Stage 1 Course Content 13 — The Driver Licensing System and the Traffic Infraction Notification System

• The driver licensing system
• Renewal of a driver's license card, etc.
• Outline of the point system
• Revocation, suspension, etc. of a driver's license
• The novice driver period system
• The training for people with a revoked license system
• Outline of the traffic infraction notification system

1. The Driver Licensing System

The road is where all sorts of people come and go using various means of transportation. It would be very dangerous if people who drive vehicles had not acquired the necessary facts and skills. For this reason, a driver's license card is issued only to people whose driving competency and the knowledge and skills for driving meet a certain level and permits them to drive automobiles, general motorized bicycles, etc. on the road.

1. Prohibition against Driving without a Valid License, etc.

1. When driving an automobile or a general motorized bicycle on the road, a driver must hold a license corresponding to the vehicle type and special circumstances such as towing.
2. A driver who has been issued a license but has had it suspended must not drive for its duration.
3. Automobiles and general motorized bicycles must not be lent to people who may drive without a valid license.
4. A person who knows that the driver does not hold a valid license must not require or ask the driver for a ride or get into his/her automobile.
5. For driving a specified light motorized bicycle, no driver's license is required, but it is prohibited for people under 16 years of age to drive. Moreover, it is also prohibited to provide specified light motorized bicycles to people under 16 years of age who may drive them.

Reference: Examples of "driving without a valid license"

1. Driving without being issued a driver's license.
2. Driving with an expired license card.
3. Driving after having a license revoked.
4. Driving during a suspension or a temporary suspension of the license.
5. Driving after passing a test but before being issued the license.
6. Driving a vehicle which is not permitted under the issued license. (Driving with a wrong class license)

2. Carrying and Presenting a Driver's License Card

1. When driving an automobile or a general motorized bicycle, a driver must always carry a license card for driving that vehicle.
2. Driving an automobile, etc. while having a lost license card reissued or without having a lost license card reissued is a traffic violation of not carrying a license card.
3. When a police officer requires the presentation of a license card such as when a violation has been committed or a traffic accident has been caused, a license card must be presented.

3. Types of Licenses and the Automobiles Permitted, etc.

① Classifications of driver's licenses

Driver's licenses are classified into the following three.

Reference: "Automobile that is to be driven by a professional designated driver" Refers to regular automobiles driven by people engaged in the professional designated driving services in place of their customers.

When a second-class license is not required A second-class license is not required when not transporting passengers, such as when the vehicle is out of service.

② Types of first-class driver's licenses

Automobiles and general motorized bicycles which can be driven for each type of first-class driver's license is as follows.

※ The age at which a person who has completed the special training to acquire test eligibility can obtain this license is 19 years of age.

Limited licenses

Reference: Eligibility requirements to take a driver's license test

First-class license:

• Large vehicle license: Be 21 years of age or older and have held either a medium-sized vehicle license, semi-medium-sized vehicle license, regular vehicle license, or heavy special equipment license for a period totaling 3 years or more. (※)
• Medium-sized vehicle license: Be 20 years of age or older and have held either a semi-medium-sized vehicle license, regular vehicle license, or heavy special equipment license for a period totaling 2 years or more. (※)
• Semi-medium-sized vehicle license, regular vehicle license, heavy special equipment license, towing license, large motorcycle license: Be 18 years of age or older
• Regular motorcycle license, light special equipment license, motorized bicycle license: Be 16 years of age or older

Second-class license: Be 21 years of age or older and have held either a large vehicle license, medium-sized vehicle license, semi-medium-sized vehicle license, regular vehicle license, or heavy special equipment license for a period totaling 3 years or more. (※)

※ The special training to acquire test eligibility system: For people who have completed special training (special training to acquire test eligibility), eligibility to take tests for large vehicle, medium-sized vehicle, and second-class licenses will be relaxed to "be 19 years of age or older and have held the required license (such as a regular vehicle license) for 1 year or more". Licenses obtained under this system are called licenses obtained under special provisions.

