Mo. Rev. Stat. § 302.173 — MO Code / Chapter 302 / Section 302.173
302.173 Driver's examination required, when — exceptions — procedure — military ...
Status: in_force

302.173. Driver's examination required, when — exceptions — procedure — military motorcycle rider training, no further driving test required. — 1. Any applicant for a license, who does not possess a valid license issued pursuant to the laws of this state, another state, or a country which has a reciprocal agreement with the state of Missouri regarding the exchange of licenses pursuant to section 302.172 shall be examined as herein provided. Any person who has failed to renew such person's license on or before the date of its expiration or within six months thereafter must take the complete examination. Any active member of the Armed Forces, their adult dependents or any active member of the Peace Corps may apply for a renewal license without examination of any kind, unless otherwise required by sections 302.700 to 302.780 , provided the renewal application shows that the previous license had not been suspended or revoked. Any person honorably discharged from the Armed Forces of the United States who held a valid license prior to being inducted may apply for a renewal license within sixty days after such person's honorable discharge without submitting to any examination of such person's ability to safely operate a motor vehicle over the highways of this state unless otherwise required by sections 302.700 to 302.780 , other than the vision test provided in section 302.175 , unless the facts set out in the renewal application or record of convictions on the expiring license, or the records of the director show that there is good cause to authorize the director to require the applicant to submit to the complete examination. No applicant for a renewal license shall be required to submit to any examination of his or her ability to safely operate a motor vehicle over the highways of this state unless otherwise required by sections 302.700 to 302.780 or regulations promulgated thereunder, other than a test of the applicant's ability to understand highway signs regulating, warning or directing traffic and the vision test provided in section 302.175 , unless the facts set out in the renewal application or record of convictions on the expiring license, or the records of the director show that there is good cause to authorize the director to require the applicant to submit to the complete examination. The examination shall be made available in each county. Reasonable notice of the time and place of the examination shall be given the applicant by the person or officer designated to conduct it. The complete examination shall include a test of the applicant's natural or corrected vision as prescribed in section 302.175 , the applicant's ability to understand highway signs regulating, warning or directing traffic, the applicant's practical knowledge of the traffic laws of this state, and an actual demonstration of ability to exercise due care in the operation of a motor vehicle of the classification for which the license is sought. When an applicant for a license has a license from a state which has requirements for issuance of a license comparable to the Missouri requirements or a license from a country which has a reciprocal agreement with the state of Missouri regarding the exchange of licenses pursuant to section 302.172 and such license has not expired more than six months prior to the date of application for the Missouri license, the director may waive the test of the applicant's practical knowledge of the traffic laws of this state, and the requirement of actual demonstration of ability to exercise due care in the operation of a motor vehicle. If the director has reasonable grounds to believe that an applicant is suffering from some known physical or mental ailment which ordinarily would interfere with the applicant's fitness to operate a motor vehicle safely upon the highways, the director may require that the examination include a physical or mental examination by a licensed physician of the applicant's choice, at the applicant's expense, to determine the fact. The director shall prescribe regulations to ensure uniformity in the examinations and in the grading thereof and shall prescribe and furnish all forms to the members of the highway patrol and to other persons authorized to conduct examinations as may be necessary to enable the officer or person to properly conduct the examination. The records of the examination shall be forwarded to the director who shall not issue any license hereunder if in the director's opinion the applicant is not qualified to operate a motor vehicle safely upon the highways of this state.

2. Beginning July 1, 2005, when the examiner has reasonable grounds to believe that an individual has committed fraud or deception during the examination process, the license examiner shall immediately forward to the director all information relevant to any fraud or deception, including, but not limited to, a statement of the examiner's grounds for belief that the person committed or attempted to commit fraud or deception in the written, skills, or vision examination.

3. The director of revenue shall delegate the power to conduct the examinations required for a license or permit to any member of the highway patrol or any person employed by the highway patrol. The powers delegated to any examiner may be revoked at any time by the director of revenue upon notice.

4. Notwithstanding the requirements of subsections 1 and 3 of this section, the successful completion of a motorcycle rider training course approved pursuant to sections 302.133 to 302.137 shall constitute an actual demonstration of the person's ability to exercise due care in the operation of a motorcycle or motortricycle, and no further practical knowledge or driving test shall be required to obtain a motorcycle or motortricycle license or endorsement. The motorcycle rider training course completion shall be accepted for purposes of motorcycle license or endorsement issuance for one year from the date of course completion.

5. Notwithstanding the requirements of subsections 1 and 3 of this section, the successful completion of a military motorcycle rider training course that meets or exceeds the Motorcycle Safety Foundation curriculum standards by an applicant who is an active member of the United States Armed Forces, shall constitute an actual demonstration of the person's ability to exercise due care in the operation of a motorcycle or motortricycle, and no further practical knowledge or driving test shall be required to obtain a motorcycle or motortricycle license or endorsement. The military motorcycle rider training course completion shall be accepted for purposes of motorcycle license or endorsement issuance for one year from the date of course completion. The director of revenue is authorized to promulgate rules and regulations for the administration and implementation of this subsection including rules governing the presentment of motorcycle training course completion cards from a military motorcycle rider training course or other documentation showing that the applicant has successfully completed a course in basic motorcycle safety instruction that meets or exceeds curriculum standards established by the Motorcycle Safety Foundation or other national organization whose purpose is to improve the safety of motorcyclists on the nation's streets and highways. Any rule or portion of a rule, as that term is defined in section 536.010 , that is created under the authority delegated in this section shall become effective only if it complies with and is subject to all of the provisions of chapter 536 and, if applicable, section 536.028 . This section and chapter 536 are nonseverable and if any of the powers vested with the general assembly pursuant to chapter 536 to review, to delay the effective date, or to disapprove and annul a rule are subsequently held unconstitutional, then the grant of rulemaking authority and any rule proposed or adopted after August 28, 2012, shall be invalid and void.

(L. 1951 p. 678, A.L. 1965 p. 479, A.L. 1971 H.B. 264, A.L. 1983 H.B. 723, A.L. 1987 S.B. 283, A.L. 1989 1st Ex. Sess. H.B. 3, A.L. 1995 H.B. 717, A.L. 1999 S.B. 19, A.L. 2001 S.B. 244 merged with S.B. 406, A.L. 2004 S.B. 1233, et al., A.L. 2012 S.B. 719, A.L. 2018 S.B. 881)