GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1991

S              	1 

SENATE BILL 20*

Short Title:  Driver License Exemptions.	(Public)
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Sponsors: Senators Ballance; Allran, Carpenter, Cochrane, Forrester, Hartsell, Raynor, and Soles.
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Referred to:  Transportation.
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February 6, 1991

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO REINSTATE THE EXEMPTION FOR CERTAIN DRIVERS LICENSES FOR PUBLIC SAFETY WORKERS.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1.  G.S. 20-7(a) reads as rewritten:
"(a)	Except as otherwise provided in this Chapter, no person shall operate a motor vehicle on a highway unless such person is a resident of this State and has first been licensed by the Division under the provisions of this Article or Article 2C for the class of vehicle being driven. Driver licenses shall be classified under this Article as follows:
(1)	Class ‘A' which entitles a licensee to drive any vehicle or combination of vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 26,001 pounds or more, provided the GVWR of the vehicle or vehicle being towed are in excess of 10,000 pounds and are exempt from Article 2C of this Chapter.  A Class A license entitles the licensee to operate Class B and C vehicles except motorcycles.
(2)	Class ‘B' which entitles a licensee to drive a single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 pounds or more, or any such vehicle towing a single vehicle not in excess of 10,000 pounds provided the towed vehicle is exempt from Article 2C of this Chapter. A Class B license entitles the licensee to operate Class C vehicles except motorcycles.
(3)	Class ‘C' which entitles a licensee to drive a single vehicle with a GVWR of less than 26,001 pounds or any such vehicle towing another vehicle with a GVWR not in excess of 10,000 pounds, both of which are exempt from Article 2C, and a fire-fighting vehicle or rescue vehicle or combination of vehicles (regardless of gross vehicle weight) when operated by any member of a municipal or rural fire department or a rescue squad in the performance of his duty.  A Class C license does not entitle the licensee to drive a motorcycle.
Any unusual vehicle shall be assigned by the Commissioner to the most appropriate class under this subsection or Article 2C with suitable special restrictions if they appear to be necessary.
Any person who takes up residence in this State on a permanent basis is exempt from the provisions of this subsection for 30 days from the date that residence is established, if he is properly licensed in the jurisdiction of which he is a former resident."
Sec. 2.  This act is effective upon ratification.