Reference: Driving qualifications for emergency vehicles When driving an emergency vehicle, the following driving qualifications must be met in addition to holding the appropriate driver's license.

• Large automobile, medium-sized automobile, semi-medium-sized automobile: Be 21 years of age or older and have held a license for 3 years or more
• Regular automobile, large motorcycle, regular motorcycle: Have held a license for 2 years or more (Excludes people who have passed an examination by the Public Safety Commission or when a Self-Defense Force officer drives an automobile of the Self-Defense Forces.)

4. Towing License

When towing another vehicle with a large, medium-sized, semi-medium-sized or regular automobile or a heavy special equipment that is a towing automobile (a vehicle equipped with a towing structure and device), the driver is required to hold a towing license in addition to a license corresponding to the type of automobile being used for towing.

However, a towing license is not required when towing a vehicle with a gross weight (the weight of the vehicle including the loaded people and cargo) of 750 kg or less or when towing a broken-down vehicle with a rope, crane, etc. (Refer to p. 222)

5. Driving with a Learner's Permit

① When a learner's permit is required

A person wishing to obtain a license (first-class or second-class) must obtain a learner's permit corresponding to the type of automobile in cases such as the following.

1. When driving a large automobile, medium-sized automobile, semi-medium-sized automobile, or a regular automobile on the road for practice.
2. When driving a large automobile, medium-sized automobile, semi-medium-sized automobile, or a regular automobile on the road to take the driver's license test or to take the graduation test for a designated driving school.

Reference: When a learner's permit is required to obtain a second-class license

1. When a person holding a semi-medium-sized vehicle or a regular vehicle first-class license wishes to obtain a large vehicle second-class license or a medium-sized vehicle second-class license.
2. When a person holding a medium-sized vehicle first-class license wishes to obtain a large vehicle second-class license.
3. When a person holding a heavy special equipment license wishes to obtain a large vehicle second-class license, medium-sized vehicle second-class license, or a regular vehicle second-class license.

② Practicing with a learner's permit

When a person holding a learner's permit drives a large automobile, medium-sized automobile, semi-medium-sized automobile, or regular automobile for practice, the learner must drive with one of the following people sitting next to the driver's seat while following that person's instructions.

1. An instructor of a designated driving school (when taking skill lessons)
2. A person who has held a first-class license which permits driving that vehicle for 3 years or more
3. A person who holds a second-class license which permits driving that vehicle (Excludes people under 21 years of age who obtained a license under special provisions)

Reference: Validity period of a learner's permit The validity period of a learner's permit is 6 months, counting from the date on which the person takes the license test.

Where to practice with a learner's permit A learner must not practice on expressways, roads with marked congestion of traffic, on school or kindergarten routes during times children will be going to or returning from them (excluding expressway skill lessons given by designated driving schools).

③ Displaying a student driver sign

When driving for practice with a learner's permit, a student driver sign must be affixed on the front and rear of the vehicle in the prescribed positions.

The sign is to be black lettering on a white background. Affix on the front and rear of the vehicle where they can be easily seen, at a height of 0.4 m or more and 1.2 m or less above the ground.

2. Renewal of a Driver's License Card, etc.

1. Notification of Changes to Information on the Driver's License Card, etc.

When the legal domicile, address, name, etc., has been changed due to marriage, relocation, etc., the license holder must promptly notify the Public Safety Commission of his/her residential location (after relocation, if a change of address is involved).

Reference: Reissue of a license card When a license card has been lost, stolen, defaced or damaged, or when submitting a notification of changes to information, the license holder may apply to the Public Safety Commission of his/her residential location for reissue. (People with defaced or damaged license cards must present that license card.)

2. Validity Period of a Driver's License Card

1. The validity period of a driver's license card when it has been newly acquired is the duration until the date one month has passed since the third birthday after the date of the aptitude test.
2. The validity period of a driver's license card after it has been renewed is prescribed as follows, determined corresponding to the age on the renewal date, etc.

※ The age indicated in the table is the age on the first day of the renewal period. ※ For people born on February 29, the date is March 29 in leap years and March 28 in other years.

