New Driving Laws: Effective Oct., 1, 2013

There are a few new DMV laws that were passed by the General Assembly in the last session. DMV Commissioner Melody A. Currey states,  “These are important for DMV customers and citizens to know, and may help to increase safety awareness".  We always want to keep you up to date with any new changes.

Here are the new laws that went 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.

For all your Auto Insurance needs give Penny Hanley & Howley Insurance a call at 860-684-2721.