Fun fact, in VA...some counties still do the "minors get their DL @ court"
About 40% of jurisdictions require you to go before a judge to get the driver's license, the other 60% just mail it to you.
Roanoke County? Go see the judge. Roanoke City...watch the mailbox. Pulaski County? Sunday best and a trip to the courthouse. Radford, wait for the postman.
Seems goofy that some still do it....not sure it serves a purpose. But the fact that it's not one way or the other state wide is the weirder part to me.
13 Replies
1mo
I only went with one of the three kids. Not sure it was anything but a waste of time.
(In response to this post by JoesterVT)
1mo
But I had to see the judge to get my permanent license in 1988.
(In response to this post by JoesterVT)
E
EDGEMAN
1mo
Couldn't wait to drive! It took a little longer than the minimal time because I had to wait for my time at driver's ed. I went to the DMV the day after I completed it.
(In response to this post by Hokie CPA)
1mo
You obtain your learners at the DMV. That learners becomes your defacto license on the appropriate date with the paper from your "behind the wheel" instructor. The actual license shows up in the mail a couple months later.
(In response to this post by Hokie CPA)
1mo
see the judge to get it. Instead of handing the license to me, the judge gave it to my mother and told all the parents at the ceremony to wait until they get home and have the "talk" with their children before handing them the license. The 'talk" was to go over the responsibilities and any expectations the parents had for their children as a licensed driver. Every parent probably didn't listen to the judge because some probably gave it to them as soon as they were out of the court room. However, my mother listened to the judge and didn't give me the license until after we had the "talk."
There's your potential purpose for the ceremony in front of the judge.
(In response to this post by JoesterVT)
1mo
goriest thing I’ve ever seen. Quite traumatizing.
Va Beach, 1976.
Kids have it easy today.
** Edited by Stork at 6/4/2026, 3:46:53 PM
(In response to this post by JoesterVT)
1mo
Same thing about 50's cars crashing, smashing and decapitating. I only remember because we always joked using "Signal 30" when someone did something stupid driving. Now...I'm off to google signal 30.
Edit: It's actually on youtube. I have it queued up for my viewing pleasure for later.
** Edited by Coach McGuirk at 6/4/2026, 4:40:29 PM
Link:
siganl 30
(In response to this post by Stork)
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Dan1993
1mo
I didn't have to go to court, but there was a large "ceremony" at Marshall high school for students from all over the county. I don't even remember if it was a judge or someone else leading it, but I do remember my old-school father telling me it was effectively a court proceeding so I had to take off my baseball hat...
(In response to this post by JoesterVT)
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Dan1993
1mo
old-timers will remember "Part A of a two-part license" that fit neatly into a little clear plastic piece. One part was photo, the second part was a green tri-fold with dot-matrix printing. Many people talked about going to DMV dumpsters to get that paper and print their own. Kids today have no idea how hard it was to get a fake ID in the 80s and 90s
(In response to this post by Dan1993)
E
EDGEMAN
1mo
...looking at that chart, my childhood county still mails DLs to (minor) drivers.
(In response to this post by JoesterVT)
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Hurley09
1mo
(In response to this post by EDGEMAN)