61-5-111. (Bracketed language effective October 1, 2000) Contents of a driver's license, renewal, renewal by mail, license expirations, grace period, and fees for licenses, permits, and endorsements -- notice of expiration. (1) The department may appoint county treasurers and other qualified officers to act as its agents for the sale of driver's licenses receipts and shall make necessary rules governing sales. In areas in which the department provides driver licensing services 3 days or more a week, the department is responsible for sale of receipts and may, in its discretion, appoint an agent to sell receipts.
     (2) The department, upon receipt of payment of the fees specified in this section, shall issue a driver's license to each qualifying applicant. The license must contain a full-face photograph of the licensee in the size and form prescribed by the department; a distinguishing number issued to the licensee; the full legal name, date of birth, Montana mailing address, and a brief description of the licensee; and either the licensee's customary signature or a digital reproduction of the licensee's customary signature. [The department may not use the licensee's social security number as the distinguishing number unless the licensee expressly authorizes the use.] A license is not valid until it is signed by the licensee.
     (3) (a) When a person applies for renewal of a driver's license, the department shall test the applicant's eyesight. The department may also require the applicant to submit to a knowledge and skills test if:
     (i) the renewal applicant has a physical or mental disability, limitation, or condition that impairs, or may impair, the applicant's ability to exercise ordinary and reasonable control in the safe operation of a motor vehicle on the highway; and
     (ii) the expired or expiring license does not include adaptive equipment or operational restrictions appropriate to the applicant's functional abilities; or
     (iii) the applicant wants to remove or modify the restrictions stated on the expired or expiring license.
     (b) In the case of a commercial driver's license, the department may also require that the applicant successfully complete a written examination as required by federal regulations.
     (c) A person is considered to have applied for renewal of a Montana driver's license if the application is made within 6 months before or 3 months after the expiration of the person's license. Except as provided in subsection (3)(d), a person seeking to renew a driver's license shall appear in person at a Montana driver's examination station.
     (d) (i) A person may renew a driver's license by mail if the person certifies that the person is temporarily out of state and will not be returning to the state prior to the expiration of the license.
     (ii) An applicant who renews a driver's license by mail shall submit to the department an approved vision examination and a medical evaluation from a licensed physician in addition to the fees required for renewal.
     (iii) If the department does not have a digitized photograph or signature record of the renewal applicant from the expiring license, then the department may require the renewal applicant to submit a personal photograph and signature that meets the requirements prescribed by the department.
     (iv) The term of a license renewed by mail is 4 years, and a person may not renew by mail for consecutive license terms.
     (e) The department shall mail a driver's license renewal notice no earlier than 60 days and no later than 30 days prior to the expiration date of a commercial driver's license if the licensee has previously submitted a written request for the notice, either at the time of initial application or of renewal of the license.
     (4) (a) Except as provided in subsections (4)(b) and (4)(c), a license expires on the anniversary of the licensee's birthday 8 years or less after the date of issue or on the licensee's 75th birthday, whichever occurs first. The department may adopt rules to stagger the implementation of the conversion to an 8-year license cycle over a 4-year period.
     (b) A license issued to a person who is 75 years of age or older expires on the anniversary of the licensee's birthday 4 years or less after the date of issue.
     (c) A license issued to a person who is under 21 years of age expires on the licensee's 21st birthday.
     (5) Whenever the department issues an original license to a person under the age of 18 years, the license must be designated and clearly marked as a "provisional license". Any license designated and marked as provisional may be suspended by the department for a period of not more than 12 months when its records disclose that the licensee, subsequent to the issuance of the license, has been guilty of careless or negligent driving.
     (6) Fees for driver's licenses are:
     (a) driver's license, except a commercial driver's license -- $4 a year or fraction of a year;
     (b) motorcycle endorsement -- 50 cents a year or fraction of a year;
     (c) commercial driver's license:
     (i) interstate -- $5 a year or fraction of a year;
     (ii) intrastate -- $3.50 a year or fraction of a year.
     (7) Upon receipt of notice from another jurisdiction that a person licensed under this chapter has surrendered a Montana driver's license to that jurisdiction, the department shall change the license status on the person's official driver record to "inactive". If the person returns to Montana prior to the expiration of the previously surrendered license, the department may reactivate the license for the remainder of the license term.

     History: (1) thru (6)En. Sec. 19, Ch. 267, L. 1947; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 135, L. 1951; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 130, L. 1953; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 249, L. 1961; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 228, L. 1963; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 23, L. 1967; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 288, L. 1971; amd. Sec. 4, Ch. 423, L. 1971; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 409, L. 1975; Sec. 31-135, R.C.M. 1947; (7)En. Sec. 13, Ch. 199, L. 1943; Sec. 31-113, R.C.M. 1947; R.C.M. 1947, 31-113, 31-135(part); amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 361, L. 1979; amd. Sec. 55, Ch. 421, L. 1979; amd. Secs. 1, 2, Ch. 276, L. 1985; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 277, L. 1985; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 503, L. 1985; amd. Sec. 33, Ch. 516, L. 1985; amd. Sec. 12, Ch. 443, L. 1987; amd. Sec. 10, Ch. 378, L. 1989; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 726, L. 1991; amd. Sec. 10, Ch. 195, L. 1993; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 26, Sp. L. November 1993; amd. Sec. 5, Ch. 364, L. 1995; amd. Sec. 3, Ch. 29, L. 1999; amd. Sec. 10, Ch. 309, L. 1999.