(a) The registrar of motor vehicles, or a deputy registrar, upon receiving an application for a temporary instruction permit and a temporary instruction permit identification card for a driver's license from any person who is at least 15 years and six months of age, may issue such a permit and identification card entitling the applicant to drive a motor vehicle, other than a commercial motor vehicle, upon the highways under the following conditions:
(1) If the permit is issued to a person who is at least 15 years and six months of age, but less than 16 years of age:
A. The permit and identification card are in the holder's immediate possession;
B. The holder is accompanied by an eligible adult who actually occupies the seat beside the permit holder and does not have a prohibited concentration of alcohol in the whole blood, blood serum or plasma, breath, or urine as provided in division (A) of Ohio R.C. 4511.19;
C. The total number of occupants of the vehicle does not exceed the total number of occupant restraining devices originally installed in the motor vehicle by its manufacturer, and each occupant of the vehicle is wearing all of the available elements of a properly adjusted occupant restraining device.
(2) If the permit is issued to a person who is at least 16 years of age:
A. The permit and identification card are in the holder's immediate possession;
B. The holder is accompanied by a licensed operator who is at least 21 years of age, is actually occupying a seat beside the driver, and does not have a prohibited concentration of alcohol in the whole blood, blood serum or plasma, breath, or urine as provided in division (A) of Ohio R.C. 4511.19;
C. The total number of occupants of the vehicle does not exceed the total number of occupant restraining devices originally installed in the motor vehicle by its manufacturer, and each occupant of the vehicle is wearing all of the available elements of a properly adjusted occupant restraining device.
(b) The registrar or a deputy registrar, upon receiving from any person an application for a temporary instruction permit and temporary instruction permit identification card to operate a motorcycle or motorized bicycle, may issue such a permit and identification card entitling the applicant, while having the permit and identification card in the applicant's immediate possession, to drive a motorcycle or motorized bicycle under restrictions determined by the registrar. A temporary instruction permit and temporary instruction permit identification card to operate a motorized bicycle may be issued to a person 14 or 15 years old.
(c) Any permit and identification card issued under this section shall be issued in the same manner as a driver's license, upon a form to be furnished by the registrar. A temporary instruction permit to drive a motor vehicle other than a commercial motor vehicle shall be valid for a period of one year.
(d) Any person having in the person's possession a valid and current driver's license or motorcycle operator's license or endorsement issued to the person by another jurisdiction recognized by this state is exempt from obtaining a temporary instruction permit for a driver's license, but shall submit to the regular examination in obtaining a driver's license or motorcycle operator's endorsement in this state.
(e) The registrar may adopt rules governing the use of temporary instruction permits and temporary instruction permit identification cards.
(f) (1) No holder of a permit issued under division (a) of this section shall operate a motor vehicle upon a highway or any public or private property used by the public for purposes of vehicular travel or parking in violation of the conditions established under division (a) of this section.
(2) Except as provided in division (f)(2) of this section, no holder of a permit that is issued under division (a) of this section and that is issued on or after July 1, 1998, and who has not attained the age of 18 years, shall operate a motor vehicle upon a highway or any public or private property used by the public for purposes of vehicular travel or parking between the hours of midnight and 6:00 a.m.
The holder of a permit issued under division (a) of this section on or after July 1, 1998, who has not attained the age of 18 years, may operate a motor vehicle upon a highway or any public or private property used by the public for purposes of vehicular travel or parking between the hours of midnight and 6:00 a.m. If, at the time of such operation, the holder is accompanied by the holder's parent, guardian, or custodian, and the parent, guardian, or custodian holds a current valid driver's or commercial driver's license issued by this state, is actually occupying a seat beside the permit holder and does not have a prohibited concentration of alcohol in the whole blood, blood serum or plasma, breath, or urine as provided in division (A) of Ohio R.C. 4511.19.
(g) (1) Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, no law enforcement officer shall cause the operator of a motor vehicle being operated on any street or highway to stop the motor vehicle for the sole purpose of determining whether each occupant of the motor vehicle is wearing all of the available elements of a properly adjusted occupant restraining device as required by division (a) of this section, or for the sole purpose of issuing a ticket, citation, or summons if the requirement in that division has been or is being violated, or for causing the arrest of or commencing a prosecution of a person for a violation of that requirement.
(2) Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, no law enforcement officer shall cause the operator of a motor vehicle being operated on any street or highway to stop the motor vehicle for the sole purpose of determining whether a violation of division (f)(2) of this section has been or is being committed or for the sole purpose of issuing a ticket, citation, or summons for such a violation or for causing the arrest of or commencing a prosecution of a person for such violation.
(h) As used in this section:
(1) "Eligible adult" means any of the following:
A. An instructor of a driver training course approved by the department of public safety;
B. Any of the following persons who holds a current valid driver's or commercial driver's license issued by this state:
1. A parent, guardian, or custodian of the permit holder;
2. A person 21 years of age or older who acts in loco parentis of the permit holder.
(2) "Occupant restraining device" has the same meaning as in R.C. § 4513.263.
(i) Whoever violates division (f)(1) or (f)(2) of this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor.
(ORC 4507.05)