Driver's License Requirements:

It is required for an application for a driver's license or identification card to contain either the applicant's social security number or the applicant's federal taxpayer identification number in lieu of a social security number. * An applicant for a commercial driver's license must include their social security number on the application.
Driver Education and Training

You never really learn any bad language
until you learn to drive.

The minimum age for issuance of an instruction permit is 15 years, 6 months. The Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) may issue an instruction permit to any physically and mentally qualified person who meets the following requirements and who applies to the Department for an instruction permit:

Is age 15 years and 6 months, or over and has successfully completed an approved course in automobile driver education and is taking driver training or is enrolled and participating in an integrated driver education program.
Driver's License with Restrictions

The DMV may place special conditions or restrictions on your license. A driving test is normally required to remove special conditions or restrictions from your license. The DMV may suspend or revoke your license if you violate a condition or restriction.

Motorized Scooters

In order to operate a motorized scooter, the driver must have a valid class C driver's license or an instruction permit. Altering or modifying the exhaust system of a motorized scooter in violation of specified noise restrictions and muffler requirements is prohibited.

California uses a point system to identify unsafe drivers, assigning point values for each traffic violation, such as reckless driving, speeding, failing to obey stop signs, or driving under the influence of alcohol or other drugs (DUI).

Every time you are convicted of a traffic violation or are involved in a collision, it's recorded on your driving record. Each occurrence stays on your record for 36 months or longer, depending on the type of conviction.

The DMV may refuse to issue you a license if you:
- Have a history of alcohol or drug abuse.
- Have used the license illegally.
--Have lied on your application.
- Do not have the skill to drive.
- Do not understand the traffic laws or signs.
- Have a health problem that makes your driving unsafe.
- Have an outstanding traffic citation because you failed to appear in court or to pay.
- Have not complied with a judgment or order for family support payments.
- Use a crib sheet for any license examination.
- Impersonate an applicant or allow someone else to impersonate you to fraudulently qualify for a license.
- Refuse to give a thumb print.
- Refuse to sign the certification on the license application.
- Submit a fraudulent birth date/legal presence document or social security document

Most of your driving record file is available to the public.

Law enforcement agencies, employers and insurance companies can check your driving record.

What Do The Terms Cancel, Revoke And Suspend Mean?
Cancellation:

A driver's license is terminated without prejudice and must be surrendered.

One obvious example of a cancellation is when someone dies. Another example is if you move to another state or country and obtain a different license.

Here's another— Suppose you undergo a sex-change operation. You change your name and you get a complete makeover, transforming yourself into a totally new and different individual. Well, that new and different individual needs to have their current license canceled and another issued. This actually happens!

Your driving privilege can be canceled at any time for failure to comply with the conditions for licensure.

Any person whose license is canceled may immediately apply for a new license.
Revocation:

Revocation means that the person's privilege to drive a motor vehicle is terminated and a new driver's license may be obtained after the period of revocation.

To have your license REVOKED means you did something very foolish and dangerous and the state will take away your license for a long time.

What if a person (hopefully not you!) were driving after consuming alcohol and injured someone? Wouldn't you want this person to be removed from our streets? The DMV or the court might take away or revoke the driver's license for a period of time ranging from 6 months all the way up to life. A new license may be obtained after the period of revocation and upon meeting certain conditions.


Here are some reasons you could face mandatory revocation of your license.
Driving Under the Influence of alcohol, drugs or other controlled substances
Not stopping to give help when the vehicle you are driving is involved in a crash
Committing insurance fraud, such as knowingly participating in a vehicle collision in order to collect damages.
Reckless driving causing bodily injury
An immoral act in which a motor vehicle was used (so be on your best behavior!)
Three major offenses, or 15 total offenses, for which you receive points within a 5-year period
Voluntary or involuntary vehicular manslaughter
Driving a commercial vehicle without proper licensing
A felony in which a motor vehicle is used (so remember — if you are planning to hit a bank, DO NOT USE YOUR CAR FOR A GET-A-WAY VEHICLE! That would get you 15 to 20 years in jail, and you would lose your license!)
Suspension:

The most common action the DMV may take is to SUSPEND your license. If you are notified that your driving privilege has been suspended, you must surrender your license.

Suspending your driver's license means the DMV temporarily takes away your driving privilege. How can your license be suspended? One of the measurements the DMV uses to track your driving performance is the amount of points you accumulate on your driving record. You may be considered a negligent operator of a motor vehicle if your driving record shows any one of the following "point count" totals. The DMV may suspend your driver's license if you accumulate:

4 or More Points in 12 Months
6 Points in 24 Months, or
8 Points in 36 Months

The thresholds are lower for drivers with a class A license. You maybe considered a negligent operator if your point totals are 6 points in 12 months, 8 in 24 and 10 in 36 months.

If you are a minor and convicted of carrying a concealed weapon, your driving privileges can be suspended for up to 5 years. The driving privileges of a minor might also be delayed or restricted if they are convicted of vandalism or of being habitually truant from school.

