of eighteen (18) years for a license shall cancel the license and shall not issue a new license until such time as a new application, duly signed and verified, is made as required by this chapter. This provision shall not apply in the event the person has attained the age of eighteen (18) years.
Added by Laws 1961, p. 343, § 6-107, eff. Sept. 1, 1961. Amended by Laws 1975, c. 343, § 1, emerg. eff. June 12, 1975; Laws 1978, c. 304, § 5; Laws 1979, c. 284, § 1, eff. July 1, 1979; Laws 1985, c. 45, § 5, eff. Jan. 1, 1986; Laws 1990, c. 219, § 15, eff. Jan. 1, 1991; Laws 2002, c. 397, § 16, eff. Nov. 1, 2002; Laws 2006, c. 311, § 11, emerg. eff. June 8, 2006; Laws 2008, c. 1, § 3.