Driver with an exemplary record — A person who has held a license for a continuous period of 5 years or more and has met conditions such as having no accidents or violations within the 5 years preceding the renewal.

Driver with a satisfactory record — A person who has held a license for a continuous period of 5 years or more and, in the preceding 5 years, has caused no accidents resulting in injury or death and has committed 1 minor violation (worth 3 violation points or less).

Driver with a violation — A person who has held a license for a continuous period of 5 years or more and, in the preceding 5 years, has caused an accident, has committed a major violation, or has committed 2 or more minor violations.

Driver renewing for the first time — A person who has held a license for a period of less than 5 years.

3. Driver's License Card Renewal and Periodic Test

If a person wishes to continue to hold a license card after the validity period has expired, the license card must be renewed. A person seeking to renew a license card must undergo an aptitude test conducted by the Public Safety Commission of his/her residential location during the 2 months starting 1 month before and ending 1 month after the person's birthday on the year the validity period of the license card expires (the renewal period).

People who have received a "questionnaire" from the Public Safety Commission to determine whether certain illnesses, etc. would apply must submit that questionnaire.

Reference: "Expiry date" Refers to the date 1 month after the date of birth. When the expiry date of the validity period of the driver's license card falls on a Saturday, Sunday, national holiday, or at the end or beginning of the year (from December 29 to January 3 of the following year), the next day becomes the expiry date of the validity period.

"Certain illnesses, etc." Refers to illnesses that could interfere with the driving of automobiles (schizophrenia, epilepsy, bipolar disorder, dementia, etc.) and addictions to alcohol, narcotics, marijuana, opium, or stimulants.

Validity period of a foreign driving permit When a Japanese citizen travels to a foreign country (a party to the convention), holding a foreign driving permit would permit the holder to drive automobiles permitted by that driver's license for 1 year from the date of issue.

4. Special Rules on Driver's License Card Renewal

When a person expects to have difficulty completing the procedure during the renewal period due to travel abroad, childbirth, illness, etc., he/she may apply for renewal before the renewal period. In such cases, documentation indicating the reason is required, such as a passport or medical certificate.

5. Obligations of People Seeking Renewal

People seeking to renew a license card must attend the training at renewal, corresponding to the classifications below.

※ People who have attended training or received education for licensed drivers provided by the Public Safety Commission, etc. based on Cabinet Order within the 6 months preceding the renewal are exempt from attending training (with the exception of drivers with a violation).

※ For drivers with an exemplary record only, the license renewal procedure may be completed at a Public Safety Commission not of his/her residential location during the period starting 1 month before and ending on the person's birthday on the year the validity period of the license expires.

※ People who are 70 years of age or older on the expiry date of the renewal period must attend a training for senior drivers.

6. Loss of Validity of Driver's Licenses

If a license card is not renewed, the license becomes invalid.

After a driver's license ceases to be valid, a license test must be taken again to reacquire a license.

A person who did not renew his/her license card may apply to the Public Safety Commission of his/her residential location to be issued a driving history certificate.

Reference: Relief measures when a "license ceases to be valid" If the validity period expires due to carelessly forgetting to renew or for unavoidable reasons, a person may be granted partial exemption from the license test if he/she attends a prescribed training (training at renewal, training for senior drivers, etc.) within a certain period.

① When there was no unavoidable reason, and it is within 6 months of the date the license ceased to be valid — If the applicant passes the aptitude test, he/she is granted exemption from the skill test and the academic test, and a new license card is issued.

② When a license test could not be taken within 6 months of when the license ceased to be valid due to illness, travel abroad, or another unavoidable reason — If it is within 3 years of the date the validity period of the license card expired, the person may apply within 1 month of the date the reason ceased with documentation proving that reason, and if the applicant passes the aptitude test, he/she is granted exemption from the skill test and the academic test, and a new license card is issued.

③ When it has been over 6 months but it is within 1 year of the date the license ceased to be valid — The applicant is exempted from the skill test and academic test of the learner's permit, and if the applicant passes the aptitude test, a learner's permit is issued.

