61-5-132. Prerequisites for issuance of driver's license to minor. (1) The department may issue a driver's license, subject to the restrictions of 61-5-133, to a person under 18 years of age if the person:

(a) has held a learner license or traffic education permit for a period of not less than 6 months;

(b) has passed a road test or a skills test, as provided in 61-5-110;

(c) (i) has successfully completed a traditional traffic education course approved pursuant to 20-7-503(1) and presents written certification from the person's parent or legal guardian, or if none is available, a responsible adult with knowledge of the person's driving experience, that states that the person has had at least 50 hours of driving experience, 10 of which were at night, during which the person was supervised by a parent, a legal guardian, or a person at least 18 years of age, with the consent of the parent or legal guardian, who had a valid driver's license; or

(ii) has successfully completed an alternative traffic education course approved by the department of justice and presents written certification from the person's parent or legal guardian that states the person has had at least 75 hours of driving experience, 15 of which were at night, during which the person was supervised by a parent, legal guardian, or a person at least 18 years of age, with the consent of the parent or legal guardian, who had a valid driver's license; and

(d) presents written certification from the person's parent or legal guardian, or if none is available, a responsible adult with knowledge of the person's legal history, that states that, during the 6-month period immediately preceding application for a driver's license, the person has not been convicted of a traffic violation or convicted of or adjudicated for an offense involving the use of alcohol or drugs and the person has no pending traffic, alcohol, or drug citations.

(2) If a parent or a legal guardian, or if none is available, a responsible adult with knowledge of the person's legal history, for a person under 18 years of age cannot certify that the person has a 6-month conviction-free record for traffic, alcohol, and drug violations and no pending traffic, alcohol, or drug citations, the department may extend the person's learner license for an additional 1-year period or until the person's 18th birthday, whichever occurs first.

(3) (a) The requirements of subsections (1)(a) through (1)(c) do not apply to a person under 18 years of age who has been licensed in another state for at least 6 months and surrenders a valid driver's license from that state.

(b) The requirements of subsection (1)(c) do not apply to a person under 18 years of age who, at the time of application for a driver's license, is an enrollee of a job corps program located in Montana. The department may require the applicant to provide current documentation of the applicant's job corps program enrollment status.