SB 480

Under current law, most operator's licenses issued by the Department of

Transportation (DOT) must be renewed every eight years. In general, an applicant

for renewal of an operator's license must pass an eyesight test and have his or her

photograph taken, but the applicant may provide a report of satisfactory eyesight

from an eye care professional in lieu of DOT's eyesight examination.

Under this bill, a person who is 75 years of age or older (elderly driver) must

renew his or her operator's license every four years rather than every eight years.

The bill also allows an elderly driver to renew his or her operator's license by mail

or by electronic means established by DOT if the elderly driver provides DOT with

all of the following: 1) a medical form, completed by a health care professional,

representing that the elderly driver has been examined and is physically capable of

safely operating a motor vehicle; and 2) a report of satisfactory eyesight from an eye

care professional, which report may be incorporated into the medical form. No

photograph is taken at the time of renewal if an elderly driver renews his or her

operator's license by mail or electronic means. An elderly driver may renew his or

her operator's license by mail or electronic means only at every other renewal period.

The bill requires DOT to prescribe the medical form and establish an electronic

means for operator's license renewal.