GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1995

H	1 

HOUSE BILL 1183

Short Title:  60 Days to Change DMV Info.	(Public)

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Sponsors: Representatives McLaughlin, Bowie, Barbee, Bowen, Crawford, Holmes, McMahan, and Miner.

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Referred to:  Transportation.

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May 16, 1996

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO ESTABLISH A STANDARD TIME PERIOD OF SIXTY DAYS IN WHICH TO OBTAIN OR CHANGE A DRIVERS LICENSE, A SPECIAL IDENTIFICATION CARD, OR A VEHICLE REGISTRATION.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1.  G.S. 20-4.6 is repealed.
Sec. 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 60 days after becoming a resident."
Sec. 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.
" 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 that would otherwise be required for the renewal and may impose any conditions it finds advisable.  A license renewed by mail is a temporary license that expires 60 days after the person to whom it is issued returns to this State."
Sec. 4.  G.S. 20-7.1 reads as rewritten:
"§ 20-7.1. Notice of change of address or name.
(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."
Sec. 5.  G.S. 20-37.12(e) reads as rewritten:
"(e)	G.S. 20-7 sets the time period in which a new resident of North Carolina 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."
Sec. 6.  G.S. 20-37.9 reads as rewritten:
"§ 20-37.9.  Notice of change of address or name.
(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."
Sec. 7.  G.S. 20-67 reads as rewritten:
"§ 20-67.  Notice of change of address or name.
(a)	Address. –A person whose address 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. –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."
Sec. 8.  This act becomes effective December 1, 1996.