Driving Tests

Hawaii Teen Driver Penalties: Provisional License Suspension, .02 Rule

informational·how to guide·Published May 13, 2026

What happens if a teen breaks the provisional license rules in Hawaii?

On Oahu, a first break of a provisional license rule suspends the license for 3 months. A second break revokes it for 6 months. A first conviction for a driving offense means a 6-month suspension or revocation, and a second means 1 year of revocation. Drivers under 21 may not drive with a blood alcohol content of .02 or more.

Where these penalty facts come from

The penalties and the ticket checks come from the City and County of Honolulu graduated driver licensing page and its road test page. The .02 limit and the alcohol test rules come from the 2023 Hawaii Driver's Manual. The Honolulu licensing requirements page gives the license blocks. Each county runs driver licensing, so the penalty and status letter steps here are the Honolulu (Oahu) steps. This guide is current as of 2026. Confirm the rules with your county driver licensing office or the Hawaii Department of Transportation (hidot.hawaii.gov) before you drive.

Provisional license penalties on Oahu

Provisional license penalties on Oahu
What happens	Penalty
First violation of the provisional license rules	Provisional license suspended for 3 months
Second or later violation of those rules	Provisional license revoked for 6 months
First conviction of a motor vehicle offense	Provisional license suspended or revoked for 6 months
Second or later conviction	Provisional license revoked for 1 year

The provisional license rules behind the penalties

The license rule: carry your provisional license with you when you drive.
The passenger limit: no more than one person under 18 without a licensed parent or guardian in the car, unless the person is a household member. The passenger and curfew rules guide has the details.
The night limit: no driving from 11:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. unless a licensed parent or guardian sits in the passenger seat. Driving to or from work, or to or from a school-authorized activity, is allowed with a signed statement.
The seat belt rule: all occupants wear seat belts, and children under 4 ride in a child safety seat.

Why an open ticket can stop your license

Under 18, you do not get a provisional or full license while you have a violation or proceeding that might lead to a suspension or revocation, or a pending case for a driving offense. The check starts earlier: to apply for a provisional license, you must have held your instruction permit at least 180 days with no such pending violation. Honolulu links its driver record system to the Judiciary system, which flags a minor's record. At any age, outstanding traffic citations, a violation pending a court hearing or a court suspension or revocation stops a license.

How the court status letter works on Oahu

1
Get the referral slip
In some cases Honolulu gives a minor referral slip CS-L(DL) 237 and sends the minor to District Court for a status letter.
2
Check the letter
The status letter is valid for 30 days. It must show no pending violations, proceedings or adjudications in the District Court of the State of Hawaii.
3
Return within 30 days of the road test
For a provisional license, return to the driver licensing center with the letter within 30 days of passing the road test. If you do not, the test results are invalid.
4
Bring the letter for the full license
For a full license, return to the driver licensing center with the status letter.

Clearing a violation before the road test

Honolulu checks every road test applicant's record electronically against Traffic Violations Bureau files. You must clear outstanding violations with the Traffic Violations Bureau before you can get a license. Clearing the record can take several days, and road test scores are valid for 30 days. If you pass the road test but give no clearance letter and the record is not cleared within 30 days, you must take the road test again. Clear any ticket early, before you book the test.

The .02 zero tolerance rule for drivers under 21

The Driver's Manual calls it Zero Tolerance: a driver under 21 may not drive with a blood alcohol content of .02 or more. For any driver, the manual counts .08 or more as under the influence, so the limit under 21 is much lower. The manual's warning about drinking and driving also includes alcohol in medicine. It is also against the law to consume or possess an alcoholic drink on a public highway or sidewalk, and you may not store an opened alcohol container in the area where the driver or passengers sit. The free practice question on the alcohol limit for drivers under 21 checks the .02 number.

What happens if you refuse the alcohol test

Anyone who drives on a public highway in Hawaii is deemed to have agreed to a blood alcohol test.
A refusal may lead to revocation of your license for one, two or four years, depending on your prior alcohol enforcement contacts.
You may still be charged with driving under the influence after a refusal.
If a test shows .08 or more, or you refuse, your license is taken away and you get a 30-day temporary driving permit. Anyone whose license is revoked may ask for a hearing.
The free question on what a refusal can lead to covers the basics.

Proof of insurance after some convictions

After a conviction for certain offenses involving vehicles, a driver must keep proof of financial responsibility for 3 years from the conviction date and file SR-22 evidence of insurance. If the driver does not comply, the driver's license is suspended.

What to do in common situations

You have an unpaid ticket and want to take the road test

Clear it with the Traffic Violations Bureau first. Clearing can take several days, and a passed road test is valid for 30 days.

The licensing center gives you referral slip CS-L(DL) 237

Go to District Court for a status letter. The letter is valid for 30 days.

You live on Hawaii, Maui or Kauai

The steps above are the Honolulu (Oahu) steps. Ask your county driver licensing office how it checks violations and status letters.

Your provisional license is not converted by your 19th birthday

The license expires and you must reapply as an adult applicant.

Key Takeaways

On Oahu, a first break of a provisional rule means a 3-month suspension. A second means a 6-month revocation.
A first conviction means a 6-month suspension or revocation. A second means 1 year of revocation.
Under 18, an open ticket or court case can block your provisional or full license.
Drivers under 21 may not drive with a blood alcohol content of .02 or more.
Refusing the alcohol test may lead to revocation for one, two or four years.
Next step: practice on the free Hawaii Class 3 learner's permit practice test.

Hawaii teen driver penalties: common questions

How long is a provisional license suspension in Hawaii?

On Oahu, the first violation of the provisional license rules suspends the license for 3 months. A second or later violation revokes it for 6 months. A first conviction for a driving offense means 6 months of suspension or revocation, and a second means 1 year of revocation.

Can I get a full license at 17 with a ticket open?

Not while it is pending. Under 18, Honolulu does not issue a full license while you have a pending violation or proceeding that might cause a suspension or revocation, or a pending case for a driving offense. You must also have held the provisional license for six months and be at least 17.

What is the legal alcohol limit for a driver under 21 in Hawaii?

A driver under 21 may not drive with a blood alcohol content of .02 or more. This is the Zero Tolerance rule in the Hawaii Driver's Manual. The manual's warning about drinking and driving also includes alcohol in medicine.

Do I have to take an alcohol test in Hawaii?

Anyone who drives on a public highway in Hawaii is deemed to have agreed to the test. If you refuse, your license may be revoked for one, two or four years, and you may still be charged with driving under the influence.

What is a court status letter in Hawaii?

It is a letter from District Court that shows a minor has no pending violations, proceedings or adjudications. It is valid for 30 days. On Oahu, a minor may need it for a provisional or full license.