Texas Traffic Laws For Drivers Under 18

Most teenagers are beyond excited to get their driver's license and get behind the wheel. However, teen drivers are more likely to get into a crash than adults. According to the CDC, the accident rate for 16-year-old drivers is 1.5 times that of drivers aged 18 to 19. To keep those teen drivers safe in Texas, several traffic laws have been put in place specifically for drivers under 18. Find out those Texas traffic laws for drivers under 18 below.

Graduated License Laws In Texas

For minors in Texas, they are allowed to get a learner's permit and take Driver's Ed. However, they are subject to certain restrictions on their driver's license while under the age of 18. Under the Graduated Driver License Program, the teen driver is issued a provisional license, which means:

• A curfew is in place and you are not allowed to drive between midnight and 5 a.m., unless you have to drive to get to work, school, school-related activities or to get help in a medical emergency.
• You are not allowed to drive with more than one passenger under the age of 21 unless those passengers are family members.

Any violations of the Texas traffic laws for provisional license holders can incur fines of up to $200.

Distracted Driving Laws In Texas

The data shows that texting while driving is extremely dangerous. Because of that, Texas has put distracted driving laws in place to stop the use of devices while behind the wheel. The distracted driving laws do not ban cell phones for adults entirely, but the rules are different for teens. Drivers under the age of 18 cannot use a cell phone or other handheld device for any purpose while driving. Any violations of these rules can incur fines up to $200. If there is a crash resulting in the injury or death of another person, then you can incur additional fines of up to $4,000 and possible jail time.

DWI Laws In Texas

The legal drinking age in Texas is 21. Texas has a zero-tolerance stance for teens driving while intoxicated. The blood alcohol content (BAC) for adults in Texas has to be below .08%, but there is no acceptable BAC for minors under the age of 21. The DWI laws state:

• It is illegal for minors to have any detectable BAC while driving. 
• A police officer can pull over a minor and request a blood test for any reasonable suspicion of alcohol use.
• Refusal to consent to a breath or blood test results in a 180-day driver’s license suspension.

If you were to violate these laws, the penalties are pretty stiff:

• For drivers under age 17, these include a fine of up to $500, community service of up to 40 hours, and a license suspension of up to 180 days.
• For drivers aged 17 to 20, a first offense carries a fine of up to $2,000, jail time of up to 180 days, and a one-year license suspension.

Dismissing A Traffic Ticket

Mistakes happen for everyone, including teen drivers. In some instances, Texas state law allows a judge to dismiss a ticket. To do so, the offender must take a defensive driving course, which allows them to brush up on their safe driving practices. However, not all offenses are eligible for ticket dismissal, so you can check with the court listed on the ticket to see if it is an option for you.

While it is exciting that you have your driver's license, these Texas traffic laws are put in place to protect you and other drivers on the road. It takes time to master driving, so these restrictions give teens that extra practice time they need behind the wheel.

As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to our friendly support staff. If you want to start your driver's license journey with Coastline Academy, make sure to sign up for Drivers Ed and book your driving lesson today.