Minnesota Statutes Transportation (Ch. 160-174A) § 171.13. Examination

Subdivision 1. Examination subjects and locations; provisions for color blindness, disabled veterans. (a) Except as otherwise provided in this section, the commissioner must examine each applicant for a driver's license by such agency as the commissioner directs. This examination must include:

(b) Notwithstanding paragraph (a), the commissioner must not deny an application for a driver's license based on the exclusive grounds that the applicant's eyesight is deficient in color perception or that the applicant has been diagnosed with diabetes mellitus. War veterans operating motor vehicles especially equipped for disabled persons, if otherwise entitled to a license, must be granted such license.

(c) The commissioner must ensure that an applicant may take an exam either in the county where the applicant resides or in an adjacent county at a reasonably convenient location. The schedule for each exam station must be posted on the department's website.

(d) The commissioner shall ensure that an applicant is able to obtain an appointment for an examination to demonstrate ability under paragraph (a), clause (4), within 14 days of the applicant's request if, under the applicable statutes and rules of the commissioner, the applicant is eligible to take the examination.

(e) The commissioner must provide real-time information on the department's website about the availability and location of exam appointments. The website must show the next available exam dates and times for each exam station. The website must also provide an option for a person to enter an address to see the date and time of the next available exam at each exam station sorted by distance from the address provided.

Subd. 1a. Waiver when license issued by another jurisdiction. (a) If the commissioner determines that an applicant for a driver's license is 21 years of age or older and possesses a valid driver's license issued by another state or jurisdiction that requires a comparable examination to obtain a driver's license, the commissioner must waive the requirements that the applicant pass a knowledge examination and demonstrate ability to exercise ordinary and reasonable control in the operation of a motor vehicle.

(b) If the commissioner determines that an applicant for a motorcycle endorsement is 21 years of age or older and possesses a valid driver's license with a motorcycle endorsement issued by another state or jurisdiction that requires a comparable examination to obtain an endorsement, the commissioner must waive the requirements with respect to the endorsement that the applicant pass a knowledge examination and demonstrate the ability to exercise ordinary and reasonable control in the operation of a motor vehicle.

(c) For purposes of this subdivision, “jurisdiction” includes, but is not limited to, both the active and reserve components of any branch or unit of the United States armed forces, and “valid driver's license” includes any driver's license that is recognized by that branch or unit as currently being valid, or as having been valid at the time of the applicant's separation or discharge from the military within a period of time deemed reasonable and fair by the commissioner, up to and including one year past the date of the applicant's separation or discharge.

Subd. 2. Examination upon renewal. (a) The department shall issue a driver's license upon renewal:

(b) A screening of eyesight required by this subdivision does not constitute the practice of optometry as defined insection 148.56.

(c) The commissioner may adopt rules to administer this subdivision.

Subd. 7. Examination fees.(a) A fee of $10 must be paid by an individual to take a third and any subsequent knowledge test administered by the department if the individual has failed two previous consecutive knowledge tests on the subject.

(b) A fee of $20 must be paid by an individual to take a third and any subsequent skills or road test administered by the department if the individual has previously failed two consecutive skill or road tests in a specified class of motor vehicle.

(c) A fee of $20 must be paid by an individual who fails to appear for a scheduled skills or road test or who cancels a skills or road test within 24 hours of the appointment time.

(d) All fees received under this subdivision must be paid into the state treasury and credited to the driver and vehicle services operating account undersection 299A.705.

Subd. 9. Online driver's license knowledge testing authorization.(a) The commissioner must implement online knowledge testing as provided in this subdivision. The commissioner must not charge a fee to a driver education program or an authorized entity for access to the online knowledge testing system or for administering the online knowledge test. The commissioner must administer the fourth or subsequent knowledge test for a person.

(b) Upon written request from a driver education program licensed by the department, the commissioner must grant access to the department's web-based knowledge testing system to the driver education program. Once granted access to the online knowledge testing system, a driver education program may administer the online knowledge test to a student of the program.

(c) An entity other than a driver education program may apply to the commissioner for authority to administer online knowledge tests. The commissioner may approve or disapprove an application for administering the online knowledge tests under this paragraph. Upon approving an application of an entity, the commissioner must grant access to the department's web-based knowledge testing system to that authorized entity. Once granted access to the online knowledge testing system, the authorized entity may administer the online knowledge test.

(d) A driver education program or authorized entity:

(e) For purposes of paragraph (d), clause (2), a proctor must be:

Subd. 9. Online driver's license knowledge testing authorization. (a) The commissioner must implement online knowledge testing as provided in this subdivision. The commissioner must not charge a fee to a driver education program or an authorized entity for access to the online knowledge testing system or for administering the online knowledge test.

(b) Upon written request from a driver education program licensed by the department, the commissioner must grant access to the department's web-based knowledge testing system to the driver education program. Once granted access to the online knowledge testing system, a driver education program may administer the online knowledge test to a student of the program.

(c) An entity other than a driver education program may apply to the commissioner for authority to administer online knowledge tests. The commissioner may approve or disapprove an application for administering the online knowledge tests under this paragraph. Upon approving an application of an entity, the commissioner must grant access to the department's web-based knowledge testing system to that authorized entity. Once granted access to the online knowledge testing system, the authorized entity may administer the online knowledge test.

(d) A driver education program or authorized entity:

(e) For purposes of paragraph (d), clause (2), a proctor must be:

The proctor must be physically present at the location where the test is being administered. A proctor must not be a relative of the person taking the test. For purposes of this paragraph, a relative is a spouse, fiancee, fiance, grandparent, parent, child, sibling, or legal guardian, including adoptive, half, step, and in-law relationships.

Subd. 10. Exam scheduling reporting. (a) For purposes of this subdivision, the following terms have the meanings given:

(b) By March 1 and September 1 of each year, the commissioner must submit a report on road test examination scheduling to the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees with jurisdiction over transportation policy and finance. The report due by September 1 must include information for the most recently ended fiscal year. The report due by March 1 must include information for the most recently ended calendar year.

(c) At a minimum, the report must:

(d) For the reporting period, if a goal is not met in a performance measure or metric under paragraph (c), clause (1), or if the requirements specified under subdivision 1, paragraph (d), are not fully met, the report must also: