Complete Question: I have had my Learner's Permit for over 6 months. I recently received a speeding citation and I am going to contest it at an upcoming hearing in Court. Will I be subject to the requirement that my driving record must be "clean" for the 6 month period immediately preceding the date of the road test?
Yes. The 6 month period will be measured from the date of the "incident". In your case, that would be the date you received the citation. If the holder of a Learner's Permit is under the age of 18, and either pays the citation or is found "responsible" for a Civil Motor Vehicle Infraction (or "guilty" of a criminal motor vehicle violation) at the hearing (or after an appeal has been heard), the 6 month "clean" period will be measured from the "incident date," that is, the date the citation was received (or the person was arrested).
If the person is found "not responsible" or "not guilty" for the violation at a hearing (or after an appeal is heard) or the charges are dismissed, the person's driving record will be corrected to reflect the finding and the 6 month "clean" period will be measured from the date of the most recent violation, or if none had been committed, from the date the Learner's Permit was obtained.
Note: A surchargeable accident may also cause the 6-month period to begin anew. A surchargeable accident is one in which you are more than 50% at fault. It is treated the same as a citation, that is, it runs from the "incident" date. The 6 month period will re-start from the date of the accident even though you may not be notified of the surcharge until some time after the accident has occurred. If you successfully appeal the surcharge the RMV will correct its records to reflect the original 6-month period in the same way as if you were found "not responsible" for a citation. If your license is suspended, the 6-month period stops running and a new 6-month period will have to be established. It cannot start until the Learner's Permit has been reinstated.