How can I get a hardship license in Montana when the license is suspended under DUI?
Full Question:
My driver's license was suspended for the first time due to DUI. I approached the local DMV office to apply for a hardship license. They had asked me to attend an improvement program to get a hardship license. What is the process to get a hardship license?
05/10/2017 |
Category: Drivers Lice... ยป Drivers Hard... |
State: Montana |
#36947
Answer:
The statutes in this regard have been enumerated below:
61-8-732, MCA
Driving under influence of alcohol or drugs -- driving with excessive alcohol concentration -- assessment, education, and treatment required.
(1) In addition to the punishments provided in 61-8-465, 61-8-714, 61-8-722, and 61-8-731, regardless of disposition, a defendant convicted of a violation of 61-8-401, 61-8-406, 61-8-411, or 61-8-465 shall complete:
(a) a chemical dependency assessment;
(b) a chemical dependency education course; and
(c) on a second or subsequent conviction for a violation of 61-8-401, 61-8-406, or 61-8-411, except a fourth or subsequent conviction for which the defendant completes a residential alcohol treatment program under 61-8-731(2), or as required by subsection (8) of this section, chemical dependency treatment.
(2) The sentencing judge may, in the judge's discretion, require the defendant to complete the chemical dependency assessment prior to sentencing the defendant. If the assessment is not ordered or completed before sentencing, the judge shall order the chemical dependency assessment as part of the sentence.
(3) The chemical dependency assessment and the chemical dependency education course must be completed at a treatment program approved by the department of public health and human services and must be conducted by a licensed addiction counselor. The defendant may attend a treatment program of the defendant's choice as long as the treatment services are provided by a licensed addiction counselor. The defendant shall pay the cost of the assessment, the education course, and chemical dependency treatment.
(4) The assessment must describe the defendant's level of addiction, if any, and contain a recommendation as to education, treatment, or both. A defendant who disagrees with the initial assessment may, at the defendant's cost, obtain a second assessment provided by a licensed addiction counselor or a program approved by the department of public health and human services.
(5) The treatment provided to the defendant at a treatment program must be at a level appropriate to the defendant's alcohol or drug problem, or both, as determined by a licensed addiction counselor pursuant to diagnosis and patient placement rules adopted by the department of public health and human services. Upon determination, the court shall order the defendant's appropriate level of treatment. If more than one counselor makes a determination as provided in this subsection, the court shall order an appropriate level of treatment based upon the determination of one of the counselors.
(6) Each counselor providing education or treatment shall, at the commencement of the education or treatment, notify the court that the defendant has been enrolled in a chemical dependency education course or treatment program. If the defendant fails to attend the education course or treatment program, the counselor shall notify the court of the failure.
(7) A court or counselor may not require attendance at a self-help program other than at an "open meeting", as that term is defined by the self-help program. A defendant may voluntarily participate in self-help programs.
(8) Chemical dependency treatment must be ordered for a first-time offender convicted of a violation of 61-8-401, 61-8-406, 61-8-411, or 61-8-465 upon a finding of chemical dependency made by a licensed addiction counselor pursuant to diagnosis and patient placement rules adopted by the department of public health and human services.
(9) (a) On a second or subsequent conviction, the treatment program provided for in subsection (5) must be followed by monthly monitoring for a period of at least 1 year from the date of admission to the program.
(b) If a defendant fails to comply with the monitoring program imposed under subsection (9)(a), the court shall revoke the suspended sentence, if any, impose any remaining portion of the suspended sentence, and may include additional monthly monitoring for up to an additional 1 year.
(10) Notwithstanding 46-18-201(2), whenever a judge suspends a sentence imposed under 61-8-714 and orders the person to complete chemical dependency treatment under this section, the judge retains jurisdiction to impose any suspended sentence for up to 1 year.
61-2-302, MCA
Establishment of driver rehabilitation and improvement program -- participation by offending drivers.
(1) The department may establish by administrative rules a driver rehabilitation and improvement program or programs. The programs may consist of classroom instruction in rules of the road, driving techniques, defensive driving, driver attitudes and habits, actual on-the-road driver's training, and other subjects or tasks designed to contribute to proper driving attitudes, habits, and techniques and must include the requirements for obtaining a restricted probationary driver's license.
(2) Except when otherwise provided or restricted by statute, a person whose driver's license is suspended or revoked by the department, unless the suspension or revocation was for an offense under 61-8-401, 61-8-406, or 61-8-411, may participate in any driver rehabilitation and improvement program established under this section if the person's license is:
(a) suspended as a result of a violation of the traffic laws of this state, unless the suspension was imposed under the authority provided in Title 61, chapter 8, part 8; or
(b) revoked and the person has:
(i) completed at least 3 months of a 1-year revocation; or
(ii) completed 1 year of a 3-year revocation; and
(iii) met the requirements for reobtaining a Montana driver's license.