7. Training for Senior Drivers

1. People who are 70 years of age or older and under 75 years of age on the expiry date of the renewal period must attend a training for senior drivers, etc. held by the Public Safety Commission, etc. within the 6 months preceding the expiry date. People who have attended a voluntary training held by the Public Safety Commission or received certain education held by a private organization within the 6 months preceding the renewal date are exempt.

2. People who are 75 years of age or older on the expiry date of the renewal period must undergo a cognitive assessment conducted by the Public Safety Commission within the 6 months preceding the expiry date, and must attend a training for senior drivers and/or undergo a special aptitude test assigned as a result of the assessment.

   However, people who have a history of certain traffic violations such as ignoring traffic signals in the past 3 years must take and pass a driving skill test to verify their ability by actually driving a vehicle before they can take the cognitive assessment.

3. If a person who is 75 years of age or older commits a violation likely to be committed due to decreased cognitive functions, he/she must undergo a special cognitive assessment without awaiting the next renewal. If it is determined from the result that there is a risk that the person's decreased cognitive function may affect driving, he/she must attend a special training for senior drivers. If the decision is made that the person may have dementia, he/she must undergo a special aptitude test or submit a medical certificate.

Reference: Violations likely to be committed due to decreased cognitive functions

1. Ignoring a traffic signal
2. Violation of prohibition against passage
3. Violation of no crossing, etc.
4. Violation of prohibition against changing lanes
5. Entering a railroad crossing with gates down, etc.
6. Violation of right or left turn method at an intersection
7. Violation of designated lane divisions
8. Failure to signal
9. Violation of an area to proceed slowly
10. Obstruction of a crossing pedestrian, etc. at a pedestrian crossing, etc.
11. Violation of the safe driving obligation
12. Obstruction of a crossing pedestrian at an intersection with no pedestrian crossing
13. Obstruction of a vehicle with the right of way at an intersection
14. Obstruction of a vehicle proceeding on a road with the right of way, etc.
15. Failure to come to a stop at a designated location
16. Obstruction of a vehicle proceeding through a roundabout, etc.
17. Violation of lane divisions
18. Violation of left turn, etc. method in a roundabout

8. Special Aptitude Test

1. The Public Safety Commission will perform a special aptitude test (an assessment by a specialized doctor whether the person has dementia) on drivers who have been determined from the result of their cognitive assessment or special cognitive assessment that they may have dementia. If the test makes clear that a person has dementia or the person does not undergo the test, his/her license will be subject to suspension or revocation.

2. If there is a risk that an illness or a disability of a person holding a license may interfere with driving, or if a person holding a license is suspected of being addicted to alcohol, narcotics, etc., a special aptitude test may be performed.

9. Revocation of a Driver's License by Application

A person who no longer needs a driver's license may apply to the Public Safety Commission of his/her residential location for a whole or partial revocation of his/her license.

At that time, a driving history certificate can be issued upon request by the applicant.

Reference: "Partial revocation of a license" A license of a level lower than the license being revoked can be issued, for example, a large vehicle license can be revoked and a regular vehicle license can be continued.

Granting conditions to a driver's license by application Upon application to the Public Safety Commission, a condition may be granted that limits the type of automobile that may be driven to driving safety support vehicles (Sapoka) with advanced safety features such as collision damage mitigation braking systems and pedal misapplication acceleration control devices. (Support vehicle limited license)

Driving history certificate A person who has applied and been given a revocation of a license or a person who did not renew his/her license may be issued a "driving history certificate" in card format by applying to the Public Safety Commission. It can be used as an identity document.

3. Outline of the Point System

1. The Point System

The purpose of this system is to remove highly dangerous drivers from areas of road traffic. The system assigns a prescribed number of points for traffic violations and traffic accidents of a driver in the preceding 3 years and administers punishments such as denial or withholding of a license or suspension or revocation of the validity of a license once the total number of points reaches certain criteria.

2. Violations, etc. and Points

There are two types of points: basic points assigned for traffic violations and additional points assigned to traffic accidents.

