MOTOR VEHICLES

2022 Okla. Sess. Law Serv. Ch. 263 (H.B. 3421) (WEST)

2022 Okla. Sess. Law Serv. Ch. 263 (H.B. 3421) (WEST)
OKLAHOMA 2022 SESSION LAW SERVICE
Fifty-Eighth Legislature, 2022 Second Regular Session
Additions are indicated by Text; deletions by
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stricken material by Text .
CHAPTER 263
H.B. No. 3421
MOTOR VEHICLES
An Act relating to motor vehicles; amending 47 O.S. 2021, Section 6–101, which relates to driver licenses; modifying entity to which application is required to be submitted; providing certain payments for motor license agents; providing an effective date; declaring an emergency; and providing for certain contingent effect.
SUBJECT: Motor vehicles
BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
<< OK ST T. 47 § 6–101 >>
SECTION 1. AMENDATORY 47 O.S. 2021, Section 6–101, is amended to read as follows:
Section 6–101. A. No person, except those hereinafter expressly exempted in Sections 6–102 and 6–102.1 of this title, shall operate any motor vehicle upon a highway in this state unless the person has a valid Oklahoma driver license for the class of vehicle being operated under the provisions of this title. No person shall be permitted to possess more than one valid license at any time, except as provided in paragraph 4 of subsection F of this section.
B. 1. No person shall operate a Class A commercial motor vehicle unless the person is eighteen (18) years of age or older and holds a valid Class A commercial license, except as provided in paragraph 5 of this subsection and subsection F of this section. Any person holding a valid Class A commercial license shall be permitted to operate motor vehicles in Classes A, B, C and D, except as provided for in paragraph 4 of this subsection.
2. No person shall operate a Class B commercial motor vehicle unless the person is eighteen (18) years of age or older and holds a valid Class B commercial license, except as provided in paragraph 5 of subsection F of this section. Any person holding a valid Class B commercial license shall be permitted to operate motor vehicles in Classes B, C and D, except as provided for in paragraph 4 of this subsection.
3. No person shall operate a Class C commercial motor vehicle unless the person is eighteen (18) years of age or older and holds a valid Class C commercial license, except as provided in subsection F of this section. Any person holding a valid Class C commercial license shall be permitted to operate motor vehicles in Classes C and D, except as provided for in paragraph 4 of this subsection.
4. No person under twenty-one (21) years of age shall be licensed to operate any motor vehicle which is required to be placarded for hazardous materials pursuant to 49 C.F.R., Part 172, subpart F, except as provided in subsection F of this section; provided, a person eighteen (18) years of age or older may be licensed to operate a farm vehicle which is required to be placarded for hazardous materials pursuant to 49 C.F.R., Part 172, subpart F, except as provided in subsection F of this section.
5. A person at least seventeen (17) years of age who successfully completes all examinations required by law may be issued by the Department:
a. a restricted Class A commercial license which shall grant to the licensee the privilege to operate a Class A or Class B commercial motor vehicle for harvest purposes or a Class D motor vehicle, or
b. a restricted Class B commercial license which shall grant to the licensee the privilege to operate a Class B commercial motor vehicle for harvest purposes or a Class D motor vehicle.
6. No person shall operate a Class D motor vehicle unless the person is sixteen (16) years of age or older and holds a valid Class D license, except as provided for in Section 6–102 or 6–105 of this title. Any person holding a valid Class D license shall be permitted to operate motor vehicles in Class D only.
C. Any person issued a driver license pursuant to this section may exercise the privilege thereby granted upon all streets and highways in this state.
D. No person shall operate a motorcycle or motor-driven cycle without having a valid Class A, B, C or D license with a motorcycle endorsement. Except as otherwise provided by law, any new applicant for an original driver license shall be required to successfully complete a written examination, vision examination and driving examination for a motorcycle as prescribed by the Department of Public Safety, and a certified state-approved motorcycle basic rider course approved by the Department if the applicant is seventeen (17) years of age or younger to be eligible for a motorcycle endorsement thereon. The written examination and driving examination for a motorcycle shall be waived by the Department of Public Safety upon verification that the person has successfully completed a certified Motorcycle Safety Foundation rider course approved by the Department.
E. Except as otherwise provided by law, any person who lawfully possesses a valid Oklahoma driver license which is eligible for renewal shall be required to successfully complete a written examination, vision examination and driving examination for a motorcycle as prescribed by the Department, and a certified state-approved motorcycle basic rider course approved by the Department if the person is seventeen (17) years of age or younger to be eligible for a motorcycle endorsement. The written examination and driving examination for a motorcycle shall be waived by the Department of Public Safety upon verification that the person has successfully completed a certified Motorcycle Safety Foundation rider course approved by the Department.
