Compilation of Rules and Regulations of the State of Georgia › Department 375 - RULES OF DEPARTMENT OF DRIVER SERVICES › Chapter 375-5 - DRIVER TRAINING AND DRIVER IMPROVEMENT › Subject 375-5-2 - DRIVER TRAINING SCHOOLS › Rule 375-5-2-.11 - Driver Training School and/or Limited Driver Training School Office Requirements

Current through Rules and Regulations filed through June 27, 2024
(1) A residence may not be used to provide
				classroom instruction or behind the wheel instruction, except when such
				residence meets all the qualifications of a school and provided that such
				operation is not in conflict with local zoning laws regulating commercial
				businesses and the residence has a separate public outside entrance for the
				driver training school, limited driver training school and a separate restroom
				facility.
(2) A driver training
				school and/or limited driver training school shall maintain an office in the
				following manner:
(a) The license of the
				school must be conspicuously displayed in a public location.
(b) The school shall permit authorized
				representatives of the Department of Driver Services to make periodic scheduled
				and unscheduled inspections of all school facilities. During such inspection,
				each owner, partner, associate, corporate director, officer, manager, or
				employee of the school shall cooperate with the Department's representatives
				and upon demand, shall exhibit all records or other documents that are required
				to be maintained by such school under this Chapter.
(c) The telephone must be used exclusively
				for the operation of the school.
(d) Sufficient indoor space must be provided
				for the purpose of instruction, to include individual desks or table with
				chairs to accommodate students comfortably. Classes of instruction are limited
				to a maximum number of forty (40) students per class unless the Department
				determines that the space is inadequate for that number of students. In those
				situations, the maximum number will be calculated on twenty square feet per
				student and instructor. The minimum square feet of an indoor classroom must be
				at least 300 square feet of useable classroom space. Programs licensed prior to
				the enactment of the 300 square foot minimum may continue to utilize existing
				classrooms that satisfied the prior requirement of 250 square feet. Such
				programs may not add new classrooms that are less than 300 square feet in size.
				The maximum number of students per class determined by the Department does not
				supersede the occupancy load or maximum for the building determined by the
				local governing entity (i.e. county or city fire marshal, inspector, or agent).
				A copy of the Certificate of Occupancy must be submitted during the
				certification application process.
(e) Each school shall be inspected by the
				respective municipal or county government to ensure that the facilities of such
				school are in compliance with fire, sanitation, and building requirements in
				force and effect at the time of the commencement of operations of such school
				at such location or with the requirements imposed thereafter in conjunction
				with modifications or improvements previously made to such facilities. Copies
				of such inspection reports shall be made available upon request to the
				Department. In addition, the Department shall inspect the designated office
				space prior to approval of any application submitted to the
				Department.
(f) An employee of the
				school must be available to furnish information of operation or to produce
				necessary records or documents whenever requested by a member of the
				Department.
(g) The business office
				of the school cannot be operated entirely through a telephone answering service
				or telephone answering machine.
(h)
				A driver training school shall maintain business hours of at least fifteen (15)
				hours per week, half of which must fall within the Department's normal business
				hours. An employee of the driving training school and/or limited driver
				training school must be available during this time to furnish information of
				operation, verify attendance to a class, or to produce the necessary records or
				documents whenever requested by a member of the Department. The school may
				close for a lunch hour at a set time upon notice to the Department of the
				scheduled lunch hour. The school shall be responsible for notifying the
				Department of those times during which the business office will be closed for
				lunch or vacation and of the regularly scheduled hours of operation of the
				business office.
(i) Any school or
				classroom facility utilized for or approved for the purposes of a driver
				training school and/or limited driver training school shall comply with the
				requirements set forth by the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, before a
				permit or license is issued. The owner shall certify to the Department that the
				facility complies with the Act and its implementing regulations.
(j) Any school, office, or classroom facility
				utilized for or approved for the purpose of a driver training school and/or
				limited driver training school shall be clean and safe from health hazards such
				as rodents, pest infestation, and mold.
(k) A virtual driver training school shall
				furnish to the Department, upon request, reports of all students attending the
				virtual program. Reports must be in the prescribed format of the
				Department.
(l) A virtual driver
				training school must provide a "student help desk" for technical
				support.