Bill Summary for S 577 (2023-2024)

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Summary date: 

Apr 4 2023

Bill Information:

View NCGA Bill Details2023-2024 Session
Senate Bill 577 (Public) Filed Tuesday, April 4, 2023
AN ACT TO MAKE VARIOUS CHANGES TO LAWS RELATED TO MOTOR VEHICLES, AS RECOMMENDED BY THE DIVISION OF MOTOR VEHICLES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.
Intro. by McInnis, Sawyer, Lazzara.

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Bill summary

Section 1

Amends GS 20-4.01 by adding new definition mobile drivers license which means a supplemental digital version of a valid drivers license that (1) is approved by the Commissioner, (2) is issued by the Division of Motor Vehicles, (3) is comprised of the same data elements as are found on a valid drivers license, and (iv) is capable of, and limited to, being linked to, and displayed by a mobile device owned by the person to whom the valid drivers license is issued.

 

Enacts new subsection (m1) to GS 20-7 authorizing the Commissioner to issue a mobile driver’s license as a supplemental license upon request of a valid license holder. Specifies that a mobile driver’s license should be treated as the legal equivalent of a valid license.

Effective July 1, 2025

Requires the Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) of the North Carolina Department of Transportation (Department) to study and provide a plan for implementing mobile drivers’ licenses and mobile special identification cards. Requires DMV to report its findings and recommendations to the NCGA, and specified NCGA committee chairs and division by no later than January 1, 2024.

Section 2

Amends GS 20-7 (pertaining to issuance and renewal of driver’s licenses) by adding disclosure of an applicant’s social security number to the State Board of Elections to verify voter registration data as an additional circumstance where the DMV is authorized to disclose a driver’s license applicant’s social security number.

Section 3

Amends GS 20-17.8 (a1) (ignition interlocks) to expand the scope of persons required to agree to ignition interlock restrictions to include persons whose licenses were revoked for felony or misdemeanor death by vehicle (except for a person engaged in impaired driving), felony serious injury by vehicle, aggravated felony serious injury by vehicle, aggravated felony death by vehicle, and repeat felony death by vehicle offender. Effective December 1, 2023, and applies to offenses committed on or after that date. 

Section 4

Amends GS 20-42 to increase the acknowledgement of signature fees from $2 to $6 for one signature; $3 to $7 for two signatures, and $4 to $8 for three or more signatures. Effective July 1, 2023.

Section 5

Amends GS 20-84,pertaining to permanent registration plates, as follows. Deletes GS 20-84(b)(6) and (10) (listing motor vehicles owned by an incorporated emergency rescue squad and rural fire department, agency, or association, respectively). Incorporates those provisions into new GS 20-84(b)(21), which authorizes permanent registration plates for those same entities so long as the entity can establish that the entity (1) is listed in the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) System Plan in the county to which the entity provides services, (2) maintains an active provider number issued by the North Carolina Office of EMS, and (3) actively provides first responder services to a county, city, or town in the State. Authorizes the DMV to require proof eligibility of any vehicle that may apply for a permanent registration plate, with power to revoke any permanent plates issued to an entity that does not meet those requirements.

Section 6

Amends GS 20-79.2 (pertaining to transporter plates) as follows. Bars plates issued to a business or a dealer from being used to deliver truck cabs or bodies manufactured, constructed, or rebuilt in another state. Specifies that transporter plates can only be issued to a financial institution that has a recorded lien on a vehicle located in North Carolina. (Currently, just requires a recorded lien on a motor vehicle.) Specifies that plates issued to a dealer or repair facility to pick up and deliver a motor vehicle that is to be repaired cannot be used on a vehicle that is towing or transporting a vehicle that is authorized under these provisions to be operated with a transporter plate. Specifies that plates issued to a dealer or a business that contracts with a dealer and has a business privilege license to take a motor vehicle either to or from a motor vehicle auction where the vehicle will be or was offered for sale cannot be used on a vehicle that is towing or transporting a vehicle that is authorized under these provisions to be operated with a transporter plate.   Adds requirement that a vehicle must both be registered and titled (was, registered) in the State for transporter plates related to driving older vehicle to a parade or other public event; sets limit of number of plates issued to a person for that purpose to two.  

Section 7

Requires the DMV, in consultation with the Department of Public Safety (DPS) to study the use of alternative materials for manufacturing the registration plates issued by the DMV. Requires the DMV to report its findings and any legislative recommendations to the NCGA, specified NCGA Committee chairs, and division by January 1, 2024.

Section 8

Amends GS 20-347 by excluding from the statute's odometer disclosure statement requirements, a vehicle that is model 20210 or older (was, a vehicle that is 10 years old or older) and a vehicle that is model year 2011 or newer that is transferred at least 20 years after January 1 of the calendar year corresponding to its designated model year.

Section 9

Amends GS 20-79.5 (pertaining to special registration plates for elected and appointed State government officials) to add provision authorizing multiple plates with the same numeric designation. Directs DMV on how to differentiate multiple plates.   

