§ 31-10-20. Driver education course requirement before licensing.
(a) No limited-instruction permit or license shall be issued to any person not more than eighteen (18) years of age unless that person shall have successfully completed a course of instruction as provided in § 31-10-19, or a similar course of instruction recognized by the state board of education as equivalent to it. However, any person who is over eighteen (18) years of age and has been a holder of a motor vehicle operator’s license issued to that person by any other state, territory, or possession of the United States, or any other sovereignty for a period of one year immediately prior to his or her application for a license under this chapter shall not be required to comply with the provisions of this section.
(b) Commencing on July 1, 2004, no limited-instruction permit or license shall be issued to any person not more than eighteen (18) years of age unless that person shall have successfully completed a course of instruction as provided in § 31-10-19, or a similar course of instruction in another state recognized by the state board of education as equivalent to it. In determining whether a course is equivalent, the state board of education shall at a minimum require: (1) That the course consist of at least thirty-three (33) instructional hours that substantially conform with the current curriculum utilized by the instructor(s) at the Community College of Rhode Island, including a minimum of three (3) hours of instruction focusing upon specific Rhode Island traffic laws, the specific requirements of the Rhode Island graduated-licensing statute in § 31-10-6, and eight (8) hours specifically for instruction on the effects of alcohol and drugs on a driver. All driver’s education programs shall include information concerning the Revised Uniform Anatomical Gift Act, chapter 18.6.1 of title 23, and information on donor cards pursuant to the applicable provisions of chapter 18.6.1 of title 23; (2) That the instructor holds a valid teacher’s certificate; (3) That the instructor satisfactorily completes at least a three-credit (3) course in traffic safety education at an accredited institution of higher education; and (4) That the program does not offer outside the classroom road test instruction or driving lessons to Rhode Island students. However, any person who is over eighteen (18) years of age and has been a holder of a motor vehicle operator’s license issued to that person by any other state, territory, or possession of the United States, or any other sovereignty for a period of one year immediately prior to his or her application for a license under this chapter shall not be required to comply with the provisions of this section.
(c) The driver’s education course and driver’s license examination shall include material pertaining to a driver’s rights and responsibilities when stopped by a law enforcement officer as explained during the driver education course, including, but not limited to, rights provided to drivers pursuant to chapter 21.2 of title 31, the “comprehensive community-police relationship act of 2015.”
History of Section.P.L. 1960, ch. 189, § 1; G.L. 1956, § 31-10-20; P.L. 1962, ch. 204, § 1; P.L. 1986, ch. 142, § 1; P.L. 1998, ch. 371, § 1; P.L. 1998, ch. 386, § 1; P.L. 2002, ch. 116, § 1; P.L. 2003, ch. 218, § 1; P.L. 2003, ch. 329, § 1; P.L. 2004, ch. 327, § 1; P.L. 2004, ch. 372, § 1; P.L. 2018, ch. 131, § 1; P.L. 2018, ch. 291, § 1.
Structure Rhode Island General Laws
Title 31 - Motor and Other Vehicles
Chapter 31-10 - Operators’ and Chauffeurs’ Licenses
Section 31-10-1. - License required to drive.
Section 31-10-2. - Persons exempt from licensing requirements.
Section 31-10-3. - Persons ineligible for licenses.
Section 31-10-4. - Classification of chauffeurs — Examination of applicants.
Section 31-10-5. - Special restrictions for drivers for compensation.
Section 31-10-5.1. - School bus driver annual training.
Section 31-10-6. - Graduated licensing for person under the age of eighteen (18).
Section 31-10-6.1. - Supervising driver.
Section 31-10-6.2. - Out-of-state exceptions.
Section 31-10-6.3. - Duration and fee.
Section 31-10-6.4. - Violations.
Section 31-10-6.5. - Insurance status.
Section 31-10-7. - Temporary driver’s permit — Persons over the age of eighteen (18).
Section 31-10-8. - Special armed forces operator’s license.
Section 31-10-9. - Operator’s license issued after expiration of armed forces license.
Section 31-10-10. - Rules as to armed forces license.
Section 31-10-11. - Application forms — Destruction of refused applications.
Section 31-10-12. - Contents of application.
Section 31-10-13. - Record from other jurisdiction.
Section 31-10-14. - Applications of minors.
Section 31-10-15. - Liability of person signing minor’s application.
Section 31-10-16. - Liability when minor proves financial responsibility.
Section 31-10-17. - Release from liability.
Section 31-10-18. - Cancellation of license upon death of person signing minor’s application.
Section 31-10-20. - Driver education course requirement before licensing.
Section 31-10-21. - Written and eye examination.
Section 31-10-22. - Road test.
Section 31-10-23. - Examiners not liable for acts of persons being examined.
Section 31-10-24. - Applicants excused from road test.
Section 31-10-26. - Issuance of license.
Section 31-10-26.1. - Anatomical gifts by drivers.
Section 31-10-27. - License to be carried and exhibited on demand.
Section 31-10-28. - Restricted licenses.
Section 31-10-29. - Duplicate certificates.
Section 31-10-30. - Expiration and renewal of licenses.
Section 31-10-32. - Notice of change of address or name.
Section 31-10-33. - Records to be kept by the division of motor vehicles.
Section 31-10-34 - — 31-10-34.4. Repealed.
Section 31-10-34.5. - Transfer of functions to administrator of division of motor vehicles.
Section 31-10-35. - Commercial drivers’ school license required.
Section 31-10-36. - Application for commercial drivers’ school license.
Section 31-10-37. - Fee — Expiration of license — Duplicates.
Section 31-10-38. - Denial, suspension, or revocation of commercial drivers’ school licenses.
Section 31-10-39. - Instructor’s license required.
Section 31-10-40. - Fee — Expiration of instructor’s license.
Section 31-10-41. - Denial, suspension, or revocation of instructor’s license.
Section 31-10-43. - Penalties for violations.
Section 31-10-44. - Medical advisory board.
Section 31-10-45. - Safety belts.
Section 31-10-46. - Driver education course — Credit given.
Section 31-10-47. - Notification of selective service registration requirement.
Section 31-10-48. - Veteran designation on operator license.