Under Missouri's former driver licensing system, there was inexplicably no requirement for any experience behind the wheel of a car whatsoever. Apart from the on-the-road test, there were few obstacles a teen-ager had to hurdle before receiving full driving privileges.

However, under Missouri's new graduated licensing law, which takes effect in 2001, teens will be required to graduate through three licensing stages to receive an unrestricted license. And for the first time, novice drivers will need parental permission, as well as have restrictions on the time of day they can drive and the practice they must acquire.

Under the first stage of the new GDL system, teens can apply for an instructional permit at age 15 after Jan. 1, 2001. A parent must accompany them to the testing station to sign for the instructional permit. As before, they must pass a vision, road sign and written test. (Prior to the year 2001, teens must be 15 1/2 to apply for the permit.)

With the permit, the teen can drive only when accompanied by a parent, grandparent or legal guardian. However, if the permit holder is 16 years old, the person occupying the seat next to the driver must be at least 21 and have a valid license. The instruction permit is valid for 12 months, and the driver cannot apply for the next stage until he or she has held the permit for six months.

When applying for an Intermediate license, teens must be at least 16 years old and a parent must accompany them to the testing station again to verify the novice driver has completed 20 hours of training. Also, they must pass a driving test and have no alcohol-related offenses in the previous 12 months and no traffic convictions in the previous six months. Also, if the results from their vision, road sign and written tests are more than a year old, they must repeat those tests, as well.

In the Intermediate stage, seat belts are required for the driver and all passengers. And the Intermediate license holder cannot drive alone between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m., except to and from a school activity, job or emergency. The permit is valid for two years.

Finally, novice drivers can receive a full license at the age of 18, as long as they have not had their intermediate license suspended, revoked or denied. And they must have no alcohol-related offense or traffic convictions within the last 12 months. They also must have another vision test.

Teens who have a valid license prior to Jan. 1, 2001, will not be affected by the new law. And 16-year-olds who obtained a temporary permit before that time will be required to show that they have driven on the permit for six months and provide written verification that a parent or someone over 21 years of age rode with them for the required 20 hours.

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