① Basic points

Points assigned for traffic violations, for violations that are extremely malicious or dangerous (specified violations) and for other violations (general violations). (Refer to p. 120)

① General violations 1 to 3 points are assigned for relatively minor violations, and 6 to 25 points are assigned for malicious violations (driving under the influence of alcohol, driving without a valid license, etc.).

② Specified violations 35 to 62 points are assigned for especially malicious and dangerous violations. (Intoxicated driving; driving under the influence of narcotics, etc.; violation of the duty to aid the injured (hit-and-run resulting in death or injury); dangerous driving causing death or injury, etc.)

② Additional points

When a traffic accident is caused due to a violation, additional points are added to the basic points of the causative violation according to the type of traffic accidents and degree of inattention.

Additional points assigned for traffic accidents

※ When there are multiple injured people, the treatment period is the duration required to treat the person with the most serious injury.

Points assigned for hit-and-run accidents

※ 35 to 62 points are assigned for accidents caused intentionally and resulting in death or injury to a person, damage to a building, dangerous driving causing death or injury, etc.

3. Basic Points for Punishment, etc.

The punishments of suspension or revocation of a driver's license and the designation of the ineligible period are administered based on factors such as the number of times the license was suspended, etc. within the 3 years preceding the punishment (number of prior records) and the total number of points assigned for violations and traffic accidents. The criteria are shown in the tables below.

As the number of prior records increases, heavier punishment is administered for less points.

Further, for a person who has had a license revoked or denied, if his/her license is revoked or denied again within 5 years of the end of an ineligible period, the ineligible period will be longer, even for a smaller number of points.

Reference: "Ineligible period" Refers to the period from when a driver's license was revoked to when a driver's license can be held again.

"Number of prior records" The number of times within the 3 years preceding the punishment that the driver has been administered punishments, such as suspension of a license.

Criteria points for punishments for general violations

Criteria points for punishments for specified violations

※ Numbers inside the parentheses are the lengths of the ineligible periods if revocation of a license or another punishment is administered again during an ineligible period or within 5 years of the end of an ineligible period. ※ Denial or withholding of a license is counted from the date on which the violation was committed.

Reference: Special rules for drivers with no accidents or violations The following special rules are provided in calculating violation points and prior records for drivers with no accidents or violations for a certain period of time.

1. When no accidents or violations have been committed for 1 year or more, points for violations or accidents for that period and earlier are not included.
2. When someone who has no accidents or violations for 2 years or more commits a minor violation (a violation worth 3 points or less) and continues to have no accidents or violations for 3 months from that date, points for that violation are not included.
3. When there is a prior record of suspension, etc. of a license, then the following 1 year or more has passed with no accidents or violations and neither was the driver's license suspended, the number of suspension, etc. of a license will be considered 0 prior records.

4. Revocation, Suspension, etc. of a Driver's License

1. Denial, Withholding, etc. of a Driver's License

Even when passing a driver's license test, persons to whom any of the following applies may have his/her license denied or have it withheld for 6 months or less.

1. A person with an illness prescribed by Cabinet Order or a person with dementia
2. A person addicted to alcohol, narcotics, marijuana, opium, or stimulants
3. A person who did not undergo an aptitude test ordered by the Public Safety Commission or submit a medical certificate
4. A person who committed a traffic violation or caused a traffic accident
5. A person who aided or abetted a material violation, etc. or caused an off-road death or injury
6. A person who received a notification of special aptitude test

Notwithstanding the above, people to whom any of the following applies may be denied a license by the Public Safety Commission.

• A person who has intentionally caused death or injury to a person or damaged a building by driving an automobile, etc.
• A person who has committed the crime of dangerous driving causing death or injury, etc.
• A person who has committed intoxicated driving or has driven under the influence of narcotics, etc.
• A person who has committed a violation of the duty to aid the injured
• A person who has intentionally caused an off-road death or injury or has committed the crime of dangerous driving causing death or injury, etc.

※ If it becomes clear that ④ or ⑤ had applied previously after being issued a license card, the license may be revoked or its validity may be suspended.

