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Created page with "A '''driver's license''' is a license, or official permission, to drive a motor vehicle, of any size, on a public street, road, or highway. In the United States, indi..."
A '''driver's license''' is a [[license]], or official permission, to drive a motor vehicle, of any size, on a public street, road, or highway.
In the [[United States]], individual [[State]]s issue driver's licenses to their own residents. In most other countries, the central [[government]] issues such licenses.
== Types of driver's licenses ==
Driver's licenses in the United States fall into these categories:
* Simple operator's license - for driving a regular passenger motor vehicle.
* Commercial operator's license - for driving a long-haul truck, especially one that carries freight for hire.
* Chauffeur's license - for driving a [[taxicab]], [[limousine]], or [[bus]].
* Motorcycle-only license - for driving a [[motorcycle]] on a public road.
* Motorcycle-also license - lets the holder drive ''either'' a passenger car ''or'' a motorcycle.
* Learner permit - lets an underage driver drive ''with an adult licensed driver as a supervising passenger.''
== Qualifications for a driver's license ==
Nearly all states require any new resident to pass a written examination on the basics of safe driving and the particular laws of the jurisdiction. Some of those laws can strike a newcomer as peculiar. For instance, in [[New Jersey]] any person who serves [[alcoholic drinks]] to a guest who subsequently has an accident while driving under the influence of the alcohol so served, could be civilly liable for any property damage, injury, or death resulting from said accident(s).
In addition, the first license any driver holds must pass a road test with a State trooper as an examining passenger. Typically this means driving around the block and demonstrating required proficiency with lane discipline, turning, signaling, watching for hazards, and so on. A first licensee must also pass a vision test to make sure he can see the hazards around him. One must pass the test in the vehicle(s) one wishes to drive, whether car, motorcycle, or both.
Obviously one qualifying for a commercial or chauffeur's license must pass the more rigorous written examination in the laws applicable to carrying freight or passengers for hire. In addition, one must pass the road test in the vehicle he wishes to qualify to drive, if it is larger than a four-door sedan or wagon or a "mini-van." This includes heavy trucks, "stretch" limousines, and buses carrying 45 or more passengers.
One learning to drive for the first time need pass only the written and vision examination. One passes the road test when one is ready to drive without supervision.
== Renewal of a driver's license ==
Renewal of a driver's license usually requires proof of identity and residence. Some States also re-examine a renewing applicant for visual acuity.
Most driver's licenses go for four-year terms, subject to renewal.
== Controversy ==
=== Identification card ===
Shortly after the [[Attacks on September 11, 2001]], [[Congress]] passed the [[REAL-ID Act]]. Under that Act, States must restrict a driver's license to someone who establishes his identity according to strict criteria. Critics say that makes an American driver's license function, for all intents and purposes, like a national identity card. (The [[France|French]] ''carte d'identité'' is the archetype for such a card. In France, this does ''not'' double as a driver's license.)
=== Voter registration ===
Many States automatically register an applicant for a driver's license to ''vote'' when approving, or renewing, a license. This, according to critics, invites the obvious fraud of voting when one is not a citizen of the United States. Citizenship is not a requirement for driving a motor vehicle, but lawful residency usually is.
=== Illegal immigration ===
The [[Obama administration]] has effectively ordered many States to issue driver's licenses even to people who cannot establish their lawful residency. This, in combination with the "motor voter" dual registration, could enable people to vote in multiple jurisdictions at once – as many as they can reach by driving across borders on election day, or voting "[[absentee ballot|absentee]]" in as many jurisdictions as he can register.
[[Category:Government]]
In the [[United States]], individual [[State]]s issue driver's licenses to their own residents. In most other countries, the central [[government]] issues such licenses.
== Types of driver's licenses ==
Driver's licenses in the United States fall into these categories:
* Simple operator's license - for driving a regular passenger motor vehicle.
* Commercial operator's license - for driving a long-haul truck, especially one that carries freight for hire.
* Chauffeur's license - for driving a [[taxicab]], [[limousine]], or [[bus]].
* Motorcycle-only license - for driving a [[motorcycle]] on a public road.
* Motorcycle-also license - lets the holder drive ''either'' a passenger car ''or'' a motorcycle.
* Learner permit - lets an underage driver drive ''with an adult licensed driver as a supervising passenger.''
== Qualifications for a driver's license ==
Nearly all states require any new resident to pass a written examination on the basics of safe driving and the particular laws of the jurisdiction. Some of those laws can strike a newcomer as peculiar. For instance, in [[New Jersey]] any person who serves [[alcoholic drinks]] to a guest who subsequently has an accident while driving under the influence of the alcohol so served, could be civilly liable for any property damage, injury, or death resulting from said accident(s).
In addition, the first license any driver holds must pass a road test with a State trooper as an examining passenger. Typically this means driving around the block and demonstrating required proficiency with lane discipline, turning, signaling, watching for hazards, and so on. A first licensee must also pass a vision test to make sure he can see the hazards around him. One must pass the test in the vehicle(s) one wishes to drive, whether car, motorcycle, or both.
Obviously one qualifying for a commercial or chauffeur's license must pass the more rigorous written examination in the laws applicable to carrying freight or passengers for hire. In addition, one must pass the road test in the vehicle he wishes to qualify to drive, if it is larger than a four-door sedan or wagon or a "mini-van." This includes heavy trucks, "stretch" limousines, and buses carrying 45 or more passengers.
One learning to drive for the first time need pass only the written and vision examination. One passes the road test when one is ready to drive without supervision.
== Renewal of a driver's license ==
Renewal of a driver's license usually requires proof of identity and residence. Some States also re-examine a renewing applicant for visual acuity.
Most driver's licenses go for four-year terms, subject to renewal.
== Controversy ==
=== Identification card ===
Shortly after the [[Attacks on September 11, 2001]], [[Congress]] passed the [[REAL-ID Act]]. Under that Act, States must restrict a driver's license to someone who establishes his identity according to strict criteria. Critics say that makes an American driver's license function, for all intents and purposes, like a national identity card. (The [[France|French]] ''carte d'identité'' is the archetype for such a card. In France, this does ''not'' double as a driver's license.)
=== Voter registration ===
Many States automatically register an applicant for a driver's license to ''vote'' when approving, or renewing, a license. This, according to critics, invites the obvious fraud of voting when one is not a citizen of the United States. Citizenship is not a requirement for driving a motor vehicle, but lawful residency usually is.
=== Illegal immigration ===
The [[Obama administration]] has effectively ordered many States to issue driver's licenses even to people who cannot establish their lawful residency. This, in combination with the "motor voter" dual registration, could enable people to vote in multiple jurisdictions at once – as many as they can reach by driving across borders on election day, or voting "[[absentee ballot|absentee]]" in as many jurisdictions as he can register.
[[Category:Government]]