F. 1. Any person eighteen (18) years of age or older may apply for a restricted Class A, B or C commercial learner permit. The Department, after the applicant has passed all parts of the examination for a Class D license and has successfully passed all parts of the examination for a Class A, B or C commercial license other than the driving examination, may issue to the applicant a commercial learner permit which shall entitle the person having immediate lawful possession of the commercial learner permit and a valid Oklahoma driver license or provisional driver license pursuant to Section 6–212 of this title to operate a Class A, B or C commercial motor vehicle upon the public highways solely for the purpose of behind-the-wheel training in accordance with rules promulgated by the Department.
2. This commercial learner permit shall be issued for a period as provided in Section 6–115 of this title of one hundred eighty (180) days, which may be renewed one time for an additional one hundred eighty (180) days; provided, such commercial learner permit may be suspended, revoked, canceled, denied or disqualified at the discretion of the Department for violation of the restrictions, for failing to give the required or correct information on the application or for violation of any traffic laws of this state pertaining to the operation of a motor vehicle. Except as otherwise provided, the lawful possessor of a commercial learner permit who has been issued a commercial learner permit for a minimum of fourteen (14) days may have the restriction requiring an accompanying driver removed by satisfactorily completing a driver's examination; provided, the removal of a restriction shall not authorize the operation of a Class A, B or C commercial motor vehicle if such operation is otherwise prohibited by law.
3. No person shall apply for and the Department shall not issue an original Class A, B or C driver license until the person has been issued a commercial learner permit and held the permit for at least fourteen (14) days. Any person who currently holds a Class B or C license and who wishes to apply for another class of commercial driver license shall be required to apply for a commercial learner permit and to hold the permit for at least fourteen (14) days before applying for the Class A or B license, as applicable. Any person who currently holds a Class A, B or C license and who wishes to add an endorsement or remove a restriction for which a skills examination is required shall be required to apply for a commercial learner permit and to hold the permit for at least fourteen (14) days before applying for the endorsement.
4. A commercial learner permit shall be issued by the Department as a separate and unique document which shall be valid only in conjunction with a valid Oklahoma driver license or provisional driver license pursuant to Section 6–212 of this title, both of which shall be in the possession of the person to whom they have been issued whenever that person is operating a commercial motor vehicle as provided in this subsection.
5. After one renewal of a commercial learner permit, as provided in paragraph 2 of this subsection, a commercial permit shall not be renewed again. Any person who has held a commercial learner permit for the initial issuance period and one renewal period shall not be eligible for and the Department shall not issue another renewal of the permit; provided, the person may reapply for a new commercial learner permit, as provided for in this subsection.
G. 1. For purposes of this title:
a. “REAL ID Compliant Driver License” or “Identification Card” means a driver license or identification card issued by the State of Oklahoma that has been certified by the United States Department of Homeland Security (USDHS) as compliant with the requirements of the REAL ID Act of 2005, Public Law No. 109–13. A REAL ID Compliant Driver License or Identification Card and the process through which it is issued incorporate a variety of security measures designed to protect the integrity and trustworthiness of the license or card. A REAL ID Compliant Driver License or Identification Card will be clearly marked on the face indicating that it is a compliant document, and
b. “REAL ID Noncompliant Driver License” or “Identification Card” means a driver license or identification card issued by the State of Oklahoma that has not been certified by the United States Department of Homeland Security (USDHS) as being compliant with the requirements of the REAL ID Act. A REAL ID Noncompliant Driver License or Identification Card will be clearly marked on the face indicating that it is not compliant with the federal REAL ID Act and is not acceptable for official federal purposes. The driver license or identification card will have a unique design or color indicator that clearly distinguishes it from a compliant license or card.
