GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
1997 SESSION
S.L. 1997-122
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1. G.S. 20-4.6 is repealed.
Section 2. G.S. 20-7(a) reads as rewritten:
"(a) License Required. - To drive a motor vehicle on a highway, a person must be licensed by the Division under this Article or Article 2C of this Chapter to drive the vehicle and must carry the license while driving the vehicle. The Division issues regular drivers licenses under this Article and issues commercial drivers licenses under Article 2C.
A license authorizes the holder of the license to drive any vehicle included in the class of the license and any vehicle included in a lesser class of license, except a vehicle for which an endorsement is required. To drive a vehicle for which an endorsement is required, a person must obtain both a license and an endorsement for the vehicle. A regular drivers license is considered a lesser class of license than its commercial counterpart.
The classes of regular drivers licenses and the motor vehicles that can be driven with each class of license are:
(1) Class A. - A Class A license authorizes the holder to drive any of the following:
a. A Class A motor vehicle that is exempt under G.S. 20-37.16 from the commercial drivers license requirements.
b. A Class A motor vehicle that has a combined GVWR of less than 26,001 pounds and includes as part of the combination a towed unit that has a GVWR of at least 10,001 pounds.
(2) Class B. - A Class B license authorizes the holder to drive any Class B motor vehicle that is exempt under G.S. 20-37.16 from the commercial drivers license requirements.
(3) Class C. - A Class C license authorizes the holder to drive any of the following:
a. A Class C motor vehicle that is not a commercial motor vehicle.
b. When operated by a volunteer member of a fire department, a rescue squad, or an emergency medical service (EMS) in the performance of duty, a Class A or Class B fire-fighting, rescue, or EMS motor vehicle or a combination of these vehicles.
The Commissioner may assign a unique motor vehicle to a class that is different from the class in which it would otherwise belong.
A new resident of North Carolina who has a drivers license
issued by another jurisdiction must obtain a license from the Division within 30
60 days after becoming a resident."
Section 3. G.S. 20-7(f) reads as rewritten:
"(f) Expiration and Temporary License. - The first drivers license the Division issues to a person expires on the person's fourth or subsequent birthday that occurs after the license is issued and on which the individual's age is evenly divisible by five, unless this subsection sets a different expiration date. The first drivers license the Division issues to a person who is at least 17 years old but is less than 18 years old expires on the person's twentieth birthday. The first drivers license the Division issues to a person who is at least 62 years old expires on the person's birthday in the fifth year after the license is issued, whether or not the person's age on that birthday is evenly divisible by five.
A drivers license that was issued by the Division and is renewed by the Division expires five years after the expiration date of the license that is renewed. A person may apply to the Division to renew a license during the 60-day period before the license expires. The Division may not accept an application for renewal made before the 60-day period begins.
Any person serving in the armed forces of the United
States on active duty and holding a valid drivers license properly issued under
this section and stationed outside the State of North Carolina may renew the
license by making application to the Division by mail. Any other person,
except a nonresident, who holds a valid drivers license issued under this
section and who is temporarily residing outside North Carolina, may also renew
by making application to the Division by mail. For purposes of this
section "temporarily"shall mean not less than 30 days
continuous absence from North Carolina. In either case, the
The Division may renew by mail a drivers license issued by the Division to a person who meets any of the following descriptions:
(1) Is serving on active duty in the armed forces of the United States and is stationed outside this State.
(2) Is a resident of this State and has been residing outside the State for at least 30 continuous days.
When renewing a license by mail, the Division may
waive the examination and color photograph that would otherwise be
required for the renewal of a drivers license, for the renewal and
may impose in lieu thereof any conditions it considers appropriate to
each particular application. finds advisable. A license
renewed by mail is a temporary license that expires 30 60 days
after the person to whom it is issued returns to this State."
Section 4. G.S. 20-7.1 reads as rewritten:
"§ 20-7.1. Notification
Notice of change of address. address or name.
