SENATE
HOUSE
JOINT
BILL STATUS
STATE LAW
REPORTS
EDUCATIONAL
CONTACT
home
home
Introduced Version Senate Bill 289 History

   |  Email
Key: Green = existing Code. Red = new code to be enacted

Senate Bill No. 289

(By Senators Bailey and Love)

____________

[Introduced January 22, 2008; referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure; and then to the Committee on the Judiciary.]

____________



A BILL to amend and reenact §17B-2-7 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to driver's license examinations.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That §17B-2-7 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, be amended and reenacted to read as follows:
ARTICLE 2. ISSUANCE OF LICENSE, EXPIRATION AND RENEWAL.

17B-2-7. Examination of applicants.
(a) Upon the presentment of the applicant's birth certificate, or a certified copy of the birth certificate issued by a state or other governmental entity responsible for vital records, as evidence that the applicant is of lawful age and verifiable identity, the Division of Motor Vehicles shall examine every applicant for a license to operate a motor vehicle in this state, except as otherwise provided in this section. The examination shall only be administered in the English language and will include a test of the applicant's eyesight, the applicant's ability to read and understand highway signs regulating, warning, and directing traffic, the applicant's knowledge of the traffic laws of this state, and the applicant's knowledge of the effects of alcohol upon persons and the dangers of driving a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol. The examination shall also include an actual demonstration of ability to exercise ordinary and reasonable control in the operation of a motor vehicle, and any further physical and mental examination as the Division of Motor Vehicles considers necessary to determine the applicant's fitness to operate a motor vehicle safely upon the highways.
(b) The commissioner shall propose legislative rules for promulgation in accordance with the provisions of article three, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code concerning the examination of applicants for licenses and the qualifications required of applicants, and the examination of applicants by the division shall be in accordance with the rules. The rules shall provide for the viewing of educational material or films on the medical, biological, and psychological effects of alcohol upon persons, the dangers of driving a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol and the criminal penalties and administrative sanctions for alcohol and drug related motor vehicle violations.
(c) After successful completion of the examination required by this section, section three-a, or section seven-b of this article, and prior to the issuance of a license pursuant to the provisions of section eight of this article, every applicant for a driver's license, junior driver's license, graduated driver's license, or motorcycle-only license shall attend a mandatory education class on the dangers and social consequences of driving a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol. To the extent practicable, the commissioner shall use as lecturers at those classes persons who can relate first-hand experiences as victims or family members of victims of alcohol-related accidents or drivers who have been involved in alcohol-related accidents which caused serious bodily injury or death.



NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to mandate that the driver's license examination in West Virginia be administered only in English.

Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from the present law, and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.
This Web site is maintained by the West Virginia Legislature's Office of Reference & Information.  |  Terms of Use  |   Email WebmasterWebmaster   |   © 2024 West Virginia Legislature **


X

Print On Demand

Name:
Email:
Phone:

Print