VISION SCREENING FOR DRIVERS’ LICENSE RENEWALS

You asked for a history of the vision screening implementation deferrals for driver license renewals in Connecticut. You also wanted to know how many states require vision testing, the frequency, and whether it applies to all drivers or only those who have reached certain ages. Finally, you wanted to know how many states require hearing tests for renewing licensees.

The law requiring all licensed drivers in Connecticut to undergo a vision screening on every second license renewal was originally passed in 1990, but its implementation has been postponed by the legislature nine times. It is currently scheduled to go into effect on July 1, 2007. The legislative enactments are detailed in Table 1.

Currently, 22 states require licensees to undergo a vision test or screening each time they renew their licenses. Another eight states require all drivers to undergo vision screenings, but not at each renewal. Eight states and the District of Columbia require vision screenings that are age-based. Eight states, including Connecticut, do not currently administer vision tests to renewing licensees. Pennsylvania randomly selects drivers over age 45 to submit to medical and vision screenings. Arizona does not require licenses to be renewed until age 65 but licensees must appear for a new photograph every 12 years at which time they are vision tested. Massachusetts requires a new photograph and vision test every 10 years. Illinois allows drivers age 22 to 74 who have clean driving records to renew without a vision screening once every eight years. The vision screening requirements of the various states are shown in Table 2.

Some states that may or may not have vision screening requirements for some or all drivers require drivers who reach certain ages to either renew on more frequent cycles or prohibit them from renewing by alternate means that do not require personal appearance. These requirements are shown in Table 3.

There are no states that administer hearing tests to renewing licensees, although in the District of Columbia, a driver renewing at age 70 or above can be administered a reaction test at the examiner's discretion.

DEFERRAL OF CONNECTICUT'S VISION SCREENING REQUIREMENT

State law has required all licensed drivers to undergo a vision screening on every second license renewal since 1990, but the legislature has postponed initiation of the requirement nine times since its initial enactment. The most recent postponement was in 2005. The requirement is currently scheduled to go into effect on July 1, 2007. The law requires licensed drivers to undergo a vision screening on every other license renewal, beginning July 1, 2007 (CGS § 14-41). The person may either have the screening performed at the Department of Motor Vehicles when renewing his license or submit the results of a vision screening performed by a licensed and qualified health care professional within the 12 months preceding his renewal. The motor vehicle commissioner cannot renew the license of someone who fails the vision examination.

Table 1 shows the history of the vision screening requirement since it was originally enacted as PA 90-265.

Table 1: Legislative Enactments Relating to Vision screening Requirement

LEGISLATIVE ENACTMENT

DESCRIPTION

PA 90-265 (SB 132)

Requirement codified as CGS § 14-41

Enacted as House Amendment "D"

● Beginning July 1, 1991, it required a vision screening on every other license renewal.

● For the initial screening, drivers with last names beginning with the letters A through K were to be screened between 7/1/91 and 6/30/95. Drivers with names with letters L through Z would be screened during the period 7/1/95 to 6/30/99

● License renewal applicant could substitute a vision screening performed by a qualified licensed health care professional during the three months preceding renewal for the DMV screening.

PA 91-408, (§ 8)

(sHB 7367)

Delays initiation of screening for 15 months, i.e., screening for names A through K to begin on 10/1/92 instead of 7/1/91. Other program dates were also changed accordingly

Also requires DMV to study the use of physicians, optometrists, and opticians to perform the tests, among other things, and report to the Transportation Committee by 2/1/92.

PA 92-9, May Special Session

(SB 2002, Emergency Certification)

Postpones the start of the program for another nine months, from 10/1/92 to 7/1/93.

Eliminates the statutorily specified testing schedule (A-K, L-Z) and allows the DMV to establish its own schedule for implementing the requirement.