2. Original Driver License and Identification Card Issuance:
a. Application for an original REAL ID Compliant or REAL ID Noncompliant Driver License or Identification Card shall be made to the Department of Public Safety through December 31, 2022. Beginning January 1, 2023, application for an original REAL ID Compliant Driver License or Identification Card may be made to Service Oklahoma or a licensed operator provided such licensed operator is authorized to process application for REAL ID Compliant Driver Licenses and Identification Cards. Application for a REAL ID Noncompliant Driver License or Identification Card shall be made to Service Oklahoma.
b. Department of Public Safety employees shall perform all document recognition and other requirements needed for approval of an original REAL ID Compliant or REAL ID Noncompliant Driver License or Identification Card application through December 31, 2022. Beginning January 1, 2023, Service Oklahoma employees or authorized licensed operators shall perform all document recognition and other requirements needed for approval of an original REAL ID Compliant Driver License or Identification Card application. Service Oklahoma employees shall perform all document recognition and other requirements needed for approval of a REAL ID Noncompliant Driver License or Identification Card application.
c. Upon approval of an original REAL ID Compliant or REAL ID Noncompliant Driver License or Identification Card application, the applicant may take the approved application document to a motor license agent to receive a temporary driver license or identification card.
d. The motor license agent shall process the approved REAL ID Compliant or REAL ID Noncompliant Driver License or Identification Card application and upon payment shall provide the applicant a temporary driver license or identification card. A temporary driver license or identification card shall afford the holder the privileges otherwise granted by the specific class of driver license or identification card for the period of time listed on the temporary driver license or identification card or the period of time prior to the applicant receiving a REAL ID Compliant or REAL ID Noncompliant Driver License or Identification Card, whichever time period is shorter.
3. REAL ID Compliant Driver License and Identification Card Renewal and Replacement:
a. Application for renewal or replacement of a REAL ID Compliant Driver License or Identification Card may be made to the Department of Public Safety or to a motor license agent; provided, such motor license agent is authorized to process application for REAL ID Compliant Driver Licenses and Identification Cards. A motor license agent may process the voluntary downgrade of a REAL ID Compliant Commercial Driver License to any lower class license upon request of the licensee; provided, no additional endorsements or restrictions are placed on the license.
b. Department of Public Safety employees or authorized motor license agents shall perform all document recognition and other requirements needed for approval of a renewal or replacement REAL ID Compliant Driver License or Identification Card application.
c. Upon approval of a renewal or replacement REAL ID Compliant Driver License or Identification Card application, the applicant may receive a temporary driver license or identification card from the Department of Public Safety or an authorized motor license agent.
d. A temporary driver license or identification card acquired under the provisions of this paragraph shall afford the holder the privileges otherwise granted by the specific class of driver license or identification card being renewed or replaced for the period of time listed on the temporary driver license or identification card or the period of time prior to the applicant receiving a REAL ID Compliant Driver License or Identification Card, whichever time period is shorter.
e. For purposes of this title, an application for a REAL ID Compliant Driver License or Identification Card by an individual with a valid Oklahoma-issued driver license or identification card shall be considered a renewal of a REAL ID Compliant Driver License or Identification Card.
4. REAL ID Noncompliant Driver License and Identification Card Renewal and Replacement:
a. Application for renewal or replacement of a REAL ID Noncompliant Driver License or Identification Card may be made to the Department of Public Safety or to a motor license agent. A motor license agent may process the voluntary downgrade of a REAL ID Noncompliant Commercial Driver License to any lower class license upon request of the licensee; provided, no additional endorsements or restrictions are added to the license.
b. Department of Public Safety employees or motor license agents shall perform all document recognition and other requirements needed for approval of a renewal or replacement REAL ID Noncompliant Driver License or Identification Card application.
c. Upon approval of a renewal or replacement REAL ID Noncompliant Driver License or Identification Card application, the applicant may receive a temporary driver license or identification card from the Department of Public Safety or a motor license agent.
d. A temporary driver license or identification card acquired under the provisions of this paragraph shall afford the holder the privileges otherwise granted by the specific class of driver license or identification card being renewed or replaced for the period of time listed on the temporary driver license or identification card or the period of time prior to the applicant receiving a REAL ID Noncompliant Driver License or Identification Card, whichever time period is shorter.
H. 1. The fee charged for an approved application for an original Oklahoma REAL ID Compliant or REAL ID Noncompliant Driver License or an approved application for the addition of an endorsement to a current valid Oklahoma REAL ID Compliant or REAL ID Noncompliant Driver License shall be assessed in accordance with the following schedule:
Class A Commercial Learner Permit
$25.00
Class A Commercial License
$25.00
Class B Commercial Learner Permit
$15.00
Class B Commercial License
$15.00
Class C Commercial Learner Permit
$15.00
Class C Commercial License
$15.00
Class D License
$ 4.00
Motorcycle Endorsement
$ 4.00
2. Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 1104 of this title, all monies collected from the fees charged for Class A, B and C commercial licenses pursuant to the provisions of this subsection shall be deposited in the General Revenue Fund of this state.
