School Permit
Rules for Driving with a School Permit
Todd S. Poppie
Chief of Police
Sidney, IA
Students driving on an MSL may drive during the hours of 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM. There are no exceptions or waivers of the time period when drivingon an MSL.
Students driving on an MSL can drive over the most direct and accessible route between the licensee's residence and school(s) of enrollment and between schools of enrollment for the purposes of attending duly scheduled courses of instruction. The MSL may also be used to travel to and from extracurricular activities within the school district. The student must return home over the most direct and accessible route.
The statute that governs the MSL does not authorize or prohibit stopping for fuel. Since obtaining fuel is incidental to driving, the DOT's position is that it is allowed providing the service station is on the most direct and accessible route
The statute that governs the MSL does not authorize or prohibit passengers. The DOT's position is that passengers are allowed only if they enter the vehicle at the licensee's home and exit the vehicle at the same destination as the driver. No stops along the way to pickup or discharge passengers.
A conviction for a single moving traffic violation will result in a 30-day suspension. A conviction of two or more violations will result
in a revocation for one-year. If the license is revoked, reinstatement procedures will also require posting of proof of financial
responsibility (SR22 Insurance) for two years and payment of a $50 civil penalty in addition to a reinstatement and new license fee. A suspension or revocation of an MSL also withdraws the Instruction Permit or any other driving privilege.
The DOT may also suspend an MSL when it receives written notice from a peace officer, parent, custodian or guardian, school superintendent, or superintendent's designee that the student has violated the restrictions of the MSL. The MSL may also be suspended under the remedial driver improvement provisions of Iowa's Graduated Driver Licensing Law and suspended due to a contributive accident.
These rules can be found at the following website:
http://www.iowadot.gov/MVD/ods/msl.htm#Where%20can%20the%20student%20drive
I would also like to point out that parents that allow their children to continually violate the regulations can be cited.
