1997 Minnesota Statutes

     171.04 Persons not eligible for drivers' licenses. 

    Subdivision 1.    Persons not eligible.  The department 
 shall not issue a driver's license hereunder: 

    (1) To any person who is under the age of 16 years; to any 
 person under 18 years unless such person shall have successfully 
 completed a course in driver education, including both classroom 
 and behind-the-wheel instruction, approved by the state board of 
 education for courses offered through the public schools, or, in 
 the case of a course offered by a private, commercial driver 
 education school or institute, by the department of public 
 safety; except when such person has completed a course of driver 
 education in another state or has a previously issued valid 
 license from another state or country; nor to any person under 
 18 years unless the application of license is approved by either 
 parent when both reside in the same household as the minor 
 applicant, otherwise the parent or spouse of the parent having 
 custody or with whom the minor is living in the event there is 
 no court order for custody, or guardian having the custody of 
 such minor, or in the event a person under the age of 18 has no 
 living father, mother or guardian, the license shall not be 
 issued to such person unless the application therefor is 
 approved by the person's employer.  Driver education courses 
 offered in any public school shall be open for enrollment to 
 persons between the ages of 15 and 18 years residing in the 
 school district or attending school therein.  Any public school 
 offering driver education courses may charge an enrollment fee 
 for the driver education course which shall not exceed the 
 actual cost thereof to the public school and the school 
 district.  The approval required herein shall contain a 
 verification of the age of the applicant; 

    (2) To any person who is under the age of 18 years unless 
 the person has applied for, been issued, and possessed the 
 appropriate instruction permit for a minimum of six months; 

    (3) To any person whose license has been suspended during 
 the period of suspension except that a suspended license may be 
 reinstated during the period of suspension upon the licensee 
 furnishing proof of financial responsibility in the same manner 
 as provided in the Minnesota no-fault automobile insurance act; 

    (4) To any person whose license has been revoked except 
 upon furnishing proof of financial responsibility in the same 
 manner as provided in the Minnesota no-fault automobile 
 insurance act and if otherwise qualified; 

    (5) To any person who is a drug dependent person as defined 
 in section 254A.02, subdivision 5; 

    (6) To any person who has been adjudged legally incompetent 
 by reason of mental illness, mental deficiency, or inebriation, 
 and has not been restored to capacity, unless the department is 
 satisfied that such person is competent to operate a motor 
 vehicle with safety to persons or property; 

    (7) To any person who is required by this chapter to take 
 an examination, unless such person shall have successfully 
 passed such examination; 

    (8) To any person who is required under the provisions of 
 the Minnesota no-fault automobile insurance act of this state to 
 deposit proof of financial responsibility and who has not 
 deposited such proof; 

    (9) To any person when the commissioner has good cause to 
 believe that the operation of a motor vehicle on the highways by 
 such person would be inimical to public safety or welfare; 

    (10) To any person when, in the opinion of the 
 commissioner, such person is afflicted with or suffering from 
 such physical or mental disability or disease as will affect 
 such person in a manner to prevent the person from exercising 
 reasonable and ordinary control over a motor vehicle while 
 operating the same upon the highways; nor to a person who is 
 unable to read and understand official signs regulating, 
 warning, and directing traffic; 

    (11) To a child for whom a court has ordered denial of 
 driving privileges under section 260.191, subdivision 1, or 
 260.195, subdivision 3a, until the period of denial is 
 completed; or 

    (12) To any person whose license has been canceled, during 
 the period of cancellation. 

    Subd. 2.    Disqualified operators of commercial vehicles. 
  During the period of disqualification, the department shall 
 not issue a class C, class B, or class A driver's license to a 
 person who has been disqualified from operating a commercial 
 motor vehicle under section 171.165.  

    HIST: (2720-144a) 1939 c 401 s 4; 1941 c 517; 1957 c 564 s 1; 
 1963 c 382 s 1; 1965 c 78 s 1; 1965 c 795 s 1; 1967 c 61 s 1; 
 1967 c 839 s 1; 1969 c 1129 art 1 s 18; 1971 c 644 s 6; 1974 c 
 408 s 32 subd 4; 1981 c 363 s 30; 1982 c 548 art 4 s 14; 1986 c 
 444; 1988 c 558 s 1; 1989 c 262 s 1; 1989 c 307 s 19; 1995 c 226 
 art 3 s 13; 1996 c 275 s 3; 1996 c 455 art 3 s 24 

*   NOTE:  The amendment to subdivision 1 by Laws 1996, chapter 
*455, article 3, section 24, is effective February 1, 1997.  Laws 
*1996, chapter 455, article 3, section 35.