The Parent Who Wants the Hours Rounded Up
A 15-year-old permit holder has a valid learner's permit. The parent's log shows 38 driving hours, including 4 at night, and the school's records show 7.5 of the 8 required behind-the-wheel hours. The road test is in three days. The parent asks the instructor to sign the 50-hour certification and to "mark the last half-hour as done." The school owner says, "Just add a 30-minute lesson and write 8-nobody will know." The instructor has the student's file and the dual-control car available.
1. Can the instructor sign the 50-hour certification or record 8 hours when only 7.5 were delivered?
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No. The 50-hour certification is the parent's or guardian's attestation of supervised driving; the instructor cannot truthfully certify hours the instructor did not supervise. The behind-the-wheel minimum requires actual instruction: 7.5 hours is 7.5 hours. Recording 8 when 8 were not delivered is a false record, regardless of whether anyone checks. It also undercuts the school's approved-program obligations and can jeopardize the instructor's and school's credentials.
2. What lawful options are available before the test date?
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Schedule a real 30-minute make-up lesson before the test if the schedule and the student's readiness permit it, and record the actual time delivered. Tell the parent the remaining supervised hours must be completed and certified truthfully; if they are not, the test should be rescheduled. The instructor may provide instruction and an honest progress report but cannot manufacture parent-supervised hours. If the owner directs falsification, refuse in writing and follow the program's reporting chain, including the BMV if required.
3. What should the student file and parent communication contain?
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The file should show accurate, contemporaneous entries: date, time, instructor, vehicle, lesson content, and actual hours delivered. Do not alter prior entries or backdate a lesson. Give the parent a clear written summary of hours completed, hours remaining, and the options. Document the request to round up factually and the instructor's response. Retain records according to the school's BMV-required retention policy, and keep the student's eligibility decision separate from pressure to meet a test date.