1997 Minnesota Statutes

     171.05 Instruction permits. 

    Subdivision 1.    Persons 18 or more years of age.  Any 
 person who is 18 or more years of age and who, except for a lack 
 of instruction in operating a motor vehicle, would otherwise be 
 qualified to obtain a class D driver's license under this 
 chapter, may apply for an instruction permit and the department 
 shall issue such permit entitling the applicant, while having 
 such permit in immediate possession, to drive a motor vehicle 
 for which a class D license is valid upon the highways for a 
 period of one year, but such person must be accompanied by an 
 adult licensed driver who is actually occupying a seat beside 
 the driver.  Any license of a lower class may be used as an 
 instruction permit for a higher class for a period of six months 
 after passage of the written test or tests required for the 
 higher class and when the licensee is accompanied by and 
 receiving instruction from a holder of the appropriate higher 
 class license.  A copy of the record of examination taken for 
 the higher class license must be carried by the driver while 
 using such lower class license as an instruction permit.  

    Subd. 2.    Persons less than 18 years of age.  
 Notwithstanding any provision in subdivision 1 to the contrary, 
 the department, upon application therefor, may issue an 
 instruction permit to an applicant who is 15, 16, or 17 years of 
 age and who is enrolled in an approved driver education program 
 including behind the wheel training.  Such an instruction permit 
 holder who has the permit in possession may operate a motor 
 vehicle while receiving behind the wheel training in an approved 
 driver education program, but only when accompanied by an 
 authorized instructor who occupies the seat beside the permit 
 holder.  During and upon completion of the course, a 16 or 17 
 year old may operate a motor vehicle while accompanied by an 
 adult licensed driver who is actually occupying a seat beside 
 the driver.  During and upon completion of the course, a 15 year 
 old may operate a motor vehicle while accompanied by a licensed 
 parent or guardian or licensed adult driver authorized by the 
 parent or guardian who also must occupy the seat beside the 
 instruction permit holder. 

    Subd. 2a.    Permit for six months.  (a) An applicant 
 who has applied for and received an instruction permit pursuant 
 to subdivision 2 must possess the instruction permit for not 
 less than six months before qualifying for a driver's license.  

    (b) Until May 31, 1999, the commissioner may waive the 
 six-month requirement of this subdivision for an applicant for a 
 class D driver's license if: 

    (1) at least six months has elapsed since the applicant 
 successfully completed the written examination requirement of 
 the approved driver education program pursuant to subdivision 2; 
 and 

    (2) the applicant subsequently obtained a permit and 
 successfully completed all of the approved driver education 
 program requirements before applying for the class D driver's 
 license. 

 This paragraph is effective June 4, 1997, and expires June 1, 
 1999. 

    Subd. 3.    Motorized bicycles.  Notwithstanding any 
 provision in subdivision 1 to the contrary, the department, upon 
 application and payment of the fee prescribed in section 171.02, 
 subdivision 3, may issue a motorized bicycle instruction permit 
 to an applicant who is 15 years of age and who has successfully 
 completed the written portion of the examination prescribed by 
 the commissioner.  The holder of this instruction permit who has 
 the permit in possession may operate a motorized bicycle within 
 one mile of the holder's residence for the purpose of practicing 
 to take the operator portion of the examination prescribed by 
 the commissioner. 

    HIST: (2720-144b) 1939 c 401 s 5; 1949 c 91 s 1; 1961 c 33 s 
 1; 1963 c 382 s 2; 1971 c 644 s 7; 1973 c 95 s 1; 1980 c 446 s 
 1; 1986 c 444; 1986 c 454 s 22; 1987 c 384 art 1 s 19; 1990 c 
 529 s 6,7; 1996 c 275 s 4; 1996 c 455 art 3 s 25; 1997 c 250 s 8 

*   NOTE:  Subdivision 2a, as added by Laws 1996, chapter 455, 
*article 3, section 25, is effective February 1, 1997.  Laws 
*1996, chapter 455, article 3, section 35.