Can I practice driving without my learner's permit?

Q: Can a teen who does not have their driver's learning permit yet still practice driving in a closed area, like an empty parking lot -- if there is a licensed driver with them? A: This is sort of a gray area when it comes to minors or non-licensed drivers. The thing that's important to remember is, a person to drive on the public highways in this state, must have a valid driver's license or permit. The gray area can get in to where, in the private part, there are areas where they can drive, but the important thing to remember is on public highways, you must have a driver's license. -- Washington State Trooper Chris Webb