Reference: "Denial or withholding of a driver's license" Denial — Refers to the punishment of not being granted a license even when passing a license test because of being in the ineligible period when a test cannot be taken due to traffic violations committed before passing, etc. Withholding — Refers to the punishment of not being issued a license card even when passing a license test for a certain period of time because of having driven without a valid license, even once.

Illnesses prescribed by Cabinet Order Illnesses with a risk of interfering with the safe driving of automobiles, etc., including schizophrenia, epilepsy, recurrent syncope, hypoglycemia unawareness, bipolar disorder, and serious sleep disorders.

Aiding or abetting a material violation, etc. The act of abetting a driver of an automobile, etc. to commit a material violation (intoxicated driving; driving under the influence of narcotics, etc.; violation of the duty to aid the injured; or a general violation worth 6 basic points or more) or aiding a driver's material violation.

Off-road death or injury The act of driving an automobile, etc. on a place not a road (factory premises, parking lot, etc.) and causing death or injury.

2. Revocation, Suspension, etc. of a Driver's License

If a person holding a license develops a mental or physical disorder or other ineligibility for licensing becomes applicable to the person, the license may be revoked. Further, if any of the following becomes applicable to the person, the license may be revoked or its validity may be suspended for 6 months or less.

1. When it becomes clear that a person has an illness prescribed by Cabinet Order or has dementia
2. When it becomes clear that a person cannot see or has developed a physical disability prescribed by Cabinet Order
3. When it becomes clear that a person is addicted to alcohol, narcotics, marijuana, opium, or stimulants
4. When a person has not undergone an aptitude test ordered by the Public Safety Commission or submitted a medical certificate
5. When a person has committed a traffic violation or caused a traffic accident
6. When a person has aided or abetted a material violation, etc. or has caused an off-road death or injury
7. When a person may cause other significant dangers to traffic by driving

Reference: Ineligibility for licensing Refers to conditions under which it is deemed inappropriate to grant a license. A license is not granted to people to whom any of the following applies.

1. A person who has not reached the age of eligibility.
2. A person whose designated period counted from the date the license was denied has not elapsed.
3. A person whose license is being withheld.
4. A person whose designated period counted from the date the license was revoked has not elapsed.
5. A person with the validity of his/her license under suspension or temporary suspension.

Physical disabilities prescribed by Cabinet Order

1. Disability of the function of the trunk (torso) which does not permit sitting.
2. Loss of all four limbs (both arms and legs) or their functions.
3. Other disabilities that would interfere with driving an automobile, etc., and would not allow safe driving, even with conditions attached to the license.

Reference: Training for people with a suspended license When the validity of a license has been suspended for reasons such as a traffic violation, the suspension period will be shortened if the driver attends a training for people with a suspended license held by the Public Safety Commission, etc., if certain criteria are met.

Training for people with violations A training for drivers who have committed minor violations worth 1 to 3 basic points and have a cumulative total of 6 points. In such cases, administrative punishments such as suspension of a license are not administered if the driver attends a training for people with violations within 1 month of receiving the notice of training.

3. Temporary Suspension of a Validity of a Driver's License

When a person holding a license causes a malicious, serious accident, the validity of his/her license may be temporarily suspended by the chief of the police station that has jurisdiction there for a maximum of 30 days counted from the date of the traffic accident.

The duration of this temporary suspension is counted in the duration of the suspension if a regular suspension is later decided upon. A malicious, serious accident is as described below.

1. When a person causes an accident resulting in death or injury and commits a violation of the duty to aid the injured (hit-and-run)
2. When intoxicated driving or driving after taking narcotics, etc. causes an accident resulting in death or injury
3. When a person drives without a valid license or qualification and causes an accident resulting in death or injury
4. When a person commits a violation of using a mobile phone, etc. (danger to traffic) and causes an accident resulting in death or injury
5. When a person commits a violation of obstructive driving (significant danger to traffic) and causes an accident resulting in death or injury
6. When a person drives in the state of being under the influence of alcohol, exhausted, or ill, drives exceeding the maximum speed limit, or commits another highly dangerous violation and causes a fatal accident

Reference: Penalties for drivers who drove dangerously and caused an accident resulting in death or injury People who use an automobile, etc. to drive maliciously or dangerously and cause death or injury are subject to the following penalties. ※ Statutory penalties are increased in cases of driving without a valid license.

