Provides a waiver from the driving skills test for a driver's license for active duty and recently discharged military personnel

BILL NUMBER:S6823

Title of bill

An act to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to providing a waiver from the driving skills test for a driver's license for active duty and recently discharged military personnel

Purpose or general idea of bill

To allow for active duty and recently discharged military personnel to receive a waiver of the driving skills tests required to get driver's licenses if they demonstrated the driving skills necessary to pass such a test through their military service.

Summary of specific provisions

Section 1. Amends subdivision 4 of section 502 of the vehicle and traffic law to include a new paragraph (i) which provides that the Commissioner of the Department of Motor Vehicles shall promulgate regulations to provide for a waiver of any driving skills test required pursuant to subparagraph (ii) of paragraph (a) for any person who has demonstrated the skills required to pass such a lest through their service in U.S. Military or New York National Guard and is currently in service or was honorably discharged within one year of requesting such waiver.

Section 2. Effective date.

Justification

Active duty military personnel, and veterans who have recently been honorably discharged, very often need to acquire driver's licenses, especially commercial drivers licenses, to obtain employment. This would allow such active duty military personnel and recently discharged veterans who have demonstrated their driving skills through their service to receive a waiver of the driving skills tests required to receive a license. Currently, a waiver is available only within 90 days of being discharged. this would allow for the waiver within one year of being honorably discharged.

Legislative history

New Bill.

Fiscal implications

None.

Effective date

This act shall take effect immediately.