61-5-110. (Temporary) Examination of applicants -- cooperative driver testing programs. (1) The department shall examine each applicant for a driver's license or motorcycle endorsement, except as otherwise provided in this section. The examination must include a test of the applicant's eyesight, a knowledge test examining the applicant's ability to read and understand highway signs, the applicant's knowledge of the traffic laws of this state, and, except as provided in 61-5-118, a road test or a skills test demonstrating the applicant's ability to exercise ordinary and reasonable control in the operation of a motor vehicle, quadricycle, or motorcycle. The examination for the commercial driver's license may include additional items. The knowledge test and the road test or the skills test must be waived for an applicant who works in a farm-related service industry and who otherwise meets the requirements for a seasonal commercial driver's license as set forth in this title and rules adopted by the department. The knowledge test or road test, or both, may be waived by the department upon certification of the applicant's successful completion of the test by a certified cooperative driver testing program, as provided in subsection (2).
     (2) The department is authorized to certify as a cooperative driver testing program any state-approved high school traffic education course offered by or in cooperation with a school district that employs an approved instructor who has current endorsement from the superintendent of public instruction as a teacher of traffic education and who agrees to:
     (a) administer standardized knowledge and road tests required by the department to students participating in the district's high school traffic education courses:
     (b) certify the test results to the department; and
     (c) comply with regulations of the department and the superintendent of public instruction.
     (3) Except as otherwise provided by law, a resident who has a valid driver's license issued by another state may surrender that license for a Montana license of the same class, type, and endorsement upon payment of the required fees, successful completion of a vision examination, and, if requested by the examiner, completion of either the knowledge test or road test, or both. In addition, a resident surrendering a commercial driver's license issued by another state shall successfully complete any examination required by federal regulations before being issued a commercial driver's license by the department. (Terminates September 30, 1999--sec. 12, Ch. 53, L. 1995.)

     61-5-110. (Effective October 1, 1999) Examination of applicants -- cooperative driver testing programs. (1) The department shall examine each applicant for a driver's license or motorcycle endorsement, except as otherwise provided in this section. The examination must include a test of the applicant's eyesight, a knowledge test examining the applicant's ability to read and understand highway signs, the applicant's knowledge of the traffic laws of this state, and a road test or a skills test demonstrating the applicant's ability to exercise ordinary and reasonable control in the operation of a motor vehicle, quadricycle, or motorcycle. The examination for the commercial driver's license may include additional items. The knowledge test and the road test or the skills test must be waived for an applicant who works in a farm-related service industry and who otherwise meets the requirements for a seasonal commercial driver's license as set forth in this title and rules adopted by the department. The knowledge test or road test, or both, may be waived by the department upon certification of the applicant's successful completion of the test by a certified cooperative driver testing program, as provided in subsection (2).
     (2) The department is authorized to certify as a cooperative driver testing program any state-approved high school traffic education course offered by or in cooperation with a school district that employs an approved instructor who has current endorsement from the superintendent of public instruction as a teacher of traffic education and who agrees to:
     (a) administer standardized knowledge and road tests required by the department to students participating in the district's high school traffic education courses:
     (b) certify the test results to the department; and
     (c) comply with regulations of the department and the superintendent of public instruction.
     (3) Except as otherwise provided by law, a resident who has a valid driver's license issued by another state may surrender that license for a Montana license of the same class, type, and endorsement upon payment of the required fees, successful completion of a vision examination, and, if requested by the examiner, completion of either the knowledge test or road test, or both. In addition, a resident surrendering a commercial driver's license issued by another state shall successfully complete any examination required by federal regulations before being issued a commercial driver's license by the department.

     History: En. Sec. 18, Ch. 267, L. 1947; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 408, L. 1975; R.C.M. 1947, 31-134(a); amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 503, L. 1985; amd. Sec. 32, Ch. 516, L. 1985; amd. Sec. 11, Ch. 443, L. 1987; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 297, L. 1991; amd. Sec. 9, Ch. 195, L. 1993; amd. Secs. 4, 5, Ch. 53, L. 1995; amd. Secs. 4, 9, Ch. 364, L. 1995.