Implementing regulations required

PA 93-80, Section 49 of the Appropriations Act

(sHB 6916)

Postpones program implementation for two more years, from 7/1/93 to 7/1/95

PA 95-223

(sHB 6719)

Postpones program implementation for two more years, from 7/1/95 to 7/1/97

PA 97-284

(sHB 6734)

Postpones program implementation for two more years, from 7/1/97 to 7/1/99

PA 99-287 (§ 7)

(SB 1405)

Postpones program implementation for two more years, from 7/1/99 to 7/1/01

Allows renewal applicant to use the results of a private vision screening performed up to 12 months, rather than three months, before the renewal

PA 01-9 June Special Session

(§ 47)

(HB 7507 Emergency Certification)

Postpones program implementation for two more years, from 7/1/01 to 7/1/03

PA 03-3 June 30 Special Session

(§ 34)

(SB 2001 Emergency Certification)

Postpones program implementation for two more years, from 7/1/03 to 7/1/05

PA 05-3 June Special Session

(§. 26)

(HB 7502 Emergency Certification)

Postpones program implementation for two more years, from 7/1/05 to 7/1/07

In 22 states, vision screening is required for all drivers, regardless of age, each time they renew their licenses. South Carolina will begin to require this as of October 1, 2008. Another eight states require vision screenings for all renewing drivers, but not for each renewal. In most cases, the vision screening is required every second renewal. These states allow all, or in some cases only those drivers who meet certain requirements, to renew by alternate means such as by mail, telephone, or electronically via the internet.

In eight states and the District of Columbia, vision screening is only required once a driver reaches a certain age. The age thresholds vary widely from age 40 in Maine and Maryland to age 80 in Florida.

Eight states, including Connecticut, currently do not require any vision screenings at renewal, although, as noted above, Connecticut's requirement is scheduled to begin on July 1, 2007.

Pennsylvania, Illinois, Massachusetts, and Arizona have unusual requirements. In Pennsylvania, a certain number of drivers age 45 or older are selected at random each month to submit to vision and medical screening prior to renewal. In Illinois, drivers between age 22 and 74 with clean records may renew once every eight years without appearing at a state facility and getting the required vision screening. In Massachusetts, anyone whose license photograph is less than 10 years old may renew via the internet without submitting to a vision screening. In Arizona, drivers' licenses do not expire until age 65, but license holders must get a new photograph every 12 years, at which time a vision test is administered. At age 65, licenses must be renewed every five years.

Table 2 shows the vision screening requirements for each state and the District of Columbia.

States With Nonstandard Vision Screening Requirements

Pennsylvania—There are no vision screening requirements. However, each month 1,650 drivers age 45 or older are selected at random for retesting six months prior to their renewal. They must pass both a vision and physical examination by a licensed physician. They may also elect to have the vision screening performed at any state photo license center.

Illinois—Drivers between age 22 and 74 can participate in a Safe Driver Renewal Program if they have a clean driving record. This allows them to renew electronically online, by mail, or by telephone once every eight years (every other renewal cycle). Otherwise, renewals must be done in person and a vision screening is required at the state facility where they renew. Drivers who reach age 75 must renew in person. At ages 81 through 86, licenses are valid for only two years. Drivers age 87 and older must renew their licenses each year.

Massachusetts—Vision screening is required at time of renewal, however, anyone whose license photograph is less than 10 years old is eligible to renew online though the internet rather than in person. If renewing online, the person need only answer a question on the online form in which he states that his eyesight meets the state's required minimum standards. He does not need to present any other documentation.

Arizona—A driver's license in Arizona remains valid until age 65 and does not have to be renewed. However, a license holder must get a new photograph every 12 years at which time a vision screening is administered. After age 65, a license must be renewed every five years. If renewing by mail, such drivers must submit verification of a vision test conducted no more than three months prior.

STATES WITH REQUIREMENTS SPECIFIC TO OLDER DRIVERS

As shown above, several states have vision screening requirements that apply only when drivers reach certain age groups. However, this is not the most common type of age-based renewal requirement. The most common type of requirement is a reduced renewal cycle for drivers that reach certain ages, thus necessitating more frequent appearances at motor vehicle offices than younger drivers and in many cases more frequent vision screenings in the states that require them for everyone at renewal. There are 15 states that have this shorter renewal cycle requirement, in most cases, set at one-half or two-thirds of the state's normal renewal period. Connecticut allows drivers who are age 65 or older to renew their licenses for two instead of six years, but this is at their option.