I. The fee charged for any failed examination shall be Four Dollars ($4.00) for any license classification. Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 1104 of this title, all monies collected from such examination fees pursuant to the provisions of this subsection shall be deposited in the General Revenue Fund of this state.
J. In addition to any fee charged pursuant to the provisions of subsection H of this section, the fee charged for the issuance or renewal of a REAL ID Noncompliant Driver License shall be in accordance with the following schedule; provided, that any applicant who has a CDL Learner Permit shall be charged only the replacement fee for the issuance of the license:
License Class
4–year
8–year
Class A Commercial Learner Permit
$56.50
$113.00
Class A Commercial License
$56.50
$113.00
Class B Commercial Learner Permit
$56.50
$113.00
Class B Commercial License
$56.50
$113.00
Class C Commercial Learner Permit
$46.50
$93.00
Class C Commercial License
$46.50
$93.00
Class D License
$38.50
$77.00
K. In addition to any fee charged pursuant to the provisions of subsection H of this section, the fee charged for the issuance or renewal of a REAL ID Compliant Driver License shall be in accordance with the following schedule; provided, that any applicant who has a CDL Learner Permit shall be charged only the replacement fee for the issuance of the license:
License Class
4–year
8–year
REAL ID Compliant Class A Commercial Learner Permit
$56.50
$113.00
REAL ID Compliant Class A Commercial License
$56.50
$113.00
REAL ID Compliant Class B Commercial Learner Permit
$56.50
$113.00
REAL ID Compliant Class B Commercial License
$56.50
$113.00
REAL ID Compliant Class C Commercial Leaner Learner Permit
$46.50
$93.00
REAL ID Compliant Class C Commercial License
$46.50
$93.00
REAL ID Compliant Class D License
$38.50
$77.00
L. A commercial learner permit may be renewed one time for a period of one hundred eighty (180) days. The cost for the renewed permit shall be the same as for the original permit.
M. Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 1104 of this title, of each fee charged pursuant to the provisions of subsections J, K and L of this section:
1. Five Dollars and fifty cents ($5.50) of a 4–year license or Eleven Dollars ($11.00) of an 8–year license shall be deposited to the Trauma Care Assistance Revolving Fund created in Section 1–2530.9 of Title 63 of the Oklahoma Statutes;
2. Six Dollars and seventy-five cents ($6.75) of a 4–year license or Thirteen Dollars and fifty cents ($13.50) of an 8–year license shall be deposited to the Department of Public Safety Computer Imaging System Revolving Fund to be used solely for the purpose of administration and maintenance of the computerized imaging system of the Department;
3. Ten Dollars ($10.00) of a 4–year license or Twenty Dollars ($20.00) of an 8–year license shall be deposited to the Department of Public Safety Revolving Fund for all original or renewal issuances of licenses; and
4. Five Dollars ($5.00) of a 4–year license or Six Dollars ($6.00) of an 8–year license shall be deposited to the State Public Safety Fund created in Section 2–147 of this title.
N. All original and renewal driver licenses shall expire as provided in Section 6–115 of this title.
O. Any person sixty-two (62) years of age or older during the calendar year of issuance or renewal of a Class D license or motorcycle endorsement shall be charged the following prorated fee:
4–year
8–year
Age 62
$21.25
$42.50
Age 63
$17.50
$35.00
Age 64
$13.75
$27.50
Age 65
–0-
P. No person who has been honorably discharged from active service in any branch of the Armed Forces of the United States or Oklahoma National Guard and who has been certified by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, its successor or the Armed Forces of the United States to be a disabled veteran in receipt of compensation at the one-hundred-percent rate for a permanent disability sustained through military action or accident resulting from disease contracted while in such active service and registered with the veterans registry created by the Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs shall be charged a fee for the issuance, replacement or renewal of an Oklahoma driver license; provided, that if a veteran has been previously exempt from a fee pursuant to this subsection, no registration with the veterans registry shall be required.
