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Pittsburgh PennDOT Driver License Center in 708 Smithfield St.

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Driver´s License

In the States, the driver`s license is issued by every State or territory. A driver normally must obtain a driver's license from its State of residence, and this permit is valid for all the rest of the United States. A certain territory could also suspend the driving privileges around its limits to a driver who had violated the traffic rules. A lot of States shared a common system of classes with certain exceptions. In the case of commercial licenses, for example, those are standardized by federal regulations.

History

Around 1903, Massachusetts and Missouri were the first States to require a driver’s license, but there was no requirement to pass an exam to get one. In 1908, Henry Ford Delivered the first Ford T Vehicle, the one had a very accessible price and was affordable to all the american middle class. (Henry Ford, born in Michigan, obtained his first driver’s license by the age of 56).

The same year that Fort T came into the streets, Rhode Island began to request a driver's license for all drivers and decided that all licenses will be issued after completing a driver's exam.Around 1907 Massachusetts started to require an exam to achieve licenses for Chauffeurs, and around 1920, the exam was mandatory for all drivers interested on a driver's license.

Standard Licenses and Special licenses.

Non Restricted licenses:

This is the most common license in America. There are some differences between some States on the class of license they use to distinguish a regular driver’s license and a special one, like the restricted one, the Chauffeur or motorcycle license. I.e.In Tennessee a Standard driver's license is called Class D, the Class M is for Motorcycles and the Class H is a hardship license.

Hardship license for minors:

A hardship license for minors is different than a hardship license given to the drivers whose licenses had been revoked or suspended.

Provisional licenses:

Its funcion is the same as a driver's license, but these are issued for drivers under 18 years of age, between 14 and 17 years old. Almost every State, except South Dakota, counts with some kind of graduated license, but the restriction time and the period that a new driver must held the license vary widely depending on the State.

The restrictions include:

• Not being able to drive in dark hours, during the nights (unless the driver is 18 years old or if he or she have completed the online driving course) without any adult (generally 11pm like in Pennsylvania, o 1am like in Wisconsin). Nevertheless, some States (like North Carolina) increase this period from 9pm. Some States, like i.e. New York, offers some exemptions for special situations, like driving to or from work, School, medical reasons, religious activities; but there are others like Massachusetts that does not contemplate no exemption.
• Restriction for carrying passengers under certain age. I.e. In California is not permitted to transport any passenger under 20 years old for the first year of the license, unless those passengers are direct family (siblings, cousins, nease/neffew or any other older than 21 with a valid drivers license).

Chauffeur's license:

Its function is the same as a regular license, with the add that this license also allows the titular to drive a taxi, limousine or other rented vehicle. In the States, this kind of license is complicated to get, the chauffeur license are not considered a commercial or professional license and, (assuming that the driver already possess a regular license), generally it does not require a driving exam to turn it to a Chauffeur license; However, some States require a written exam about specific driving rules for a taxi or a background check, and also require that the driver is at least 18 years of age (bear in mind that some taxi companies only hire people from 25 years old or older for Insurance reasons).

Motorcycle license:

These vehicles sometimes do not require a motorcycle license, in some States any type of license, or any kind of insurance or registration. Unlike the UE, non State in America differentiates a motorcycle between a low or full power to issue a license. Some States require an additional permit to operate a Motorcycle with a sidecar.

Improved licenses:

This kind of license is issued for american citizens in Washington, Michigan, California, Vermont, New York and Minnesota, and se the nationality of the driver appart of the drivers permit. A EDL is a compatible document with a WHTI, acceptable document to cross land or sea borders incoming from Canada, Caribe or Mexico. TO apply for this kind of license it is necessary to bring an American passport and a birth certificate as proof of the nationality. The commercial license and the Motorcycle license also have the same option to be improved.

Permit for disabled persons

The permit for disabled persons is issued to those people who comply with a responsible standard driving and parking access. Special access is issued to improve their life when driving. In some States, like in Texas, the disable person can be forced to surrender his or her licenses depending on their disability.

Some States have additional classifications. I.e. Hawaii counts with a special license for motorcycle drivers, and other States count for other separated categories for snow bikes and all terrain vehicles. South Carolina and Georgia issue different versions of commercial licenses for agrobusiness.

Driver license laws.

Drivers under 18 generally must follow an educational program, either at School or in a private driving School, and to practise with a professional before applying to the license. Some States like New York also require new drivers to take driving lessons before applying for the license.

However, in some States, all adult drivers with their first license could be on a trial period for some amount of time (generally between 6 months and two years), during this period, any transit violation has more severe consequences or even suspension of the license for some time, rules that would not apply for the experimented drivers.

Use of license as Identification and proof of age.