Dangerous driving causing death or injury:

• Death: imprisonment with work for a definite term of 1 year or more and 20 years or less
• Injury: imprisonment with work of 15 years or less (Without a valid license: imprisonment with work for a definite term of 6 months or more and 20 years or less)

[Evasion of detection of causing death or injury while driving]: Imprisonment with work of 12 years or less (Without a valid license: imprisonment with work of 15 years or less)

4. Revocation of a Learner's Permit

A learner's permit may be revoked if the holder develops a mental or physical disorder that would interfere with driving, if the criteria for revocation are reached through traffic violations, or if the holder aids or abets a material violation, etc. or causes an off-road death or injury.

Reference: Violations, etc. subject to revocation of a learner's permit

1. Causing an accident resulting in injury or death or damaging a building due to a violation
2. Violation of the duty to aid the injured
3. Intoxicated driving
4. Driving under the influence of alcohol
5. Driving under the influence of narcotics, etc.
6. Driving without a valid license
7. Driving without a qualification
8. Exceeding the speed limit (30 km/h or greater on general roads and 40 km/h or greater on expressways)
9. Driving while exhausted
10. Violation of prohibition against acting in concert with another person in a dangerous manner, etc.
11. Violation of the learner's permit (driving without a qualified instructing passenger, etc.)
12. Driving a vehicle without vehicle inspection
13. Driving an uninsured vehicle
14. Using a mobile phone, etc. (danger to traffic)
15. Obstructive driving (aggressive driving)

5. Returning a Driver's License Card

A license card must be promptly returned to the Public Safety Commission of the license holder's residential location in the following cases.

1. When a license is revoked
2. When a license ceases to be valid
3. When a lost license card is found or recovered after being reissued a license card (return the old license card)

5. The Novice Driver Period System

1. For each of the following types, 1 year after acquisition (excluding any period the license was suspended) is called the novice driver period: semi-medium-sized vehicle license, regular vehicle license, large motorcycle license, regular motorcycle license, and motorized bicycle license.

2. A novice driver training will be held for people who have committed violations, etc. during the novice driver period and has reached a certain criterion for the total number of points (3 points or more, excluding cases where 3 points was reached with 1 violation).

3. A retesting will be administered to people who do not attend novice driver training or attend but commit a traffic violation, etc. again before the end of the novice driver period and has reached a certain criterion for the number of points (3 points or more, excluding cases where 3 points was reached with 1 violation) after the end of the novice driver period.

4. Licenses of people who did not pass the retesting or did not undergo retesting despite having no legitimate reason are revoked.

※ Novice driver training and retesting can only be taken within 1 month of the day after being notified by the Public Safety Commission. ※ There is no ineligible period (a period when a license cannot be acquired) for revocations in a novice driver period.

Reference: The young driver period system The period between receiving a license obtained under special provisions and reaching the age of 21 (20 for a medium-sized vehicle license) is called the young driver period. A young driver training will be held for people who have committed violations, etc. during this period and have reached a certain criterion for the total number of points (3 violation points or more, excluding cases where 3 points was reached with 1 violation). If the driver does not attend the young driver training, etc. or if the driver attends the training but then commits another violation that meets the criteria, the license obtained under special provisions will be revoked. (Refer to p. 107 for licenses obtained under special provisions)

6. The Training for People with a Revoked License System

When a person who has had their driver's license denied or revoked seeks to take a driver's license test again after the ineligible period has elapsed, he/she must have attended a training for people with a revoked license held by the Public Safety Commission within the 1 year preceding the reapplication.

Reference: International Driving Permit A person holding a driver's license card in accord with the Geneva Convention on Road Traffic (an International Driving Permit) may drive an automobile permitted by that driver's license for 1 year starting on the date of arrival in Japan.

