A. Jurisdiction: The city court is hereby vested with original jurisdiction in all proceedings concerning the unlawful operation of motor vehicles by children under the age of eighteen (18) years.
B. Penalty: Whenever, after a hearing before the city court, it shall be found that a child under the age of eighteen (18) years has unlawfully operated a motor vehicle, the city court may:
1. Impose a fine, not exceeding fifty dollars ($50.00), provided such child shall not be imprisoned for failure to pay such fine;
2. May revoke the driver's license of such child, or suspend the same for such time as may be fixed by the court; and
3. May order any motor vehicle owned or operated by such child to be impounded by the probation officer for such time, not exceeding sixty (60) days, as shall be fixed by the court; provided, however, that if the court shall find that the operation of such motor vehicle be without the consent of the owner, then such vehicle shall not be impounded. Upon nonpayment of any fine herein provided for, the court may order that any motor vehicle owned by said child or operated by such child with the consent of the owner shall be impounded until the fine shall be paid, or may order that the driver's license of such child shall be taken up and held by the juvenile officer until payment of said fine, or may cause both said motor vehicle and said driver's license to be taken up and impounded until such fine shall be paid, but no child shall be committed to or held in any detention facility or jail by reason of nonpayment of such fine.
C. Summons: Whenever any child under the age of eighteen (18) years shall unlawfully operate a motor vehicle in the presence of any officer of the police department of the city, such officer may deliver to said child a form of summons describing the nature of the offense, with instructions thereon to report to the city court; and the court shall be informed thereof by the delivery of a copy of said summons to the judge of said court, and by the delivery of a copy of said summons to the juvenile officer of Pondera County, Montana, who shall in turn deliver the same to the judge of said court. (1975 Code § 9-3-3)