GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 2023

SESSION LAW 2023-13

SENATE BILL 157

AN ACT to reduce the time a limited learner's permit must be held before obtaining a limited provisional license AND TO AMEND THE PASSENGER RESTRICTIONS APPLICABLE TO LIMITED PROVISIONAL LICENSE HOLDERS.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.(a)  Section 2 of S.L. 2021‑24, as amended by Section 12 of S.L. 2021‑134, reads as rewritten:

"SECTION 2.  This act is effective when it becomes law and applies to applications for licenses submitted on or after that date. Section 1 of this act expires on December 31, 2022.December 31, 2023."

SECTION 1.(b)  This section is effective when it becomes law.

SECTION 2.(a)  G.S. 20‑11 reads as rewritten:

"§ 20‑11.  Issuance of limited learner's permit and provisional drivers license to person who is less than 18 years old.

…

(d)       Level 2. – A person who is at least 16 years old but less than 18 years old may obtain a limited provisional license if the person meets all of the following requirements:

(1)        Has held a limited learner's permit issued by the Division for at least 12 nine months.

…."

SECTION 2.(b)  This section becomes effective January 1, 2024, and applies to applications for licenses submitted on or after that date.

SECTION 3.(a)  G.S. 20‑11(e)(4) reads as rewritten:

"(4)      When the license holder is driving the vehicle and is not accompanied by the supervising driver, there may be no more than one passenger under 21 years of age in the vehicle. This limit does not apply to passengers who are members of the license holder's immediate family or whose primary residence is the same household as the license holder. However, if a family member or member of the same household as the license holder who is younger than 21 years of age is a passenger in the vehicle, no other passengers under 21 years of age, who are not members of the license holder's immediate family or members of the license holder's household, may be in the vehicle.vehicle, except that one other passenger under 21 years of age who is not a member of the license holder's immediate family or member of the license holder's household may be in the vehicle when that passenger is a student being driven directly to or from school."

SECTION 3.(b)  This section becomes effective August 1, 2023, and applies to offenses committed on or after that date.

SECTION 4.  Except as otherwise provided, this act is effective when it becomes law.

In the General Assembly read three times and ratified this the 24^th day of April, 2023.

                                                                    s/  Phil Berger

                                                                         President Pro Tempore of the Senate

                                                                    s/  Erin Paré

                                                                         Presiding Officer of the House of Representatives

This bill having been presented to the Governor for signature on the 25^th day of April, 2023 and the Governor having failed to approve it within the time prescribed by law, the same is hereby declared to have become a law.

This 6^th day of May, 2023,

                                                                    s/  Olwen Blessing

                                                                         Enrolling Clerk