61-5-232. Restricted-use driving permit -- conditions -- definitions. (1) A person who, pursuant to 61-5-105(2), may not be issued a driver's license due to an ineligible status reported by another state to the national driver register may petition the district court of the county in which the person resides for a restricted-use driving permit for use only within the state of Montana if:

(a) the person has maintained continuous residence in Montana for at least 5 years and is not otherwise ineligible for a license under 61-5-105;

(b) the person submits a certified driving record from the licensing agency of each state that has reported the person's status as ineligible to the national driver register that shows that at least 5 years have elapsed from the effective date of the most recent withdrawal of the person's driver's license or driving privileges by the other state or states;

(c) for the 5-year period immediately preceding application for a restricted-use driving permit, the person has not been convicted in any jurisdiction of a felony or misdemeanor offense;

(d) the person certifies that no traffic citations or alcohol-related or drug-related criminal charges are currently pending against the person;

(e) the person certifies that a good faith effort was made to resolve the person's ineligible status through the licensing agency of each state or states that reported the person's status as ineligible to the national driver register, including the payment of any pending fees or fines; and

(f) the person provides any other information required by department rule.

(2) The department may issue a restricted-use driving permit only to a person who satisfies all of the requirements of this section as determined by a district court pursuant to subsection (1). A person who is issued a restricted-use driving permit may use it only for an essential driving purpose as defined by the department.

(3) For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:

(a) "Most recent withdrawal" means the suspension, revocation, or denial of a driver's license or driving privilege underlying a current ineligible status report made by another state's licensing agency to the national driver register.

(b) "National driver register" means the registry established under 49 U.S.C. 30302.

(c) "Restricted-use driving permit" means a paper document authorizing a person to drive within this state for essential driving purposes only and that is issued by the department to a person whose status on the national driver register is reported as ineligible to operate a motor vehicle other than a commercial motor vehicle.

History: En. Sec. 1, Ch. 358, L. 2015; amd. Sec. 17, Ch. 335, L. 2019.