In the near future, I plan to introduce legislation to update Pennsylvania’s junior driver licensing law to better reflect the realities facing students and families.
 
Under current law, junior drivers (ages 16 and 17) cannot drive between 11:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. unless they are accompanied by a parent, guardian, or a person in loco parentis, or traveling for work or volunteer service with proper documentation. The intent makes sense, but it does not account for the demands of school-sponsored activities that often take place outside of these hours.
 
In my district, a recent example makes this clear: a school team had to report at 4:00 a.m. to travel to a national competition, putting families in the position of either breaking the law or scrambling for transportation at that hour. The same situation comes up with late returns from band events and away games — football, hockey, basketball, wrestling — where buses get back after curfew and students cannot legally drive home.
 
In practice, advisors are seeing students get into their cars anyway, as many parents cannot pick them up due to work or responsibilities at home. As a result of the current law, some families are opting out of these activities altogether, which is a loss for those students. Parents and school staff have raised this repeatedly and are asking for a practical solution. Students are left without a legal or practical way to get home on their own — and it is a problem we need to fix.
 
My legislation provides a clear, structured, and responsible solution.
 
Specifically, this legislation:
 

• Allows a junior driver to operate a vehicle between 11:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. when traveling to or from a school-sponsored activity in which they are a participant;
• Requires the student to carry a letter from the school confirming participation and the need to travel during those hours;
• Allows that letter to cover one event or multiple activities during the school year and to include general end times;
• Permits the letter to be electronic or in hard copy;
• Protects schools and school employees from liability for issuing the letter; and
• Allows a citation to be dismissed if the student later provides proof they had the required documentation.

 
This is not a blanket exemption — it applies only to students participating in school-sponsored activities who have proper documentation.
 
“School-sponsored activities” include athletics, extracurriculars, clubs, academic events, and other school-approved programs.
 
This is a practical fix. It supports students and families, keeps reasonable safeguards in place, and gives clear guidance to law enforcement.
 
I would appreciate your consideration and support as a co-sponsor.