(3) Notwithstanding any provision of this part inconsistent with any other law of the state of Montana, the enforcement of any suspension or revocation order that constitutes the basis for any person's participation in the driver rehabilitation and improvement program provided for in this section may be stayed if that person complies with the requirements established for the driver rehabilitation and improvement program and meets the eligibility requirements of subsection (2).
(4) If a person's driver's license has been surrendered before the person's selection for participation in the driver rehabilitation and improvement program, the license may be returned upon receipt of the person's agreement to participate in the program.
(5) The stay of enforcement of any suspension or revocation action must be terminated and the suspension or revocation action must be reinstated if a person declines to participate in the driver rehabilitation and improvement program or fails to meet the attendance or other requirements established for participation in the program.
(6) This part does not create a right to be included in any program established under this part.
(7) The department may establish a schedule of fees that may be charged to those persons participating in the driver improvement and rehabilitation program. The fees must be used to help defray costs of maintaining the program.
(8) A person may be referred to this program by a driver improvement analyst, city judge, justice of the peace, youth court judge, judge of a district court of the state, or hearing examiner of the department.
(9) (a) Except as provided in subsection (9)(b), the department may issue a restricted probationary license to any person who enrolls and participates in the driver rehabilitation and improvement program. Upon issuance of a probationary license under this section, the licensee is subject to the restrictions set forth on the license.
(b) The department may not issue a restricted probationary license that would permit an individual to drive a commercial motor vehicle during a period in which:
(i) the individual is disqualified from operating a commercial motor vehicle under state or federal law; or
(ii) the individual's driver's license or driving privilege is revoked, suspended, or canceled.
(10) It is a misdemeanor for a person to operate a motor vehicle in any manner in violation of the restrictions imposed on a restricted license issued to the person under this section.
61-11-101, MCA
Report of convictions and suspension or revocation of driver's licenses -- surrender of licenses. [Effective June 30, 2017]
(1) If a person is convicted of an offense for which chapter 5 or chapter 8, part 8, makes mandatory the suspension or revocation of the driver's license or commercial driver's license of the person by the department, the court in which the conviction occurs shall require the surrender to it of all driver's licenses then held by the convicted person. The court shall, within 5 days after the conviction, forward the license and a record of the conviction to the department. If the person does not possess a driver's license, the court shall indicate that fact in its report to the department.
(2) A court having jurisdiction over offenses committed under a statute of this state or a municipal ordinance regulating the operation of motor vehicles on highways, except for standing or parking statutes or ordinances, shall forward a record of the conviction, as defined in 61-5-213, to the department within 5 days after the conviction. The court may recommend that the department issue a restricted probationary license on the condition that the individual comply with the requirement that the person attend and complete a chemical dependency education course, treatment, or both, as ordered by the court under 61-8-732.
(3) A court or other agency of this state or of a subdivision of the state that has jurisdiction to take any action suspending, revoking, or otherwise limiting a license to drive shall report an action and the adjudication upon which it is based to the department within 5 days on forms furnished by the department.
(4) (a) On a conviction referred to in subsection (1) of a person who holds a commercial driver's license or who is required to hold a commercial driver's license, a court may not take any action, including deferring imposition of judgment, that would prevent a conviction for any violation of a state or local traffic control law or ordinance, except a parking law or ordinance, in any type of motor vehicle, from appearing on the person's driving record. The provisions of this subsection (4)(a) apply only to the conviction of a person who holds a commercial driver's license or who is required to hold a commercial driver's license and do not apply to the conviction of a person who holds any other type of driver's license.
(b) For purposes of this subsection (4), "who is required to hold a commercial driver's license" refers to a person who did not have a commercial driver's license but who was operating a commercial motor vehicle at the time of a violation of a state or local traffic control law or ordinance resulting in a conviction referred to in subsection (1).
(5) (a) If a person who holds a valid registry identification card or license issued pursuant to 50-46-307 or 50-46-308 is convicted of or pleads guilty to any offense related to driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs when the initial offense with which the person was charged was a violation of 61-8-401, 61-8-406, 61-8-410, or 61-8-411, the court in which the conviction occurs shall require the person to surrender the registry identification card or license.
(b) Within 5 days after the conviction, the court shall forward the registry identification card and a copy of the conviction to the department of public health and human services.