DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE Division of Motor Vehicles RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR CLASSIFICATION OF DRIVER'S LICENSES 1 CCR 204-6 [Editor’s Notes follow the text of the rules at the end of this CCR Document.] _________________________________________________________________________ Regulation 42-2-101:

(1) Only one license will be issued to any one applicant which will indicate the class or classes of licenses for which the applicant has qualified.

(2) Classes of Drivers Licenses:

Class A - This class includes any vehicle or combination of vehicles, except a bus or motorcycle. This class includes motorized bicycles (mo-peds).

This class permits the driving of vehicles including Class C and Class B, but does not permit the operation of a motorcycle, motorscooter, motor-driven cycle, or a bus equipped for carrying ten or more persons.

Class B - This class includes any single vehicle except a bus or motorcycle, and will permit the licensee to tow one other vehicle of less than ten thousand pounds gross vehicle weight. This class includes motorized bicycles (mo-peds).

This class permits the operation of all vehicles in Class C, but does not permit the operation of a motorcycle, motorscooter, motor-driven cycle, or a bus equipped for carrying ten or more persons.

Class C - This is the basic drivers' license and permits the operation of any two-axle vehicle. It does not permit the licensee to operate vehicles described in Class A, B, 5 or M. It also permits the towing of one other vehicle or trailer of less than ten thousand pounds gross vehicle weight. This class includes motorized bicycles (mo-peds). Class M MOTORCYCLE; ANY VEHICLE DESIGNED TO TRAVEL WITH NOT MORE THAN THREE WHEELS IN CONTACT WITH THE GROUND, EXCEPT FOR THOSE VEHICLE S THAT ARE LISTED AS FARM TRACTORS, AND NOT MEETING THE DEFINITION OF A MOTORSCOOTER OR MOTORIZED BICYCLE. EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 1, 1999, NO NEW CLASS M LICENSE WILL BE ISSUED. THE M WILL APPEAR ONLY AS AN ENDORSEMENT ON A CLASS R (REGULAR) OR COMMERCIAL DRIVER LICENSE (CDL).

Class R REGULAR; ANY VEHICLE WITH A GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT OR GROSS COMBINATION WEIGHT RATING OF 26,000 POUNDS OR LESS, TRANSPORTING NO MORE THAN 15 PASSENGERS INCLUDING THE DRIVER AND TRANSPORTING NO HAZARDOUS MATERIALS IN QUANTITIES REQUIRING PLACARDING UNDER DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (DOT) REGULATIONS.

Class S - This class permits the operation of a vehicle which is equiped for carrying ten or more persons. This class includes motorized bicycles (mo-peds). Code of Colorado Regulations 1 This class does not include school buses which are subject to special regulations set forth by the Colorado Department of Education. Drivers of school buses must apply for a special school bus drivers' license.

The Class S license applicant must qualify or have in possession a valid Colorado Class A, B, or C license before the Class S License can be issued. Certification of Employers REGULATION:

1(a) The department will accept certificates of driver experience or training in lieu of driving tests on applications for Class A, B, or S drivers' licenses when the applicant submits a certificate issued by an employer certified and authorized by the department.

(b) The department will accept certificates of driver training and experience in lieu of a driving test for motorcycle operators who are operating such vehicles for police departments, state patrol, or sheriffs offices and the certificate is issued by such agency. Employers Must Qualify 2(a) Employers submitting certificates of driver experience or training on behalf of their employees, including contract employees, must secure departmental approval for that purpose. Only employers who provide training and testing equal to the training and testing required by the department will be authorized.

(b) Employers must obtain approval by submitting an application, provided by the department, containing facts concerning their operation. Each employer will be assigned a number and this number will be used by the employer in submitting the certificate of driving experience as prescribed by the department. The application will outline the nature and type of operation and type of training given. The application will be evaluated by the department before approval is granted.

(c) Employers outside the State of Colorado are not eligible for approval except where such employers have branches or terminals located in Colorado and such branches or terminals can qualify under the requirements.

Basic Requirements for Acceptance of Certificate 3(a) Before any certificate of experience or training can be accepted, the applicant must meet certain basic requirements. Such applicants must first meet the requirements for a Class C license. Previous qualification for a license will be considered upon presentation of evidence of such licensing, as meeting this requirement.