Due to the fact that there is not a National Id card in the United States, the drivers license, can be easily used to pursue some commercial or government transactions. As a result of this, the driver's license is very often stolen from its titular and used fraudulently.

The driver’s licence was not always used as ID. In most of the States, the licenses didn't even have a Photo until 1980. The mother association movement against young drivers under alcohol effects plus the establishment of the minimum age to purchase alcohol beverages, did that all drivers licenses added a photo around 1986. However, in New Jersey there was no obligation yet to add a photo in the license, this was reviewed and revoked later.

In Vermont, all license holders have the option to obtain a license with no photo. In Tennessee, all drivers older than 60 years old, could have a license with no photo, until January 2013, when that became mandatory to be able to vote. All non photo license holders can apply for a new one with a photo when the license expires. There are still 13 States that for religious reasons, allow drivers to have a license with no picture: Indiana, Kansas, Arkansas, Nebraska, Missouri, Minnesota, North Dakota, New Jersey, Nebraska, Pennsylvania, Oregon, Wisconsin, Tennessee and Washington.

There are more additions that may vary between States, like the fingerprint, bar codes, magnetic bands, Social security numbers and fraud protection systems, most of them added to avoid identities stealing and fraudulent IDs. To avoid more false driver's licenses, the States have been working on digital improvements incorporating holograms and bar codes. Identification cards with no driver.

Some States, generally issue ID cards on the same agency that they issue the driving license, for people who don't drive.

Real ID

The National Security Department has the power to establish the Standards related to identification cards and its design and the driver's license design. The States are not forced to comply with the real ID, but if they do not use the new identification cards or driver’s licenses, there will be no valid identification to pursue any oficial activity with the federal government, which means that the entrance to some federal buildings, aeroplanes and official installations will be denied to the holder of this State’s ID.

It is necessary that this king of ID is revised and proved by the DHS to be able to issue Real ID cards, this way, the requirements for Real ID will be fulfilled.

It is ok to issue regular IDs, but these ones must be marked by a "No for Federal identification". The Real IDs are valid for 8 years. The Real ID is only issued for American citizens or legal residents of the States.

Improved Driver’s licenses

Some States, generally the ones that share an international border line, issue improved drivers licenses and ID cards. The Improved Licenses combine the standard driver license with the specifications of the federal passport.

Therefore, apart from the driving privileges, we also have proof of american citizenship and we can cross borders into Canada and Mexico by highway, railroad or sea, even though if we want to cross the border by aeroplane, that will still require a passport. The improved licenses are compatible with the Real IDs.

Digital drivers licences.

The digital License does not require any additional hardware and includes a policy of "Do not touch" that allows the owner to be in possession of the mobile device at any moment.

In October 2018, the State Secretary of Louisiana, Kyle Ardoin, approved the digital ID for the identification of voting people at elections. In January 2019, the Alcohol and Tobacco Office in Louisiana approved the use of the digital ID through LA Wallet as a way of identification of age to purchase cigarettes and alcohol.

Some tips for your drivers license test in 708 Smithfield St.:

If you go to take your driver's test and your a car Enthusiast, this will be one of the most exciting days of your life and, if you're not, it opens up a world of possibilities for traveling and do things you never could have done before.

If you follow these few simple tips you'll be well on your way and you'll pass it with flying colors.

About mirrors

Before leaving the parking lot and getting out on the road is important to check out your mirrors, adjust your seat position, adjust the steering wheel position and of course fasten your seatbelt.

Proper 9 and 3 hand position

Proper hand position is at 9 and 3, and i guarantee if you drive one-handed at the 12 position you're going to fail your test. It's important to keep both hands on the steering wheel at all times. Of course if you have a manual transmission vehicle you have to take one hand off the ship, but this will keep your test administrator feeling safe and you will be in the most control of your vehicle.

Changing lanes

When changing lanes is important to do the following: First Signal, then look in your rearview mirror all by your side mirror, look over your shoulder, and if is safe, then you can go. Once you're in the lane that you're moving into all the way, then you can turn your turn indicator. Always signal if you're changing lanes no matter if there's no traffic around you, for the driver's test it is important to check both mirrors, look over your shoulder and use your turn signal.

When changing multiple lanes

Now if you're going over multiple Lanes ( For example you're on a four-lane road ) always go from one lane to the next, pause for a little bit, then turn your turning indicator on, look at both mirrors over shoulder, go to the next line, pause and then go to the next. Shooting over across 4 Lanes of traffic is a good way to fail the test.

Pulling out onto a street with a high speed limit

Always give yourself plenty of time when pulling out onto a street with a high speed limit. It will not annoy the person providing your test if you wait there until it's safe.

If you pull out in front of a car that is moving quickly and do not give yourself enough room you're going to lose points. Waiting until there's plenty of space, more so than you think you would need normally, it is the proper way to do it.

