1. (1) The department shall take a full facial photograph of the applicant and place it on the front of the credential.

   1. (a) The applicant shall remove all head coverings.
   2. (b) The applicant shall not wear eyewear that obstructs the iris or pupil of the eyes and shall not take any action to obstruct a photograph of their facial features.

2. (2) The department shall:

   1. (a) ensure lighting is equally distributed on the face;
   2. (b) ensure that the head from crown to the base of the chin and from ear-to-ear is clearly visible and free of shadows;
   3. (c) ensure where possible, that there are no dark shadows in the eye-sockets due to the brow and that the iris and pupil are clearly visible; and
   4. (d) take care to avoid "hot spots" (bright areas of light shining on the face).
3. (3) An applicant requesting to wear a head covering for religious purposes shall complete a statement under penalty of perjury on a form designated by the department.
4. (4) If the department grants a religious exception, but receives credible evidence that the applicant does not wear a religious head covering while in public, except when removal is necessary, the department shall cancel the credential.
5. (5) An applicant requesting to wear a head covering for medical reasons shall complete a statement under penalty of perjury on a form designated by the department.
6. (6) If the department grants a religious or medical exception, the applicant may wear a head covering that does not obscure any facial features. The exception must be noted on the driver record.

Authorizing statute(s): 61-5-125, 61-5-128, MCA

Implementing statute(s): 61-5-128, 61-5-129, MCA

History: NEW, 2018 MAR p. 1956, Eff. 10/6/18.