Another requirement in some states that allow license renewals by mail is that drivers who reach a certain age renew in person rather than by mail. In some cases renewal may also be done electronically via the

internet. In five states—Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, and Louisiana—this option is not allowed for drivers who have reached certain ages. In Connecticut, all license renewals must be done in person.

Table 3 shows the states that have the age-specific requirements for renewal applicants in addition to, or instead of vision screening. above.

Table 3: Age-Specific License Renewal Requirements

*State*	*Renew By Mail Prohibited For:*	*Shorter Renewal Cycle Applies*	*Age-Specific Vision or Road Test at Renewal*
*Alaska*	Age 69+
*Arizona*	Age 70+	All licenses normally valid until age 65. Age 65+ must get a 5 year license	Age 65-69 renewing by mail must submit verification of a vision test conducted no more than three months prior
*California*	Age 70+
*Colorado*	Age 61+	10 year normal term 5 years for age 61+
*District of Columbia*			First renewal at age 70 or above—vision test is required and a reaction test may be required. Applicant must provide doctor's statement certifying his physical and mental competency to drive Written and road tests may be required on first renewal at or after age 75 but are not mandatory
*Florida*			Vision test for age 80+ If renewing by mail, test must be performed by physician or optometrist
*Georgia*		5 or 10 year option but 5 year only for age 60+	Vision test for age 64+
*Hawaii*		6 year normal term 2 years for age 72+
*Idaho*		4 or 8 year option through age 62; Age 63+ get only 4 year license
*Illinois*		4 year normal term 2 years for age 81-86 1 year for age 87 and older	Age 75 and older must take road test at renewal
*Indiana*		4 year normal term 3 years for age 75+
*Iowa*		5 year normal term 2 year for age 65+
*Kansas*		6 year normal term 4 years for age 65+
*Louisiana*	Age 70+
*Maine*		6 year normal term 4 years for age 65+	Vision test required at first renewal after age 40; every second renewal until age 62; every renewal after age 62
*Maryland*			Vision test at each renewal for age 40+

*State*	*Renew By Mail Prohibited For:*	*Shorter Renewal Cycle Applies*	*Age-Specific Vision or Road Test at Renewal*
*Missouri*		6 year normal term 3 year for age 70+
*Montana*		8 year if in person/4 year if renewed by mail Age 75+ must get 4 year	No one may renew by mail for consecutive terms
*New Hampshire*			Age 75 and older must take road test at renewal
*New Mexico*		4 or 8 year option normal 4 years for drivers turning 75 in last half of 8 year cycle and thereafter
*Oregon*			Vision screening every 8 years for age 50+
*Rhode Island*		5 years normal term 2 years for age 70+
*South Carolina*		10 years normal term 5 years for 65+	Vision test for age 65 and older Beginning October 1, 2008, vision test for all renewing drivers every five years regardless of age
*Utah*			Vision test for age 65 and older
*Virginia*			Vision test for age 80 and older


January 5, 2007		2007-R-0051
VISION SCREENING FOR DRIVERS' LICENSE RENEWALS

By: James J. Fazzalaro, Principal Analyst


Vision Screening for Every Renewal
Arkansas Delaware Hawaii Idaho Indiana Iowa Kansas Minnesota	Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New York North Carolina North Dakota		Ohio Rhode Island South Dakota Washington Wisconsin Wyoming *South Carolina (beginning 10/1/2008)
Vision Screening Required Periodically But Not at Each Renewal
Alaska California Colorado Louisiana		Michigan Mississippi New Jersey Texas
Age-Based Vision Screening Requirements
District of Columbia (age 70) Florida (age 80) Georgia (age 65) Maine (age 40, every second renewal until age 62, every renewal after age 62) Oregon (every 8 years after age 50) South Carolina (age 65—however, beginning 10/1/2008 all renewing drivers are subject to vision test regardless of age) Utah (age 65) Maryland (each renewal after age 40; drivers age 21-40 may renew electronically if they demonstrate that they have passed a vision test in the previous six years) Virginia (age 80)
No Vision Screening Required
Alabama Connecticut (Screening on every second renewal required beginning 7/1/2007) Kentucky		New Mexico Oklahoma Tennessee Vermont West Virginia