Q. In accordance with the provisions of subsection G of this section, the Department of Public Safety and the Oklahoma Tax Commission are authorized to promulgate rules for the issuance and renewal of driver licenses authorized pursuant to the provisions of Sections 6–101 through 6–309 of this title; provided, that no such rules applicable to the issuance or renewal of REAL ID Noncompliant Driver Licenses shall create more stringent standards than such rules applicable as of January 1, 2017, unless directly related to a specific change in statutory law concerning standards for REAL ID Noncompliant Driver Licenses. Applications, upon forms approved by the Department of Public Safety, for such licenses shall be handled, in accordance with the provisions of subsection G of this section, by the motor license agents; provided, the Department of Public Safety is authorized to assume these duties in any county of this state. Each motor license agent accepting applications for driver licenses shall receive Six Dollars ($6.00) for a 4–year REAL ID Noncompliant Driver License or Twelve Dollars ($12.00) for an 8–year REAL ID Noncompliant Driver License or Ten Dollars ($10.00) for a 4–year REAL ID Compliant Driver License or Twenty Dollars ($20.00) for an 8–year REAL ID Compliant Driver License to be deducted from the total collected for each license or renewal application accepted. Beginning July 1, 2022, and ending on May 31, 2023, each motor license agent or licensed operator accepting applications for driver licenses for individuals over the age of sixty-five (65) years or for applications for drivers pursuant to subsection P of this section shall receive Six Dollars ($6.00) for a 4–year driver license or Twelve Dollars ($12.00) for an 8–year driver license to be deducted daily by the motor license agent or licensed operator receipts. The amount retained pursuant to this subsection shall not be retained by any state agency. The fees received by the motor license agent, authorized by this subsection, shall be used for operating expenses. For purposes of this subsection, “licensed operator” shall mean an individual who obtains a license from the Service Oklahoma Operator Board to operate a designated Service Oklahoma location and offers third-party fulfillment of designated services to be rendered by Service Oklahoma.
R. Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 1104 of this title and subsection Q of this section and except as provided in subsections H and M of this section, the first Sixty Thousand Dollars ($60,000.00) of all monies collected pursuant to this section shall be paid by the Oklahoma Tax Commission to the State Treasurer to be deposited in the General Revenue Fund of the State Treasury.
The next Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000.00) of monies collected pursuant to this section shall be paid by the Tax Commission to the State Treasurer to be deposited each fiscal year under the provisions of this section to the credit of the Department of Public Safety Restricted Revolving Fund for the purpose of the Statewide Law Enforcement Communications System. All other monies collected in excess of Five Hundred Sixty Thousand Dollars ($560,000.00) each fiscal year shall be apportioned as provided in Section 1104 of this title, except as otherwise provided in this section.
S. The Department of Public Safety shall retain the images displayed on licenses and identification cards issued pursuant to the provisions of Sections 6–101 through 6–309 of this title which may be used only:
1. By a law enforcement agency for purposes of criminal investigations, missing person investigations or any law enforcement purpose which is deemed necessary by the Commissioner of Public Safety;
2. By the driver licensing agency of another state for its official purpose; and
3. As provided in Section 2–110 of this title.
All agencies approved by the Oklahoma Law Enforcement Telecommunications System (OLETS) or the National Law Enforcement Telecommunications System (NLETS) to receive photographs or computerized images may obtain them through OLETS or through NLETS. Photographs or computerized images may be obtained by law enforcement one inquiry at a time.
The computer system and related equipment acquired for this purpose must conform to industry standards for interoperability and open architecture. The Department of Public Safety may promulgate rules to implement the provisions of this subsection.
T. No person may hold more than one state-issued or territory-issued REAL ID Compliant Driver License or REAL ID Compliant Identification Card from Oklahoma or any other state or territory. The Department shall not issue a REAL ID Compliant Driver License to a person who has been previously issued a REAL ID Compliant Driver License or REAL ID Compliant Identification Card until such license or identification card has been surrendered to the Department by the applicant. The Department may promulgate rules related to the issuance of replacement REAL ID Compliant Driver Licenses in the event of loss or theft.
U. Upon the effective date of this act Beginning May 24, 2021, and ending on April 30, 2023, in addition to the amounts provided in subsection Q of this section, a motor license agent shall receive Five Dollars ($5.00) for each processed application for a REAL ID Compliant 4–year Driver License and Ten Dollars ($10.00) for each processed application for a REAL ID Compliant 8–year Driver License. Any additional amounts provided pursuant to this subsection shall not be retained by the Department of Public Safety.
SECTION 2. This act shall become effective July 1, 2022.
SECTION 3. It being immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health or safety, an emergency is hereby declared to exist, by reason whereof this act shall take effect and be in full force from and after its passage and approval.
SECTION 4. The provisions of this act shall be contingent upon the enactment of the provisions of House Bill No. 3419 or Senate Bill No. 1605 of the 2nd Session of the 58th Oklahoma Legislature and shall not become operative as law otherwise.
Approved May 16, 2022.
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