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D.C. Municipal Regulations (Last Updated: September 13, 2017) |
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Title 18. VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC |
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Chapter 18-1. ISSUANCE OF DRIVER LICENSES |
Section 18-104. EXAMINATION OF APPLICANTS FOR DRIVER'S LICENSES
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104.1The Director shall examine each applicant for a learner’s permit, a provisional permit, or driver’s license.
104.2The examination shall include a test of the applicant’s eyesight, ability to read and understand official traffic control devices, knowledge of safe driving practices, knowledge of the traffic and motor vehicle laws and regulations, knowledge of the motor vehicle insurance laws and regulations of the District, and any further physical or mental examination required by the Director to determine the applicant’s fitness to operate a motor vehicle safely.
104.3The examination for a driver’s license shall include an actual demonstration of ability to exercise ordinary and reasonable control in the operation of a motor vehicle of the type or general class for which the applicant desires a license, which shall be given in a congested portion of the District.
104.4No road test shall be given by the Department unless a device is easily accessible by the examiner seated in the passenger seat that enables the examiner to take control of the vehicle in an emergency. Such device may include, but is not limited to, a handbrake located between the driver seat and the passenger seat or a second steering wheel and/or brake located on the passenger side.
104.5No road test shall be given by the Department unless the motor vehicle used for the test is equipped with at least two (2) front seat belts or safety harnesses, one of which shall be used during the test by the applicant and the other by the examiner.
104.6The road test may be given in a car bearing temporary tags if the applicant displays a valid special use certificate for the tags.
104.7Applicants may be given road tests with vehicles bearing dealer tags if the applicant displays a temporary registration card issued to the applicant, or displays the regular registration card and is an employee of the dealer.
104.8A valid driver’s license issued by another jurisdiction, including a foreign country, may be accepted in lieu of a road test unless the Department records show the applicant to have failed the District road test within the six (6) month period preceding the date of the application; or the applicant is seventy-five (75) years of age or older; or the applicant’s other qualifications are questionable. A “valid license” does not include a temporary permit issued by another jurisdiction pending the issuance of a regular license.
104.9Except as provided in Section 111, the Director or his or her designee may waive the requirement that an applicant take a written test or road test in the following circumstances:
(a) The written examination may be waived if the applicant presents a District driver’s license that has expired for three hundred sixty five (365) days or less, or at any time successfully completes an online course as designated by the Department; and
(b) The road test, including the motorcycle road test in the case of a motorcycle endorsement holder, may be waived if the applicant presents a driver’s license issued by the District that has expired for five hundred and forty-five (545) days or less.
104.10Applicants shall be limited to six (6) written knowledge tests and six (6) road tests within a twelve (12) month period, whether applying for a new license or renewal. If the applicant fails the sixth examination, no further examination shall be given by the Department until a period of twelve (12) months has elapsed from the date of the first examination failed.
104.11No applicant who has failed the written knowledge test or road test shall be re-examined until at least seventy-two (72) hours have elapsed.
104.12No road test shall be given to an applicant who drives to the road test in violation of learner’s permit restrictions in Section 7 of the District of Columbia Traffic Act of 1925, approved March 13, 1925 (43 Stat. 1121; D.C. Official Code § 50-1401.01(a)). Any applicant who violates this section shall not be permitted to take the road test for six (6) months.
104.13Residents over the age of eighteen (18) may be approved for the operation of motorcycles only if they hold a valid driver license or valid provisional permit, passed the written motorcycle knowledge test, and successfully completed a motorcycle demonstration course as set forth in § 107.13 of this title.
104.14For any applicant for a succedent learner’s permit under the age of 21, the Director may accept test results from a written examination of the traffic regulations taken not more than 15 months earlier to satisfy the requirements in Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the District of Columbia Traffic Act of 1925, effective March 3, 1925 (43 Stat. 1121; D.C. Official Code § 50-1401.01(a)(2)(B)).
104.15Any applicant for a succedent learner’s permit 21 years of age or older must take a written examination of the traffic regulations to satisfy the requirements of § 7(a)(2)(B) of the District of Columbia Traffic Act of 1925, effective March 3, 1925 (43 Stat. 1121; D.C. Official Code § 50-1401.01 (a)(2)(B)).