Does anyone know specifically whether a 15 year old applying for his driver’s permit in Texas must provide the DPS with a Medical Evaluation form? I cannot find a specific answer to this and if he does need one, what the name of the form is. I am currently on hold with the DPS trying to ask this question. He has indicated on his DL application that he has diabetes that requires insulin. Is that all or will he need something else?
Perhaps this ADA resource can help. I didn’t read the Texas summary but it may help.
Thanks. I have already read this over and over but it does not say anything specifically about a form being required. I did eventually speak to the DL DPS and was told that he does not need anything from the physician to apply for the permit but his form will be sent to administration for approval and they may require additional information. I am not sure whether that means he will be granted a permit today when we go in or whether we have to wait until a decision is made on what, if anything, is required. I will update this question once I have an answer for future Texas teen drivers!
You are probably OK, then. There are only a handful of states that require medical cert for private drivers, like MN. MN form from DPS. Seems like they send him in for review if he looses consciousness or someone reports him. You can see the form number listed under our section for “What is the process for medical evaluation of drivers”. I dont see that for Tx.
Amazingly, my son got his permit with no attention paid to the checkmark next to the question: “Do you have insulin-dependent diabetes?” He is thrilled.
So in Texas, it appears that this only becomes an issue if you have an accident caused by hypoglycemia. Then you need a medical evaluation.
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That seems a reasonable approach.
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I am a Texas transplant from Kalifornia, and I had no questions asked when I switched my old license for a new Texas license.
Never realized a state would make an issue of it, and it never occurred to me that I should volunteer that I am an insulin dependent diabetic.
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I have lived in several states, and in one case there was a question regarding if I had a condition that could lead to unconsciousness, (or similar wording).
I paused before answering. In theory, yes. But in reality, in over 20 years with T1D at the time, it had never happened, and I was very diligent with checking BG before driving. So I answered no.
I think in my current state the question was specific to has unconsciousness already happened.
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If you fail to report diabetes (and they find out about it), they can (often) revoke your license for 6 mo. But, I don’t know how they would find out. In MN, our license is suspended, automatically, as soon as the paper work reaches expiration date. That happens at either a 6 months, 1 year, or 4 year intervals, and we are not necessarily notified. So, its a real burden. I recommend people not report it to the state if they live in MN or CA. But, if you want your license to have a medical alert, you may need to.
I would disagree. Unless your particular state asks a specific question for which this would fall under then I see no need to provide additional information which is not asked for.
My approach.
Answer the Question. The Whole Question. And Nothing But the Question.
(This is in regards to interactions with the Government at any level.)
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I think most states ask about insulin. Its worth knowing the impending state procedure before implicating yourself. Vast majority of states are fine. To my surprise, diabetic students coming to study here have already been warned about this and have been advised not to report. Its practical, but against the law. If you aren’t here for long, totally a practical decision.
Students are allowed to consider their college address as a temporary address. Under such situation, they are under no obligation to switch their driver license to the new state. In which case there is no obligation of any sort to offer any communication to the new state.
To obtain a US drivers license, you follow state laws to do that.
Yes … ???
I am bringing forward the point that students who come to my university to study, choose not to notify the state about diabetes because of the impracticality/legal consequences of doing so. To each their own. There are some negatives and positives to either decision - to notify the state or to not notify. I never had the choice. Some people do…not legally, but practically (they either check a box that says, “yes, I take insulin,” or they don’t. ) Does that make sense???
Ok. I was making the other point that the out-of-state students are under no obligation to get a license for the state they study in if they are using that as a temporary address. Even if that “temporary” address continues for years. Both Military and Students fall into this category.
This would be different from the typical requirement that most states have which says that when somebody moves into their state it is required by the state to transfer their drivers license within a short window of time. The window of time may be different state by state but typically is in the 60~90 day range.
If not getting a license in a particular state then there is no obligation to inform that state about anything related to driving. (More or less. Obvious exceptions. Tickets. Violations. etc…) All US States of course have reciprocity of driver’s license from every other state.
This nation-wide reciprocity of driving licenses likely comes from the US Constitution:
Full Faith and Credit shall be given in each State to the public Acts, Records, and judicial Proceedings of every other State.
Although perhaps this nation-wide reciprocity originates from a different source as State Gun Laws clearly do not have full reciprocity of every other US State.
Perhaps more to the point of the thread, in the State which I live in (Which is Not Texas!!!), the onus on notification to the State for medical conditions is not on the driver but rather on the physician.
There are two areas the physician can (or must) provide input.
The first is on the driver application form. A (very) small medical certification on the driver application is required (for everybody) to be filled out by a physician. On this, the wording is asking about any condition which would prevent control of a vehicle. Notice the wording of “might” is not used, but rather “would”. A list of conditions follows where the physician may choose to check one (or more) of the conditions. For both Epilepsy and Diabetes the additional wording of “Uncontrolled” is used on both to clearly indicate the condition itself is not an automatic disqualifier.
The second way a physician can provide input is not associated with the application but at any point in treating somebody. The State requires physicians to report to the state anybody of legal driving age who has had severe diabetic reactions so as to require outside intervention and it goes on to further define and give guidance to the medical professional who may be trying to decide if somebody needs to be reported. It is further made clear that the physician is to use judgement and only submit names for driving disqualification if they feel that person is a safety risk on the road although it also requires the physician to report all diabetic patients who have suffered a loss of consciousness.
Anyway - point being that in this state it is quite a bit different from your state in regards to WHO is responsible for reporting such information.
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I think the point is that diabetics come from different places and have different cost/benefit analysis associated with informing the state about their medical conditions.
Some of the costs may not be known at age 16. But, by the time people hit a certain age, some of those difficulties are discovered via experience or the experience of others. Some people choose not to notify. My parents strongly disagreed about checking that box at age 16, but the box was checked, and there is no going back now. Take it for what it is - a veiled warning to those of a younger age. Much of the day to day dificulty with living with chronic illness comes, not from the illness itself, but from the structures and systems (ie DMV paperwork that might interfere with one’s ability to work) that I need to work with. Does that make sense?