(b) First Time Applicants. Applicants applying for their first license of any type, or not presenting evidence of a previous Colorado driver's license, must pass both the Class C rules of the road test and driving tests. The Class C driving test may be waived for applicants holding licenses from another U.S. state or territory which are valid.

(c) Former Licensees. Applicants applying for a Class A, B, or S license who hold a Colorado chauffeur license must pass the applicable written test for the specific class of license. The driving test will be waived if the applicant who holds the chauffeur license can present acceptable evidence of experience in the operation of a vehicle in the specific class. The applicant who holds a previous chauffeur license who cannot submit such evidence of experience must pass the required driving test. Code of Colorado Regulations 2 (d) Present Licensees. Applicants presently holding valid Colorado licenses and who seek an exchange to a higher class, need take only such rules of the road tests as are needed for the higher qualification, and may submit a certificate of experience in lieu of the special driving tests.

(e) Renewal Within Same Class. Applicants renewing their licenses within the same or equivalent classes, must take any written law tests required for their class but no driving test or certificate of experience is required.

When Certificate Cannot Be Accepted 4. The experience or training certificate will not be accepted:

(a) When the applicant does not or did not previously meet all the requirements for the Class C license.

(b) When the application is only for classes other than A, B, or S.

(c) When the certificate indicates training or experience only in vehicles which do not meet minimum test vehicle requirements.

(d) When the applicant has previously attempted to qualify for Class A, B, or S on his current application by means of a driving test, but has failed. In such case, qualification can only be made by means of a driving test.

Employer's Statement 5(a) Employers desiring to obtain approval to furnish experience and training certificates for their employees must submit an Employer's Statement, on forms provided by the department, outlining the nature of their business and the type of training given. Such statements are evaluated for approval to issue certificates to employees for original and late renewal applicants. The determination is based on the type of organization and its driver selection and training methods as indicated by the employer.

(b) In addition, employers must submit a signature card, on a form provided by the department, for each person who is to be authorized to sign certificates.

(c) Employers are required to use identical “company name” and the employer numbers on all forms and correspondence concerning this program.

Criteria for Employer Approval 6. To be approved for furnishing certificates to employees who are either original or late renewal applicants for Class A, B, or S licenses, an employer must either:

(a) Be engaged in a business wherein the transportation of persons or property in motor vehicles is an essential portion of the normal operation of such business, AND must operate a fleet of not less than three separate motor vehicles, such fleet to include at least one motor vehicle having more than two axles or at least one bus or at least one trailer, ten thousand pounds gross weight or over.

NOTE: When the trailer is needed to meet fleet qualification, there must be at least three motor vehicles in such fleet.

Code of Colorado Regulations 3 (b) Be an educational institution or district operating school buses, AND must operate a fleet of at least three separate motor vehicles, at least one of which must be a school bus, and (c) Conduct a driver selection or training program which includes driving tests, skill tests, or student trips, and either classroom instruction or tests on rules of the road and regulations.

Criteria for Certificate Approval 7. When a certificate is presented, it must be signed by an approved employer (or his authorized representative). With reference to the individual applicant's qualifications, the certificate of experience must show:

(a) If the application is an original for the class requested, that the applicant has satisfactorily completed a course of training in the type of vehicle for which he has requested a license to drive. Experience may be accepted in lieu of training, provided the certificate shows at least four months experience within the past five years in vehicles of the class requested (out-of-state or otherwise).

(b) If the application is for renewal within the same or equivalent class but the previous license has expired, that the applicant has had at least thirty days experience within three years of the application date in the operation of vehicles of the type in the requested class. Training may be shown but is not required. No driving test or certificate is required on renewal within the same or equivalent class if the previous license has not expired. Reference Materials 8. The department will publish Driver Hand Books covering laws, rules and procedures applicable to the various classes of licenses. These hand books are to be used by employers authorized to issue certificates of training and experience as a part of their training program. Regulation 42-2-114:

The Department shall collect a fee of five dollars ($5.00) for the issuance of any probationary driver license.

_________________________________________________________________________ Editor’s Notes History Code of Colorado Regulations 4