rmv stuff

$Module 1$

• JOL - Junior Operator License

• Any driver between 16 ½ - 18 years old is considered JOL

• If you are under 18, you cannot drive around 12-5 AM unless accompanied by parent/guardian with listed credentials

• You have to keep track your RMV required 40-80 hours of driving with parent/guardian

• $30 per permit

• $35 per driving test/exam

• $50 per new license

• $25 per duplicate

• Renew per every 5 years

• A permit gives you permission to drive while practicing/preparing for the road test. It is valid for two years

Permit holders may drive when accompanied By…

• licensed driver who is 21+ years old

• One year of driving experience

• Must be in seat beside driver

Requirements for license

• Have a valid permit for 6 consecutive months before taking your road test

• Successfully complete a register approved driver education/training-program

• 40-80 hours with parent supervision

• Parents attend a two-hour class

• Pass a final exam to have drivers education certificate electronically followed w/ RMV

Restrictions for JOL

• Only immediate family is allowed for first six months after receiving license

• No driving between 12:30-5:00 AM unless accompanied by parent/guardian

Suspension of license

• 60 days for first offense

• 180 days for second offense

Five types of drivers licenses

• Class A, B, C, D, M

• Class A, B - Commercial licenses

• Class A, B - Trucks with gross weight of 26,000 pounds (Ibs)

• Class C - Any vehicle designed for passenger drivers

• Class D - Residential vehicles

• Class M - Motorcycles

Proving who you are

• Social Security Card

• Passport

• Certified Copy of Birth Certificate

• Social Security Number

• Valid Permanent Resident Card

• Certificate of Citizenship/Naturalization

Real vs. Standard ID

• Beginning May 7, 2025, entering domestic air travel and to enter certain federal buildings

Other types of IDs

Massachusetts ID

• 14 years old & MA Resident

• Don’t have drivers license

• Expires every 5 years, renewable

Liquor ID

• 21 years old & MA Resident

• No drivers license

• Valid for 5 years, can’t be renewed

• Can be rejected/removed

$Module 2$

Keeping your license

• Driving in MA is a privilege, not a right

• The RMV tracks your history as a driver

• Three types of events may lead you to losing your drivers license

  1. Civil Matter Violation

  2. Criminal Violations

  3. Accidents where you’re more than 50% at fault

Civil Violations

• When you break traffic laws

• Removable by paying a fine

Criminal Violations

• You may be arrested immediately, vehicle may be towed, license taken away, you go to court, and if convicted you go to prison

At fault Accidents

• Driver is more than 50% at fault

• Will be in your driving record

• Count toward possible suspension

Parking Violations

• Pay a parking ticket, gets paid to the town in which the violation happened in

Calculating Speeding Tickets

• Speed limit laws

• Lowest penalty is $105 fine

• If a driver goes faster than 10mph over the set speed-limit, THEN they pay an extra $10

Surchargeable Events

• There’ll be a surcharge on your insurance for for every violation for following 3 years

• For JOL - 90 day suspension for first citation, 1 year for second citation

• For Adult Drivers - Three speeding tickets in 12 month-length, 30 day suspension

Out of State Violations

• Any violation will still be on your MA record, same consequences

License Renewal

• If you renew your license before your 21st Birthday, you will receive a license with “under 21” on it

• New license - No under 21 print

Work & Family Mobility Act

• According to the Act, “proof of legal presence is no longer required”, meaning, MA residents who desire a license will not have to prove their immigration status.

$Module 3$

How do cars communicate?

Directional/Turn-Signals/Lights

• If the directional signal is broken, hand signals must be used

Spotlights

• Passenger car may have a spotlight

• Can only shine 2ft above roadway, 30ft

Stats

• Average of 130,000 accidents in MA each year

• 1 in 3 drivers will be injured, or even killed, in a car crash

Seat Belt Law

• MA laws require every person to wear a seatbelt or sit in child passenger restraint

• Any driver not complying will be fined $25

• Infants & Small Children must be in a federally approved passenger restraint until they are either 8 years old or 57 inches tall

Never drive in the following cases when…

• Intoxicated

• Prescribed drugs

• Tired

• Upset

Safe Distance

• 3 second rule for cars

• 4 second rule for motorcycles

• Keep space for vehicle in front of you, never tailgate

Headlights Newer Law 2015

• Need to be on from ½ hours after sunset until ½ hour before sunrise

• Need to be on when you cannot see 500ft ahead

• Need to be on when driving through tunnels

• Need to be on when windshield wipers are on

• High Beams show you 350ft ahead

• Low Beams show you 100ft ahead

$Module 4$

Mirrors

• Don’t stare at them for more than 2 seconds

• Check on them every 5-10 seconds

Steering Wheel

• Need two hands on wheel, when turning use the hand-turning process

Backing Up

• Do shift running, check mirror & blind spots before moving

Before Driving

• Signal Intention Early

• Plan an escape route

• Take action

Module 5 & 7

Laws for Drivers & Crosswalks

• Never let a vehicle block a crosswalk

• Always use a crosswalk if it available

Winter Driving

• Difficult/dangerous for new & inexperienced drivers

• Maintain low speed, drive carefully

• Don’t slam breaks

• Leave between even more space for cars

• Keep gas tank ½ full, prevents gas freezing

• Keep windshield wiper fluid, wont freeze

• Keep blanket, flashlight, small shovel in trunk

Rain & Fog

• Use headlights and taillights when using windshield wipers

• Slow when rain starts

• Don’t drive through puddles

Pedestrians

• White Cane Law requires you to stop completely until a visually impaired one successfully crosses the street

$Module 11$

Challenges of Darkness

Driving at Night factors:

• More tired, less visibility, glare from lights, harder to gauge distance, color recognizing, peripheral vision, less reaction time

Phone Distractions

• For those under 18, you cannot use phones

• Those over 18 may have phones mounted, MA is a hands-free state

The Move Over Law

• On highways with multiple lanes, yield the right of the way and safely more over one lane to left

If stopped by an Officer

• Pull over right side of the road when signaled by the Officer

• Don’t ignore, comply

• Stay put, turn lights on, don’t search for anything until needed

• No sudden movements or gestures that may be threatening

Module 12 & 13

Impairment test if under the influence:

2 tests to determine it!

• Breathalyzer (MA limit - .8) (JOL limit - .2)

• Field sobriety test

Breathalyzers

• Officers trained to determine if a driver is intoxicated

DRE - Drug Recognition Experts

Melanie’s Law (October 2025)

• This law’s purpose is to enhance the penalties and administration to DUI in MA