(a) An operator's license shall entitle the holder to operate a registered motor vehicle with the consent of the owner whether employed to do so or not.

(b) A junior operator's license shall entitle the holder to operate a registered motor vehicle with the consent of the owner, but shall not entitle him or her to operate a motor vehicle in the course of his or her employment or for direct or indirect compensation for one year following issuance of the license, except that the holder may operate a farm tractor with or without compensation upon a public highway in going to and from different parts of a farm of the tractor's owner or to go to any repair shop for repair purposes. A junior operator's license shall not entitle the holder to carry passengers for hire.

(c) During the first three months of operation, the holder of a junior operator's license is restricted to driving alone or with a licensed parent or guardian, licensed or certified driver education instructor, or licensed person at least 25 years of age. During the following three months, a junior operator may additionally transport family members. No person operating with a junior operator's license shall transport more passengers than there are safety belts unless he or she is operating a vehicle that has not been manufactured with a federally approved safety belt system. A person convicted of operating a motor vehicle in violation of this subsection shall be subject to a penalty of not more than $50.00, and his or her license shall be recalled for a period of 90 days. The provisions of this subsection may be enforced only if a law enforcement officer has detained the operator for another suspected traffic violation.

(d) A nonresident under 18 years of age who is privileged to operate on Vermont highways under section 208 of this title shall be subject to the restrictions of subsections (b) and (c) of this section. (Amended 1967, No. 361 (Adj. Sess.), § 3; 1999, No. 140 (Adj. Sess.), § 4; 2013, No. 57, § 10; 2013, No. 189 (Adj. Sess.), § 7; 2015, No. 47, § 40; 2015, No. 158 (Adj. Sess.), § 64.)