Section 10

Amends GS 20-49.1 (pertaining to supplemental police authority of DMV officers) to increase the scope of when officers have the authority to enforce criminal laws to when they have probable cause to believe that a criminal act had immediately occurred, or is in the process of occurring, on physical property owned, operated, or maintained by either the North Carolina Department of Transportation or the DMV, or property operated as a license plate agency for and overseen and regulated by the DMV. (Currently, just probable cause to believe that a person has committed a criminal act in their presence.) Deletes language only authorizing police authority when, at the time of the violation they are engaged in the enforcement of laws otherwise within their jurisdiction. Adds additional emergency authorization for officers to exercise police power when an emergency exists and response by DMV personnel could not protect life and property. Specifies that when officers are providing temporary assistance at the request of the head of State or a local law enforcement agency/designee that the DMW officers will be considered an officer of the State (currently, not an officer, employee or agent of the State), but with the same law enforcement authority of the local law enforcement agency/designee asking for assistance. (Currently does not have that same enforcement authority.) 

Section 11

Amends GS 20-79 (dealer license plates) to increase number of months a dealer must be licensed to obtain dealer plates from 12 months to 24 months. Makes conforming changes to table demonstrating permitted the maximum dealer plates based on number of vehicles sold in 24-month period. (Currently, looks at number of vehicles sold in 12-month period) Makes a conforming doubling of  the amount of vehicles that must be sold for each category of maximum number of plates. Makes additional conforming changes.

Amends GS 20-87 (pertaining to passenger vehicle registration fees) to increase fees dealer plate fee for passenger vehicles to double the regular fee for each of the first 5 plates issued and the regular fee for any others beyond those initial five. (Currently, dealer fee is regular fee for first 5 plates and half of regular fee for any others.)

Amends GS 20-288 (pertaining to licensures for motor vehicle dealers) as follows. Amends subsection (a1) (licensure requirements for used motor vehicle dealers) as follows. Increases the course requirement to two 6-hour courses for renewals (currently, one 6-hour course) in a 12-month period. Extends licensure period from one year to two years. Permits corporate surety to give notice of nonrenewal of surety bond by certified mail or electronically if the license holder has consented to electronic delivery of notice. (Currently, must give notice by delivery or certified mail.) 

Amends GS 20-289 to increase license fees for motor vehicle dealers/distributors/distributor branches and wholesalers ($97.00 to $115.00), manufacturers ($210.25 to $420.50 and to $260 from $130 for each factory branch), sales representatives ($21.50 to $25.00), and factory/distributor representatives ($21.50 to $43.00).

Effective October 1, 2023, and applies to plates issued, fees paid, or applications submitted on or after that date.

Section 12

Amends GS 20-79.1 (pertaining to use of temporary plates in lieu of dealer plates) as follows. Notwithstanding any provision of GS 20-111 to the contrary, makes violation of subdivision (2) (involving the improper display or possession of a registration card, certificate of title or registration number plate knowing it is invalid for specified reasons) or (6) (prohibiting giving, lending, selling, or obtaining a certificate of title in order to use it for any purpose other than the registration, sale, or other use in connection with the vehicle for which the certificate was issued)of GS20-111  punishable as a Class I felony (currently class 3 misdemeanor and class 2 misdemeanors, respectively). Effective December 1, 2023, and applies to offenses committed on or after that date.

Section 13

Enacts new GS 20-79.1B (pertaining to print-on-demand temporary registration plates) as follows. Authorizes the DMV to develop and implement procedures necessary for issuance of temporary license plates by dealers to vehicle owners, using print-on-demand technology. Requires all dealers licensed on or after the effective date of the program to to purchase and issue only print-on-demand temporary license plates, if DMV decides to implement such a program. Bars DMV from imposing a requirement relating to the minimum number of sets of temporary plates that must be purchased by a dealer pursuant to a print-on-demand temporary license plate program. Except as otherwise provided in this section, specifies that print-on-demand temporary license plates issued pursuant to GS 20-79.1B are subject to all conditions and limitations set forth Article 3 of GS Chapter 20 except as otherwise provided by the new section. Effective January 1, 2024. Authorizes DMV to adopt rules relating to print-on-demand temporary plates prior to effective date.

Section 14

Amends GS 143-341 (powers and duties related to general services) to increase scope of those powers and duties related to the central motor fleet to permit the DMV to own and maintain custody and control over a fleet of vehicles used in specialized investigative operations. Specifies the vehicles may be received, titled, transferred, or sold as deemed appropriate by the Commissioner.

Section 15

Amends GS 20-131 (pertaining to headlamp and auxiliary driving lamp requirements) to require that any headlamp installed on a vehicle after initial manufacture of the vehicle to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 108. Applies to offense committed on or after December 1, 2023.

Section 16

Updates GS 1-105 (service of process upon nonresident drivers of motor vehicles or personal representatives of deceased nonresident drivers) as follows. Makes terms gender neutral. Makes technical and clarifying changes. Increases service of process fee from $10 to $20. Enacts new subsection pertaining to service of process upon a defendant in a place not within the United States. Requires the Commissioner to require a deposit of $100 and delivery by private carrier with proof of actual delivery to the defendant. Effective July 1, 2023, and applies to service upon nonresident drivers on and after that date.