STATE OF OKLAHOMA

1st Session of the 52nd Legislature (2009)

SENATE BILL 1160	By:	Sykes

AS INTRODUCED

An Act relating to motor vehicles; amending 47 O.S. 2001, Section 6-110, as last amended by Section 2, Chapter 394, O.S.L. 2005 (47 O.S. Supp. 2008, Section 6-110), which relates to driver license examinations; deleting alternative method of testing; and providing an effective date.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
SECTION 1.     AMENDATORY     47 O.S. 2001, Section 6-110, as last amended by Section 2, Chapter 394, O.S.L. 2005 (47 O.S. Supp. 2008, Section 6-110), is amended to read as follows:
Section 6-110.  A.  1.  The Department of Public Safety shall examine every applicant for an original Class A, B, C or D license and for any endorsements thereon, except as otherwise provided in Sections 6-101 through 6-309 of this title or as provided in paragraph 2 of this subsection or in subsection D of this section.  The examination shall include a test of the applicant's:
a.	eyesight,
b.	ability to read and understand highway signs regulating, warning and directing traffic,
c.	knowledge of the traffic laws of this state, and
d.	ability, by actual demonstration, to exercise ordinary and reasonable control in the operation of a motor vehicle.  The actual demonstration shall be conducted in the type of motor vehicle for the class of driver license being applied for.
Any licensee seeking to apply for a driver license of another class which is not covered by the licensee's current driver license shall be considered an applicant for an original license for that class.
2.  The Department of Public Safety shall have the authority to waive the requirement of any part of the examination required in paragraph 1 of this subsection for those applicants who surrender a valid unexpired driver license issued by any state or country for the same type or types of vehicles, provided that the applicant's driving record meets the standards set by the Department of Public Safety.
3.  All applicants requiring a hazardous materials endorsement shall be required, for the renewal of the endorsement, to successfully complete the examination and to submit to a security threat assessment performed by the Transportation Security Administration of the Department of Homeland Security as required by and pursuant to 49 C.F.R., Part 1572, which shall be used to determine whether the applicant is eligible for renewal of the endorsement pursuant to federal law and regulation.
4.  The Department of Public Safety shall give the complete examination as provided for in this section within thirty (30) days from the date the application is received, and the examination shall be given at a location within one hundred (100) miles of the residence of the applicant.  The Department shall make every effort to make the examination locations and times convenient for applicants.  The Department shall consider giving the examination at various school sites if the district board of education for the district in which the site is located agrees and if economically feasible and practicable.
5.  The Department of Public Safety shall provide an alternative method of testing for an applicant for a Class D driver license who is eighteen (18) years of age or older and who can only understand Spanish, subject to the availability of funds.  The Department may limit the number of testing sites where the examination in Spanish may be administered.
B.  Any person holding a valid Oklahoma Class D license and applying for a Class A, B or C commercial license shall be required to successfully complete all examinations as required for the specified class.
C.  Except as provided in subsection E of Section 6-101 of this title, any person holding a valid Oklahoma Class A, B or C commercial license shall, upon time for renewal thereof, be entitled to a Class D license without any type of testing or examination, except for any endorsements thereon as otherwise provided for by Section 6-110.1 of this title.
D.  Any certified driver education instructor may administer the written portion of the Oklahoma driving examination as required for a driver education course.
SECTION 2.  This act shall become effective November 1, 2009.

52-1-549	MRB	1/15/2009 7:44:30 PM