Suffolk County            Sheriff's Office

It is also required that:
- the person who supervises your driving be at least age 21 and have a license valid for the vehicle you are driving.
- the only passenger in the front seat is your supervising driver.
there be no more than one passenger under age 21 unless the passengers are members of your immediate family. You can have more than one passenger under age 21 only if your supervising driver is your licensed parent, guardian, person in a position of "in loco parentis," driver education teacher or driving school instructor.
- every passenger wears a seat belt (one seat belt per person).
- all children under age four ride in a federally-approved child safety seat.
-- if the child is more than 40 pounds in weight, they must use a proper child restraint system such as a booster seat.
-- until their 8th birthday, children must use a proper child restraint system.
-- children more than four feet nine inches tall are allowed to use a seat belt and shoulder harness.

When can I drive without a supervising driver?
Daytime exceptions (5 AM to 9 PM)
- If you have a junior license (Class DJ, MJ or DJ/MJ), you may drive in Nassau and Suffolk counties between the hours of 5 AM and 9 PM without a supervising driver only directly between your home and
- your employment (you must carry appropriate proof of employment)
- a state-approved cooperative work-study educational program
- an approved program for credit in a post-secondary institution
- a state-approved registered evening high school
- while engaged in farm employment
- an approved driver education course

Nighttime exceptions (9 PM to 5 AM)
- Between the hours of 9 PM and 5 AM, you may drive in Nassau and Suffolk counties without a supervising driver only directly between your home and
- a state-approved cooperative work-study educational program
- an approved program for credit in a post-secondary institution
- a state-approved registered evening high school
- while engaged in farm employment
- an approved driver education course

What are the penalties for traffic violations as a junior driver?
- Your junior permit, license, or privileges will be suspended for 60 days if you are convicted of one serious traffic violation or two other violations that were committed while you held a junior permit or license.
- Your junior permit, license, or privileges will be revoked for 60 days if you are convicted of one serious traffic violation or two other violations within the first six months after your permit, license or privileges are restored after a suspension or revocation.
- A "serious traffic violation" is normally a violation that carries three or more driver violation points.

For more information on the driving laws for Suffolk County, please visit the New York State DMV website.

To request this program, please use the Community Programs Request Form.