Fear to one side of the lane

Often beginner drivers tend of fear to one side of the lane or the other. On a single Lane road that means you might been too close to the double yellow or too close to the shoulder. If you need to prevent this there is a technique that you can used that is really helpful when you're learning, is to look farther ahead in the road and try to imagine the center of the road, picture a line in the center of the lane you're in passing through the center of your vehicle. This helps keep you in the center of your lane which is important for succeeding at the driver's test.

Stoping on a stop sing or red light propertly

When you´re coming to a stop sign or an stop or red light is really important to stop before the white line in the road. That mean, when you're coming to a full stop, you should still be able to see the white line in front of the hood of your car. Then, if it's a blind turn, once you come to a full start, now you can start creeping out a little bit further and further so you can see the flow of traffic and make your right or left turn.

Always use a safe following distance between yourself and the car in front of you. The higher the speed limit is, the more the following distance between cars. That is because, if the person in front of you breaks all the sudden, you want to give yourself enough time to react.

Braking tips

Also, before you break, always check your rearview mirror. If you come onto a stop abruptly and there's a car right behind you, they could run into you. Obviously if it's an emergency situation this isn't always possible, but in the ideal case always check your mirror before braking.

Keep constantly scanning the road

Always keep your eyes moving. that means constantly scanning the road for pedestrian, any obstacles or turns that are coming up that means checking your mirrors constantly ( Your rearview mirror, your side mirrors, looking over your shoulder, etc ). Being attentive and showing that you're paying attention is going to go a long way to pass your driver's test.

Cut corners

When making protective left turns people often cut corners. Is something that everyone does on the road all the time: passing over a double yellow or a white line is a great way to fail your driver's test so make sure to take it wide enough, stay in the guidelines when you're making left turns and not cut any corners.

Drive as smooth as possible

Be as smooth as possible. this means smooth steering inputs, smooth braking and smooth acceleration. Being jerky is not going to go well.

Drive defensively

Drive defensively not aggressively. This day is about proving that you are a safe driver.

Please, don't speed

Obviously don't speed. This is more difficult than it sounds. In general people are used to going 5 miles an hour over the speed limit or so when driving in a daily situation but for the test you cannot do that. Speed limit or below is required.

Also having a radar detector in your car for the test probably won't leave a very good first impression.

Pre-drive test checklist:

The DMV wants to check if you are proficient with all the controls on the inside the car before you start the driver test.

Here's a sample of the pre Drive checklist:

• The DMV will tell you to turn the car on, but don't start it.
• Turn the turn signal on to the left and then the right.
• Turn the headlights on.
• Turn the headlights off.
• Turn the windshield wipers on.
• Turn on the emergency flashers in the morning.
• The examiner may ask you, if you come out in the morning and there's frost on your front window, how do you defrost your front window? You selected froster, turn the fan on to number 2 or higher and select the “Heat”.
• Any other examiner will ask you to show them your defrosters: Where are they located?
• The Examiner will then ask you to disengage the emergency parking brake and then, engage the emergency parking brake.
• They will then ask you to honk the horn.

Identification Cards

The Identification cards are issued to all citizens with no age requirement by the Department of Motor and Vehicles. This ID card is similar to the Drivers License, but it can only be used for identification purposes.

There are two different types of cards, the regular one, that is valid for 6 years, and the one issued for elderly persons that can only be requested if the person is older than 62 years old, this last one has a validity of 10 years.

If the applicant is a beneficiary from a public assistance program from the government, there is a chance that he or she can apply for the Identification card presenting the form “Reduced cost verification for ID card” to the Department of Vehicles.

CDL Written

In the USA there is a law called "Commercial Vehicles Security law", that establishes the requirements that a State must comply when issuing a commercial License. There are 3 different type of licenses:

Class A, for those vehicles that pass the 10.000 pounds of weight.

Class B, for those vehicles that has less than 10.000 òunds of weight.

Class C, for those vehicles that do not comply with the weights in class A or B but are designed to carry 16 passengers or more, or to carry dangerous goods materials.

The minimum age to apply for this license is 18 years old, except some exceptions in some States. Nevertheless, in case of interstate commerce it is essential that who applies counts with no less than 21 years of age. Previous to 1992, the year where this license was implemented, the requirements varied according to the State, as the commercial vehicles required special skills and knowledge.

The applicant wasn't always ready for this, and that led to a lot of accidents. From this year forward, after this law was released, the Federal HighWay administration (FHWA) developed some standard tests for those who wanted this special license, only those who successfully passed the written and the practice test could access the license.

The written test counts with a minimum of 30 questions about vial safety and parts of a trailer truck, to passmark is stated in 80 percent.

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