Minnesota YMCA Youth in Government
Model Legislature
BILL #: 6500
Download PDFBE IT ENACTED BY THE YOUTH LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA YOUTH LEGISLATURE –
An act to
Lower the age of a learners permit in Minnesota.
SECTION I - PURPOSE
This bill's purpose is to lower the age to get your learners permit in Minnesota from 15, to 14 years of age.
SECTION II - JUSTIFICATION
The reasoning is that three out of the four states that border Minnesota (north Dakota, south Dakota, and Iowa) have
their age of getting a learners permit at 14, you can also get your learner's permit at 14 as well as in the states of
Alaska, Arkansas, and Kansas. If this bill passes more restrictions would be implemented such as not being allowed to
drive after 11pm and not allowed to drive before 6am as well as not being allowed to drive with anyone who is not
immediate family to them for the first 12 months of driving. They must be able to hold their permit for 12 months
without any traffic violation. If the permitted driver gets a traffic violation (including but not limited to speeding,
not using a blinker, and or parking in an illegal manner) they would get a gradual increase of a six month period before
being allowed to get their provisional license. The amount of time behind the wheel would also get increased from 50
hours of which of at least 15 hours be at night to 80 hours which 15 must be at night.
SECTION III - DEFINITIONS
Learners Permit: A document that allows a person to learn how to drive a car by actually driving
Provisional License: A specific restricted license received after a learners permit and before a full license
Full License: A driver’s license with no age or inexperienced based restrictions.
PM: The hours between noon and midnight.
AM: The hours between midnight and noon.
Immediate Family: One's spouse, child, sibling, and or parent/guardian.
Traffic Violation: Any unlawful action while operating a motor vehicle.
Registration of a Vehicle: The legal process of recording a vehicle with a states Department of Motor Vehicles to
officially link it to the owner.
SECTION IV - FUNDING
This bill would require little funding, which will come from a 2% increase for tabs and registration of a vehicle.
SECTION V – PENALTIES/ENFORCEMENT
No penalties or enforcements are foreseen to be needed.
SECTION VI – EFFECTIVE DATE
January 1st 2027