If your license has been suspended, you must do the following to reinstate your license:
Serve the period of suspension
Attend any required driver improvement school
Pay any service fee in addition to any fines ordered by court
Show proof of insurance
You may also be required to re-take parts of the license test
How Many Points Do You Get On Your Record For Specific Offenses?

You are assigned ONE POINT for:
Disobeying a traffic officer
Disobeying a fire official
Unsafe vehicle load
Youth bus/children crossing highway
Disregarding non-student crossing guard
Disregarding funeral escort officer
Crossing safety flares or cones
Driving, suspended/revoked for refusing test
Violation of license restrictions
Disregarding traffic officer's directions
Driving in a bicycle lane
Disobedience to traffic signs/controller
Illegal movement green light/arrow
Illegal movement yellow light/arrow
Illegal movement red light/arrow
Disobeying traffic signals
Failure to keep right
Crossing divided highway
Improper lane use
Driving on the sidewalk
Interfering with driver's control of vehicle
Tailgating
Illegal U-Turn
Passing a stopped school bus when its red lights are flashing
Exceeding freeway posted speed limit
Speeding in excess of local limits
Driving too slow
Child not wearing seat belt
Aiding or abetting a speed contest
Drinking while driving

You are assigned TWO POINTS for:
Evading a peace officer - Reckless driving
Driving while your license is suspended or revoked
Leaving the scene of an crash where there's injury or property damage
Driving on the wrong side of a divided highway
Speeding in excess of 100 MPH
Reckless driving


… that may include
limited golfing privileges
Racing (Speed Contest)
A minor driving with a BAC of .05 or more
Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
A moving violation, not involving unlawful speed, which results in a collision

Regardless of the point count, many serious offenses in which a vehicle is used are punishable by heavy penalties, such as fines and/or imprisonment.
Evading a Peace Officer

If you run, you better not get caught. Evading an officer may land you in the county jail for 6 months to one year. In addition, if anyone gets hurt you are looking at a minimum of 3 to 7 years in the state prison and 4 to 10 if it results in death. As cool as a feeway chase may look on Channel 9 News-It's a serious offense!
Riding in the trunk of a car is illegal (and is not very smart)

For those who haven't figured that out a law has passed making it a misdemeanor violation for a driver and a infraction for a passenger.
An important bit for Commercial Drivers-

A driver of a commercial vehicle may not operate a commercial motor vehicle for 1 year for the first conviction of certain serious offences, including DUI, hit and run or vehicular manslaughter, while driving any vehicle, not just a commercial vehicle. The law provides for permanent disqualification of a commercial driver for two or more convictions of specified offenses, while driving any vehicle.
Suspension by Judge

A judge may suspend the license of anyone convicted of:
Breaking speed laws or reckless driving
30 days on the first conviction
60 days on the second conviction
Six months on the third or subsequent conviction
Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Hit and run
Engaging in lewd conduct and prostitution in a vehicle within a 1,000 feet of a residence
Assaulting a driver, passenger, bicyclist, or pedestrian when the offense occurs on a highway (road rage). The person may be required to complete a court-approved anger management course.
Failure to stop as required at a railway grade crossing.
Recklessly fleeing a law enforcement officer.
Serious offenses in which a vehicle is used are punishable by heavy penalties, such as fines and/or imprisonment.
Collision Reports and Financial Responsibility



Failure to stop at the scene of a collision where your vehicle caused property damage, injury or death makes you a hit-and-run driver, subject to severe penalties.

If you are involved in a crash, you or your insurance agent, broker, or legal representative must submit a written crash report to:
The police or CHP within 24 hours of the collision if someone is killed or injured.

You must report a collision to the DMV within 10 days if:
More than $750 in damage was done to the property of any person
Anyone was injured (no matter how slightly) or killed

You must submit a California Traffic Accident Report Form SR1 to the DMV. This form is also available online: http://www.dmv.ca.gov/forms/sr/sr1.htm

Each driver is responsible for submitting a report to the DMV. The driver's insurance agent, broker or local representative can also do this. The CHP or police will not submit this report for you. You must submit this report, whether you are at fault or not, and even if the collision occurred on private property. If you don't submit this report, your driving privilege will be suspended.

California's Financial Responsibility Law requires every driver and every owner of a motor vehicle to maintain financial responsibility (liability coverage) at all times.

There are four (4) accepted forms of financial responsibility:
A motor vehicle liability insurance policy.
A deposit of $35,000 with DMV.
A surety bond for $35,000 obtained from a company licensed to do business in California.
A DMV-issued self-insurance certificate

You must carry written proof of financial responsibility whenever you drive and show it to a police officer after a citation stop or crash. You may have to pay a fine or have your vehicle impounded if you don't. If you don't have acceptable financial responsibility and are involved in a collision, you may lose your driver's license for up to four years.

The DMV is mandated by law to cancel your registration if you don't have proof of financial responsibility… Additionally, the DMV may charge a reinstatement fee to cover the cost of reinstating the registration after cancellation.