GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1991

H	1 

HOUSE BILL 606

Short Title:  Driver License Compact.	(Public)
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Sponsors: Representative Beard.
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Referred to:  Judiciary II.
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April 4, 1991

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO ENABLE NORTH CAROLINA TO JOIN THE DRIVER LICENSE COMPACT.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1.  Chapter 20 of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new Article to read:
"ARTICLE 1C.
"Driver License Compact.
"§ 20-4.21.  Declaration of policy.
It is the policy of this State to promote compliance with the laws and administrative rules and regulations relating to the operation of motor vehicles by their operators in each of the jurisdictions where those operators drive motor vehicles and it is further the policy of this State to make the reciprocal recognition of licenses to drive and eligibility for those licenses more just and equitable by considering the overall compliance with motor vehicle laws and administrative rules and regulations as a condition precedent to the continuance or issuance of any license which authorizes or permits the licensee to operate a motor vehicle in any of the states that are members of the Driver License Compact.
"§ 20-4.22. Definitions.
Unless the context otherwise requires, the following words and phrases shall have the following meanings, for the purpose of this Article:
(1)	Conviction. – As defined in G.S. 20-24(c).
(2)	Home State. – The state which has issued and has the power to suspend or revoke the use of the license or permit to operate a motor vehicle.
(3)	State. – A state, territory, or possession of the United States, the District of Columbia, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
"§ 20-4.23.  Commissioner may make reciprocity agreements, arrangements, or declarations.
The Commissioner of Motor Vehicles may execute or make agreements, arrangements, or declarations to carry out the provisions of this Article.  All agreements or amendments made pursuant to this authority shall be in writing and shall be filed in the office of the Commissioner.  Copies of these agreements or amendments shall be made available by the Commissioner upon request and upon payment of a fee in the amount necessary to defray the cost of reproduction and mailing.
"§ 20-4.24.  Reports of convictions; reciprocity.
An agreement or arrangement entered into under the authority of this Article may contain provisions authorizing the reporting of convictions between member states.  These reports shall clearly identify the person convicted, the violation, the court in which the case was disposed, and the disposition of the case.  Upon receipt of the reports of convictions from member states, the Division shall give the same effect to the convictions of member states as it would had the conviction occurred in this State.  Offenses not denominated or described in precisely the same words as those of the home state shall be construed as being applicable to those offenses which are substantially similar in nature.
"§ 20-4.25.  Effect of other reciprocal agreements; effect on this Chapter.
All driver license reciprocity agreements, arrangements, and declarations in force on January 1, 1991, shall continue in force until specifically amended or revoked as provided by law or by the agreements.  This Article shall be a part of and shall be supplemental to the driver license law of this State."
Sec. 2.  G.S. 20-26(a) reads as rewritten:
"(a)	The Division shall keep a record of test, proceedings and orders pertaining to all driver's licenses granted, refused, suspended or revoked.  The Division shall keep records of convictions as defined in G.S. 20-24(c) occurring outside North Carolina pursuant to Article 1C of this Chapter or under G.S. 20-23."
Sec. 3.  G.S. 20-23 reads as rewritten:
"§ 20-23. Suspending resident's license upon conviction in another state.
The Division may record convictions for offenses committed in states which are nonparties to the Driver License Compact in the same manner as provided for party states and may suspend or revoke the license of any resident of this State upon receiving notice of the conviction as defined in G.S. 20-24(c)	of such person in another state of the offenses hereinafter enumerated which, if committed in this State, would be grounds for the suspension or revocation of the license of an operator. The provisions of this section shall apply only for the offenses as set forth in G.S. 20-26(a)."
Sec. 4.  G.S. 20-22(a) reads as rewritten:
"(a)	In addition to the authority granted under Article 1C of this Chapter, the privilege of driving a motor vehicle on the highways of this State given to a nonresident from a nonparty state to the Driver License Compact shall also be subject to suspension or revocation by the Division in like manner and for like cause as a driver's license issued hereunder may be suspended or revoked."
Sec. 5.  This act becomes effective October 1, 1991.