Section 1030.88  Exemption of Facility Administered Road Test

a)         Approved High School Driver Education Course

1)         The Department shall exempt a high school student from a facility-administered road test if the student has earned a grade of A or B for an approved high school driver education course, passed a road test administered by a Department-certified high school driver education instructor, and presents an authorization form signed by the driver education instructor exempting the student from the facility-administered road test.

2)         Each local board of education that wants to participate in the cooperative driver testing program must submit an application to the Field Services Bureau, Department of Driver Services of the Secretary of State's Office, 2701 S. Dirksen Parkway, Springfield, Illinois  62723.  The application shall consist of the Cooperative Driver Testing Program Intent to Participate form and also a Compliance Affidavit for each participating driver education instructor.  The application shall include the name and address of the high school and the names of the driver education instructors who will participate in the program.  The application shall also include a statement that the schools and instructors listed for participation in the program shall administer a road test.  The application shall be submitted once per calendar year.  The Department shall accept all Intent to Participate forms that are accurate and complete and signed by the district superintendent.  The Department shall accept all Compliance Affidavits that are accurate and complete and that show compliance with subsection (a)(3).

3)         Each high school instructor shall submit a compliance affidavit that shows the instructor is an accredited driver education teacher with the Illinois State Board of Education pursuant to 23 Ill. Adm. Code 1.737(b)(3), possesses either a valid Illinois driver's license or a valid and properly classified out-of-state driver's license with submission annually of an acceptable, certified out-of-state driving abstract, and shall have attended an initial certification clinic offered by the Department.

4)         Each high school instructor shall notify the Department if a student fails a road test administered by the instructor. The notification shall be made within two business days after the failure and shall include the student’s name, instruction permit number, road test score sheet, and the date on which the road test was administered.

5)         A high school instructor may not conduct a road test for a student who has previously failed a Cooperative Testing road exam.

6)         The high school instructor shall submit a schedule of road tests in a manner prescribed by the Department, including but not limited to dates, times, and locations of testing, to the Department, no later than two business days prior to each test.

b)         Approved Commercial Drivers Training School Driver Education Course

1)         The Department shall exempt a high school student or a student who is no longer attending high school, has not yet reached the age of 18, and who meets the qualifications set forth in IVC Section 6-408.5(b) from a facility-administered road test if the student has:

A)        earned a grade of A or B in the classroom portion of an approved high school driver education course and has completed the behind-the-wheel portion at a high school or a commercial driver training school; or

B)        obtained an overall score of 80% in an approved driver education course at commercial driver training school licensed pursuant to IVC Section 6-401 and passed a road test administered by a commercial driver training school instructor certified by the Department to administer road tests.

2)         Each commercial driver training school that wants to administer a road test must submit an application to the Commercial Driver Training School Section, Department of Driver Services, 1800 W. Hawthorne Lane, West Chicago, IL  60185.  The application shall consist of the Secretary of State Intent to Participate form and a Compliance Affidavit for each participating commercial driver training instructor.  The application shall include the name and address of the commercial driver training school (and branch if applicable) and the names of the commercial driver training instructors who will participate in administering road exams.  The application shall be submitted once per calendar year and updated as needed during the year.  The Department shall approve only those applications and instructors who meet the criteria set forth in Section 1060.270 and who have completed an initial certification clinic offered by the Department.

c)         The exemption from the facility testing will expire on the same day as the student's current instruction permit.  The student shall be required to obtain a valid driver's license prior to the expiration date of the permit in accordance with the program.  After the expiration date, the student shall complete a facility-administered road test.  No extension of the exemption from facility testing beyond the expiration date of the instruction permit shall be allowed.

d)         The Department may spot-check a sample of the exempted driver population.  The Field Services Bureau of the Department shall choose the sample to be tested based on the applicant's birthday.  Three calendar days per month shall be designated for the testing, and an applicant whose birthday is on one of the selected days shall be required to successfully complete a facility-administered drive test.  The selected dates shall be altered every three months.

e)         The exemption authorization form shall be designated in a manner prescribed by the Department.  The student shall submit the authorization form to a Driver Services Facility employee of the Department when applying for a driver's license.

f)         Motorcycle Road Test. The Department shall exempt an applicant for a Class M or Class L driver's license (see Section 1030.30), which allows operation of a motorcycle or motor-driven cycle, from a facility-administered road test if the applicant possesses a valid Illinois driver's license to operate any other classification of motor vehicles and:

1)         shows acceptable proof of completion of a motorcycle rider safety training course approved by the Illinois Department of Transportation stating the individual is qualified to operate a motorcycle and/or motor-driven cycle with the cubic centimeter piston displacement that correlates to the classification of driver's license applied for.  Successful completion of the motorcycle rider safety training course shall be evidenced by a Student Completion Card issued by the Illinois Department of Transportation not more than one year prior to the date of application; or

2)         is an active-duty member of the United States Armed Forces and presents a motorcycle rider training/testing course completion card issued by the Motorcycle Safety Foundation, dated not more than one year prior to the date of application, that indicates the applicant is qualified to operate a motorcycle or motor-driven cycle with cubic centimeter piston displacement that correlates to the classification of driver's license for which the applicant is applying. The completion card must be accompanied by an Illinois Secretary of State approved verification form completed by the applicant and examiner certified by the Motorcycle Safety Foundation.

(Source:  Amended at 47 Ill. Reg. 17529, effective November 7, 2023)