The Florida Senate

322.18  Original applications, licenses, and renewals; expiration of licenses; delinquent licenses.--

(1)(a)  Except as provided in paragraph (b), the department may issue an original driver's license only after the applicant successfully passes the required examinations and presents the application to the department.

(b)  The department may waive the driver's license examination requirement if the applicant is otherwise qualified and surrenders a valid license issued by another state, a province of Canada, or the United States Armed Forces which is of an equal or lesser classification as provided in s. 322.12

(2)  Each applicant who is entitled to the issuance of a driver's license, as provided in this section, shall be issued a driver's license, as follows:

(a)  An applicant applying for an original issuance shall be issued a driver's license which expires at midnight on the licensee's birthday which next occurs on or after the sixth anniversary of the date of issue.

(b)  An applicant applying for a renewal issuance or renewal extension shall be issued a driver's license or renewal extension sticker which expires at midnight on the licensee's birthday which next occurs 4 years after the month of expiration of the license being renewed, except that a driver whose driving record reflects no convictions for the preceding 3 years shall be issued a driver's license or renewal extension sticker which expires at midnight on the licensee's birthday which next occurs 6 years after the month of expiration of the license being renewed.

(c)  Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, if an applicant establishes his or her identity for a driver's license using a document authorized under s. 322.08(2)(c)4., the driver's license shall expire in accordance with paragraph (b). After an initial showing of such documentation, he or she is exempted from having to renew or obtain a duplicate in person.

(d)  Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, if applicant establishes his or her identity for a driver's license using a document authorized in s. 322.08(2)(c)5. or 6., the driver's license shall expire 4 years after the date of issuance or upon the expiration date cited on the United States Department of Justice documents, whichever date first occurs.

(3)  If a license expires on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, it shall be valid until midnight of the next regular working day and may be renewed on that day without payment of a delinquent fee.

(4)(a)  Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, all licenses shall be renewable every 4 years or 6 years, depending upon the terms of issuance and shall be issued or extended upon application, payment of the fees required by s. 322.21, and successful passage of any required examination, unless the department has reason to believe that the licensee is no longer qualified to receive a license.

(b)  Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, if an applicant establishes his or her identity for a driver's license using a document authorized under s. 322.08(2)(c)4., the license, upon an initial showing of such documentation, is exempted from having to renew or obtain a duplicate in person, unless the renewal or duplication coincides with the periodic reexamination of a driver as required pursuant to s. 322.121

(c)  Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, if a licensee establishes his or her identity for a driver's license using an identification document authorized under s. 322.08(2)(c)5. or 6., the licensee may not renew the driver's license except in person and upon submission of an identification document authorized under s. 322.08(2)(c)4.-6. A driver's license renewed under this paragraph expires 4 years after the date of issuance or upon the expiration date cited on the United States Department of Justice documents, whichever date first occurs.

(5)  All renewal driver's licenses may be issued after the applicant licensee has been determined to be eligible by the department.

(6)  If the licensee does not receive a renewal notice, the licensee or applicant may apply to the department, under oath, at any driver's license examining office. Such application shall be on a form prepared and furnished by the department. The department shall make such forms available to the various examining offices throughout the state. Upon receipt of such application, the department shall issue a license or temporary permit to the applicant or shall advise the applicant that no license or temporary permit will be issued and advise the applicant of the reason for his or her ineligibility.

(7)  An expired Florida driver's license may be renewed any time within 12 months after the expiration date, with reexamination, if required, upon payment of the required delinquent fee or taking and passing the written examination. If the final date upon which a license may be renewed under this section falls upon a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, the renewal period shall be extended to midnight of the next regular working day. The department may refuse to issue any license if:

(a)  It has reason to believe the licensee is no longer qualified to receive a license.

(b)  Its records reflect that the applicant's driving privilege is under suspension or revocation.

(8)  The department shall issue 4-year and 6-year license extensions by mail, electronic, or telephonic means without reexamination.

(a)  If the department determines from its records that the holder of a license about to expire is eligible for renewal, the department shall mail a renewal notice to the licensee at his or her last known address, not less than 30 days prior to the licensee's birthday. The renewal notice shall direct the licensee to appear at a driver license office for in-person renewal or to transmit the completed renewal notice and the fees required by s. 322.21 to the department by mail, electronically, or telephonically within the 30 days preceding the licensee's birthday for a license extension. License extensions shall not be available to drivers directed to appear for in-person renewal.

(b)  Upon receipt of a properly completed renewal notice, payment of the required fees, and upon determining that the licensee is still eligible for renewal, the department shall send a license extension sticker to the licensee to affix to the expiring license as evidence that the license term has been extended.

(c)  The department shall issue license extensions for two consecutive license expirations only. Upon expiration of two consecutive license extension periods, in-person renewal with reexamination as provided in s. 322.121 shall be required. A person who is out of this state when his or her license expires may be issued a 90-day temporary driving permit without reexamination. At the end of the 90-day period, the person must either return to this state or apply for a license where the person is located, except for a member of the Armed Forces as provided in s. 322.121(6).

(d)  In-person renewal at a driver license office shall not be available to drivers whose records indicate they were directed to apply for a license extension.

(e)  Any person who knowingly possesses any forged, stolen, fictitious, counterfeit, or unlawfully issued license extension sticker, unless possession by such person has been duly authorized by the department, commits a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083

(f)  The department shall develop a plan for the equitable distribution of license extensions and renewals and the orderly implementation of this section.

(9)(a)  The application form for a renewal issuance or renewal extension shall include language permitting a voluntary contribution of $1 per applicant, to be quarterly distributed by the department to Prevent Blindness Florida, a not-for-profit organization, to prevent blindness and preserve the sight of the residents of this state. A statement providing an explanation of the purpose of the funds shall be included with the application form.

(b)  Prior to the department distributing the funds collected pursuant to paragraph (a), Prevent Blindness Florida must submit a report to the department that identifies how such funds were used during the preceding year.

History.--s. 30, ch. 19551, 1939; CGL 1940 Supp. 4151(644); s. 30, 20451, 1941; s. 1, ch. 24346, 1947; s. 1, ch. 26911, 1951; s. 1, ch. 61-13; s. 2, ch. 67-242; ss. 24, 35, ch. 69-106; s. 1, ch. 72-211; ss. 3, 5, ch. 75-228; s. 17, ch. 78-394; s. 2, ch. 82-132; s. 22, ch. 84-359; s. 6, ch. 85-98; s. 40, ch. 89-282; s. 9, ch. 91-243; s. 31, ch. 95-143; s. 408, ch. 95-148; s. 7, ch. 95-326; ss. 39, 66, ch. 95-333; s. 6, ch. 96-414; s. 36, ch. 97-96; s. 4, ch. 2002-259.