7. Outline of the Traffic Infraction Notification System

The traffic infraction notification system processes relatively minor cases (infractions) among violations committed by drivers of automobiles, motorized bicycles, etc. without judgment by a criminal or family court if a penalty of a fixed amount is paid within a certain period at a post office, bank, etc.

1. Infractions and Penalties

1. Even if a person has committed an infraction, this system is not applied to highly dangerous people, such as those driving without a valid license, those driving under the influence of alcohol, or those who cause a traffic accident as a result of the infraction. Such people will be judged by a criminal or family court.
2. After being paid to the national government, money from penalties is issued to prefectures and municipalities and used to install traffic safety facilities such as traffic lights, road traffic signs, and pedestrian overpasses, or for other purposes. (Refer to p. 120 for infractions and penalties)

2. When an Infraction Is Committed

A person who has committed an infraction will be handed a traffic infraction notice (blue ticket) and a payment slip by the police officer or traffic warden. In this case, if there are no objections to the contents of the notice, and the penalty in the amount indicated on the notice and payment form is paid at a post office, bank, etc. within 8 days including the date of receipt of the notice, the procedure is completed and the offender will not be held criminally liable.

3. When the Penalty Is Not Paid

If a person does not pay the penalty within 8 days including the date of receipt of the notice after receiving the traffic infraction notice (blue ticket) and the payment slip, he/she must appear at the designated notification center and be notified of the penalty payment with a notice of findings. If the person who has been given the notice of findings pays the penalty to a post office, bank, etc. within 11 days including the date of receipt of the notice, the procedure is complete. A notice of findings is mailed to people who are not able to appear at the notification center for reasons such as living far away. In such cases, the cost required to mail it must be paid along with the penalty. If the penalty still remains unpaid, the person will be judged by a criminal or family court.

Let's Try — Course Content 13: Check your understanding with right/wrong questions. (See page 275 for answers.)

1. A person may tow a broken-down vehicle with a rope or a crane, even without a towing license.
2. When a driver's license has been lost, a driver may still drive a vehicle before the license card is reissued as long as he/she has notified a police officer.
3. The novice driver period is 1 year after acquisition of each of the following types of licenses: semi-medium-sized vehicle license, regular vehicle license, large motorcycle license, regular motorcycle license, and motorized bicycle license.
4. A person holding a light special equipment license may drive a general motorized bicycle in addition to light special equipment.
5. Even a person holding a driver's license is driving without a valid license if he/she drives during a suspension or a temporary suspension of the license.
6. With a regular first-class license, a driver may not drive a taxi (with a seating capacity of 5 people) to a repair shop while out of service.
7. A person holding a learner's driving permit must have an instructor as passenger when driving for practice, however, there are no rules as to the type of license held by the instructor or his/her years of experience.
8. Regular automobile refers to automobiles with a vehicle gross weight of less than 3.5 tons, a maximum loading capacity of less than 2 tons, and a seating capacity of 10 people or less.

(正: right, 誤: wrong)

Number of points and amount of penalty for common traffic violations (Unit of penalty amount: thousand yen)

(Notes) ① If under the influence of alcohol when committing the violation (when the alcohol concentration in the driver's breath is 0.15 mg/L or greater and less than 0.25 mg/L), "Under the influence of alcohol points (less than 0.25)" will be assigned. ② "Large" for "Exceeding the speed limit" includes heavy towed vehicles. ③ The values in parentheses for "Exceeding the speed limit" indicate the points or penalty for automobiles, heavy special equipment, trolley buses, and streetcars. ④ "Large" for "Abandoned parking violation" includes heavy towed vehicles, and the right values are for regular vehicles. ⑤ The left values for "Not keeping a safe distance between vehicles" are for automobiles and the right values are for general motorized bicycles. ⑥ Points are assigned for "Violation of the points for 'Exceeding cargo weight limit'" only when the violation is committed on national expressways, etc. ⑦ Of the penalty amounts for "Violation of the duty to wear seat belts" for the rear seats, "Large" refers only to semi-medium-sized automobiles. ⑧ "Violation of the duty to display a novice driver sign" and "Violation of the method of proceeding on the side strip" apply to exceptional specified light motorized bicycles.