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Committee hears bill to allow testing accommodations and change retesting rules; DMV cites safety and current accommodations
Summary
HB1111 would create statutory accommodation pathways for drivers who fail road tests due to disability or anxiety and would change retest suspension rules; DMV said it already offers many reasonable accommodations, enforces documented training after multiple failures, and cautioned that adding a third passenger during road tests raises examiner and public‑safety concerns.
The Transportation Committee considered HB1111, which sponsors described as a common‑sense change to help applicants—particularly youth and individuals with anxiety or disabilities—who fail the road test multiple times.
Representative Stephen Smith introduced the bill with an example of a candidate who failed three times and then entered a lengthy suspension or administrative burden. Supporters, including family members of affected applicants, requested accommodations such as allowing a support person in the vehicle during testing and shortening or replacing long suspension periods with alternative preparation pathways.
DMV Director John Marasco and operations staff described current practices: there is a minimum 10‑day wait between failed road tests and documented behind‑the‑wheel training (five hours across five sessions) is required before retesting after three failures; the DMV already offers extended oral testing, translation devices (a handheld pocket‑talk device used by examiners), and pre‑test meetings to reduce anxiety. DMV cautioned that adding a third person in the test vehicle could increase safety and examiner‑safety risks and might not reflect the independent driving conditions the license authorizes. The department also noted that the bill would introduce statutory suspensions and record/fee implications that do not align with current rule‑based practice.
Committee members asked for statistics on fail rates and the operational cost of documentation; DMV said those numbers could be provided for further consideration. The hearing closed with no immediate action; members signaled interest in balancing accommodation for applicants with examiner safety and test validity.
