Three Forks FCCLA

Teenage drivers in Montana can get a Learner’s License as early as age 14 ½ if they are in a state-approved traffic education program. There are certain criteria that teens must meet in order to qualify for a learner’s license including:
· Completing a state approved traffic education program, or be 16.
· Pass the required driver license test.
· Turn in any other driver licenses
· Have not had a license suspended, revoked or denied in any other state or jurisdiction.
· Pass the medical requirements for the license desired.
· Not been found by a court to be mentally incompetent, or an alcoholic and/or habitual user of illegal drugs.
In Montana teens must hold a permit for a minimum of six months before applying for a First-Year Restricted License. A learner’s permit is only valid for one year. During the permit period the student must have 50 hours of supervised driving experience, including 10 hours at night. A driver with a Traffic Education Learner’s License (TELL) must be supervised by a parent or guardian. The law also requires that everyone in the car must be wearing a seat belt, but Montana does not have a primary seat belt law yet. Our legislature introduced a primary seatbelt law this year, but the measure failed. A driver with a learner’s permit may also be supervised by a driver age 18 or older who is authorized by the parent or guardian, so an older sibling could supervise. If a teen driver gets any traffic violations for alcohol or drug offenses in the six month permit period they have to start the process over with six more months of supervised driving.
Teens may apply for Step 2, a First – Year Restricted License when they have successfully met the requirements for Step one. In Step 2 teen drivers must pay the fees to acquire a license, bring required documentation of age and address to the drivers’ examination, and complete the Graduated Driver Licensing Parent Certification form. The new license has a restriction code on the front and back of the license, the restriction remains in effect for the first year. Restrictions for Step 2 include wearing a seat belt, not driving between the hours of 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. with some exceptions. Examples of the exceptions include farm related travel, school, church, or specific parent authorized purposes, so basically if mom says you can drive, you can drive. Law enforcement officers may contact parents to verify the purpose for which the teen is authorized to drive between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m.
For the first six months of Step 2 teens may have only one unrelated passenger under the age of 18 in the car. For the second six months of the Restricted License the teen driver may only have three unrelated passengers under 18 in the car. Violations to Step 2 restrictions result in community service hours and suspension of the teen’s license for six months. After First Year Restricted License restrictions automatically end on the date indicated on the back of the license, or when the individual turns 18, whichever is first. Step 3 licenses have full privileges in Montana.