Whenever the holder of a license issued under the
provision of G.S. 20-7 has a change in the address as shown on such license, he
or she shall apply for a duplicate license within 60 days after such address
has been changed. Provided, that if the licensee's mailing address has been
changed by governmental action and there has been no actual change of residence
location, upon giving notice in writing to the Division of Motor Vehicles in
Raleigh within 60 days of this change of address, the licensee may use his
current license or permit until its expiration or obtain a duplicate license or
permit showing the new address upon payment of the required fee. No person
shall be charged with having violated this section when only his mailing
address has been changed by governmental action.
(a) Address. - A person whose address changes from the address stated on a drivers license must notify the Division of the change within 60 days after the change occurs. If the person's address changed because the person moved, the person must obtain a duplicate license within that time limit stating the new address. A person who does not move but whose address changes due to governmental action may not be charged with violating this subsection.
(b) Name. - A person whose name changes from the name stated on a drivers license must notify the Division of the change within 60 days after the change occurs and obtain a duplicate drivers license stating the new name.
(c) Fee. - G.S. 20-14 sets the fee for a duplicate license."
Section 5. G.S. 20-37.12(e) reads as rewritten:
"(e) In accordance with
G.S. 20-7, G.S. 20-7 sets the time period in which a new resident of
North Carolina has 30 days to must obtain a license from the
Division. The Commissioner may establish by rule the conditions under
which the test requirements for a commercial drivers license may be waived for
a new resident who is licensed in another state."
Section 6. G.S. 20-37.9 reads as rewritten:
"§
20-37.9. Notification Notice of change of address. address
or name.
Whenever the holder of a special identification card
issued under G.S. 20-37.7 has a change in the address as shown on the special
identification card, he or she shall apply for reissuance of a special
identification card within 60 days after the address has been changed. The
fee for reissuance of a special identification card is the same as the fee set
in G.S. 20-37.7 for issuing a special identification card. If a change of
address is the result of governmental action and there is no actual change of
geographical location, the holder of the card is not required to change the
address on the card until the Division issues the holder another card.
(a) Address. - A person whose address changes from the address stated on a special identification card must notify the Division of the change within 60 days after the change occurs. If the person's address changed because the person moved, the person must obtain a new special identification card within that time limit stating the new address. A person who does not move but whose address changes due to governmental action may not be charged with violating this subsection.
(b) Name. - A person whose name changes from the name stated on a special identification card must notify the Division of the change within 60 days after the change occurs and obtain a new special identification card stating the new name.
(c) Fee. - G.S. 20-37.7 sets the fee for a special identification card."
Section 7. G.S. 20-67 reads as rewritten:
"§ 20-67. Notice of change of address or name.
(a) Address. -Whenever
any person, after making application for or obtaining the registration of a
vehicle or a certificate of title, shall move from the A person whose address
named in the application or shown upon a registration card or certificate of
title, such person shall within 30 days thereafter notify the Division in
writing of his old and new addresses. changes from the address stated on
a certificate of title or registration card must notify the Division of the
change within 60 days after the change occurs. The person may obtain a
duplicate certificate of title or registration card stating the new address but
is not required to do so. A person who does not move but whose address
changes due to governmental action may not be charged with violating this
subsection.
(b) Name. -Whenever
the name of any person who has made application for or obtained the
registration of a vehicle or a certificate of title is thereafter changed by
marriage or otherwise, such person shall thereafter forward or cause to be
forwarded to the Division the certificate of title and to make application for
correction of the certificate on forms provided by the Division. A
person whose name changes from the name stated on a certificate of title or
registration card must notify the Division of the change within 60 days after
the change occurs. The person may obtain a duplicate certificate of title
or registration card but is not required to do so.
(c) Fee. - G.S. 20-85 sets the fee for a duplicate certificate of title or registration card."
Section 8. This act becomes effective December 1, 1997.
In the General Assembly read three times and ratified this the 21st day of May, 1997.
s/ Dennis A. Wicker
President of the Senate
s/ Harold J. Brubaker
Speaker of the House of Representatives
s/ James B. Hunt, Jr.
Governor
Approved 4:37 p.m. this 29th day of May, 1997