Sec. 302.

The following persons are exempt from obtaining a license under this chapter:

(a) A person serving in the Armed Forces of the United States if furnished with a driver's permit and operating an official motor vehicle in that service or a person who is a military driver and operates a commercial motor vehicle for a military purpose. This exemption applies to active duty military personnel, members of the military reserves, active duty United States Coast Guard personnel, and members of the national guard while on active duty, including, but not limited to, personnel on full-time national guard duty, personnel on part-time national guard training, and national guard military technicians who are civilians required to wear military uniforms. This exemption does not apply to any of the following:

(i) United States reserve technicians.

(ii) Except as otherwise provided in this subdivision, a person who is a civilian and in the employ of the Armed Forces of the United States.

(b) A person while driving or operating a road roller, a snow motor, road machinery, or a farm tractor or implement of husbandry temporarily drawn, moved, or propelled on a highway, if the person is a citizen of the United States or is otherwise eligible to be issued an operator's license or chauffeur's license under section 307(1).

(c) A nonresident who is not less than 16 years of age and who has been licensed either as an operator or a chauffeur under a law requiring the licensing of operators or chauffeurs in his or her home state and who has in his or her immediate possession either a valid operator's or a valid chauffeur's license issued to him or her in his or her home state.

(d) A nonresident who is over the age of 17 years, whose home state does not require the licensing of operators, may operate a motor vehicle as an operator only, for a period of not more than 90 days in any calendar year, if all of the following apply:

(i) The motor vehicle is registered in the home state or country of the nonresident.

(ii) The nonresident has in his or her immediate possession a registration card evidencing ownership and registration of the motor vehicle in his or her home state or country, or is able at any time or place required to prove lawful possession or the right to operate the motor vehicle and to establish his or her proper identity.

(iii) The nonresident is a citizen of the United States or is otherwise eligible to be issued an operator's license or chauffeur's license under section 307(1).

(e) A person who is a member of the Armed Forces of the United States on official leave, who on the date of his or her orders granting leave possessed an operator's or chauffeur's license, valid except for the expiration date of the license. This exemption applies only to the person's first leave of absence following the expiration of his or her license and exempts the person from the provisions of this act for a period not to exceed 30 days.

(f) A person who is a discharged member of the Armed Forces of the United States, who on the date of his or her discharge possesses an operator's or chauffeur's license, valid except for the expiration date, for a period not to exceed 30 days from date of discharge.

(g) A person who is a member of the Armed Forces of the United States, stationed in this state, who resides in another state and has a valid license issued by the state in which he or she resides.

(h) A person while operating a commercial motor vehicle in the course of a driving test administered by a certified examiner appointed by the secretary of state and while accompanied by the examiner, if the person is a citizen of the United States or is otherwise eligible to be issued an operator's license or chauffeur's license under section 307(1).

(i) A person while operating a commercial motor vehicle who is not disqualified from operating a commercial motor vehicle and who holds a commercial driver license that is issued to him or her by another state or jurisdiction under 49 CFR part 383.

(j) A person with a mobility disability while operating a power-driven mobility device. This subdivision does not apply to a person with a mobility disability while operating a power-driven mobility device on a street, road, or highway in this state.

History: 1949, Act 300, Eff. Sept. 23, 1949 ;-- Am. 1968, Act 90, Imd. Eff. June 4, 1968 ;-- Am. 1972, Act 89, Imd. Eff. Mar. 20, 1972 ;-- Am. 1991, Act 100, Eff. Jan. 1, 1993 ;-- Am. 2006, Act 298, Imd. Eff. July 20, 2006 ;-- Am. 2008, Act 7, Imd. Eff. Feb. 15, 2008 ;-- Am. 2018, Act 428, Eff. Mar. 20, 2019