My name is Kevin Johnson and I am a Massachusetts insurance agent.
I have 3 boys, ages: 9, 8 and 6. Two have driven go-carts, the other only as a passenger. None of them have their MA licenses.
I do, however, have 3 nephews that have got their MA licenses over the past 18 months.
All of them are insured with our Agency.
Not only do I feel bad for my brother and sister-in-law because of premiums and safety concerns, I also, selfishly, worry about loss ratios.
It’s important for new drivers to learn the rules of the road and how to drive, it’s also important for parents to understand the Massachusetts Junior Operator Law.
Per the RMV website:
“Obtaining your license is a milestone that is often marked by excitement and at times fear. Your parent or guardian may not have to drive you to the movies or your friends’ houses anymore, but you also have a set of rules to obey that are designed to ease your way into driving until you have gained the necessary behind the wheel experience that will make you a safe driver who is both aware and vigilant ….”
I can see my nephews’ eyes begin to cloud over.
MA JOL Highlights –
– No person holding a junior operator’s license shall operate a motor vehicle during the first 6 months of licensure while a person under 18 years of age, other than the operator or an immediate family member of the operator, is present in the vehicle unless also accompanied by another person, duly licensed by his state of residence, who is at least 21 years of age with at least 1 year of driving experience and who is occupying a seat beside the driver. A junior operator who violates this paragraph shall have his license suspended for 60 days for a first offense, for 180 days for a second offense and for 1 year for a third or subsequent offense. The suspension shall be imposed in addition to any other penalty, fine, suspension, revocation or requirement that may be imposed for such violation. A junior operator whose license is suspended for a second or subsequent violation of this paragraph shall not be eligible for license reinstatement until he also completes a program selected by the registrar that encourages attitudinal changes in young drivers who have committed a violation of the motor vehicle laws. The passenger restriction provided in this paragraph shall be tolled during any suspension or revocation of a person’s junior operator’s license. The registrar may exempt a junior operator from the passenger restriction if the junior operator is an emancipated minor.
– No person holding a junior operator’s license shall operate a motor vehicle between the hours of 12:30 a.m. and 5:00 a.m. unless accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. The holder of a junior operator’s license shall have the license in his possession at all times when operating a motor vehicle. A junior operator who violates the time restriction provided in this paragraph shall be deemed to be operating a motor vehicle without being duly licensed under this chapter. In addition to the penalty provided in section 10, the license of a junior operator deemed to be operating a motor vehicle without being duly licensed shall be suspended for 60 days for a first offense, for 180 days for a second offense and for 1 year for a third or subsequent offense; provided, however, that for such operation between the hours of 12:30 a.m. and 1:00 a.m. and between 4:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m., this paragraph shall be enforced by law enforcement agencies only when a junior operator has been lawfully stopped for a violation of the motor vehicles laws or for some other offense. A junior operator whose license is suspended for a second or subsequent violation of this paragraph shall not be eligible for license reinstatement until he also completes a program selected by the registrar that encourages attitudinal changes in young drivers who have committed a violation of the motor vehicle laws. The registrar may exempt a junior operator from the time restriction if the junior operator is an emancipated minor.
For more information regarding the MA Junior Operator License Laws please visit:
http://www.massrmv.com/rmv/jol/index.htm
