GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1997

H	2 

HOUSE BILL 1518
Committee Substitute Favorable 6/18/98

Short Title:  Eagle Scout Special Plates.	(Public)

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Sponsors:

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Referred to:  

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May 27, 1998

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO AUTHORIZE THE DIVISION OF MOTOR VEHICLES TO ISSUE EAGLE SCOUT SPECIAL REGISTRATION PLATES TO EAGLE SCOUTS OR THEIR PARENTS OR GUARDIANS AND TO AUTHORIZE THE DIVISION OF MOTOR VEHICLES TO ISSUE SMALLER REGISTRATION PLATES FOR MOTORCYCLES AND MOTORCYCLE TRAILERS.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1.  G.S. 20-79.4(b) reads as rewritten:
"(b)	Types. – The Division shall issue the following types of special registration plates:
(1)	Administrative Officer of the Courts. – Issuable to the Director of the Administrative Office of the Courts. The plate shall bear the phrase "J-20".
(2)	Amateur Radio Operator. – Issuable to an amateur radio operator who holds an unexpired and unrevoked amateur radio license issued by the Federal Communications Commission and who asserts to the Division that a portable transceiver is carried in the vehicle. The plate shall bear the phrase "Amateur Radio". The plate shall bear the operator's official amateur radio call letters, or call letters with numerical or letter suffixes so that an owner of more than one vehicle may have the call letters on each.
(3)	American Legion. – Issuable to a member of the American Legion. The plate shall bear the words "American Legion”and the emblem of the American Legion. The Division may not issue the plate authorized by this subdivision unless it receives at least 300 applications for the plate.
(4)	Civil Air Patrol Member. – Issuable to an active member of the North Carolina Wing of the Civil Air Patrol. The plate shall bear the phrase "Civil Air Patrol". A plate issued to an officer member shall begin with the number "201”and the number shall reflect the seniority of the member; a plate issued to an enlisted member, a senior member, or a cadet member shall begin with the number "501".
(5)	Civic Club. – Issuable to a member of a nationally recognized civic organization whose member clubs in the State are exempt from State corporate income tax under G.S. 105-130.11(a)(5). Examples of these clubs include Jaycees, Kiwanis, Optimist, Rotary, Ruritan, and Shrine. The plate shall bear a word or phrase identifying the civic club and the emblem of the civic club. The Division may not issue a civic club plate authorized by this subdivision unless it receives at least 300 applications for that civic club plate.
(6)	Class D Citizen's Radio Station Operator. – Issuable to a Class D citizen's radio station operator. For an operator who has been issued Class D citizen's radio station call letters by the Federal Communications Commission, the plate shall bear the operator's official Class D citizen's radio station call letters. For an operator who has not been issued Class D citizen's radio station call letters by the Federal Communications Commission, the plate shall bear the phrase "Citizen's Band Radio".
(7)	Clerk of Superior Court. – Issuable to a current or retired clerk of superior court. A plate issued to a current clerk shall bear the phrase "Clerk Superior Court”and the letter "C”followed by a number that indicates the county the clerk serves. A plate issued to a retired clerk shall bear the phrase "Clerk Superior Court, Retired", the letter "C”followed by a number that indicates the county the clerk served, and the letter "X”indicating the clerk's retired status.
(8)	Coast Guard Auxiliary Member. – Issuable to an active member of the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary. The plate shall bear the phrase "Coast Guard Auxiliary".
(9)	Collegiate Insignia Plate. – Issuable to the registered owner of a motor vehicle in accordance with G.S. 20-81.12. The plate may bear a phrase or an insignia representing a public or private college or university.
(10)	Combat Veteran. – Issuable to a veteran of the armed forces who served in a combat zone, or in waters adjacent to a combat zone, during a period of war and who was separated from the armed forces under honorable conditions. The Division may not issue the plate authorized by this subdivision unless it receives at least 300 applications for the plate. A "period of war”is any of the following:
a.	World War I, which began April 16, 1917, and ended November 11, 1918.
b.	World War II, which began December 7, 1941, and ended December 31, 1946.
c.	The Korean Conflict, which began June 27, 1950, and ended January 31, 1955.
d.	The Vietnam Era, which began August 5, 1964, and ended May 7, 1975.
e.	The Persian Gulf War.
f.	Any other campaign, expedition, or engagement for which the United States Department of Defense authorizes a campaign badge or medal.
(11)	County Commissioner. – Issuable to a county commissioner of a county in this State. The plate shall bear the words "County Commissioner”followed first by a number representing the commissioner's county and then by a letter or number that distinguishes plates issued to county commissioners of the same county. The number of a county shall be the order of the county in an alphabetical list of counties that assigns number one to the first county in the list and a letter or number to distinguish different cars owned by the county commissioners in that county. The Division may not issue the plate authorized by this subdivision unless it receives at least 300 applications for the plate.
(12)	Disabled Veteran. – Issuable to a veteran of the armed forces of the United States who suffered a 100% service-connected disability.
(13)	District Attorney. – Issuable to a North Carolina or United States District Attorney. The plate issuable to a North Carolina district attorney shall bear the letters "DA”followed by a number that represents the prosecutorial district the district attorney serves. The plate for a United States attorney shall bear the phrase "U.S. Attorney”followed by a number that represents the district the attorney serves, with 1 being the Eastern District, 2 being the Middle District, and 3 being the Western District.
(13a)	Eagle Scout. – Issuable to a young man who has been certified as an Eagle Scout by the Boy Scouts of America, or to his parents or guardians.  The plate shall bear the insignia of the Boy Scouts of America and shall bear the words "Eagle Scout".  The Division may not issue the plate authorized by this subdivision unless it receives at least 300 applications for the plate.
(14)	82nd Airborne Division Association Member. – Issuable to a member of the 82nd Airborne Division Association, Inc. The plate shall bear the insignia of the 82nd Airborne Division Association, Inc. The Division may not issue the plate authorized by this subdivision unless it receives at least 300 applications for the plate.
(15)	Fire Department or Rescue Squad Member. – Issuable to an active regular member or volunteer member of a fire department, rescue squad, or both a fire department and rescue squad. The plate shall bear the words "Firefighter", "Rescue Squad", or "Firefighter-Rescue Squad".
(16)	Future Farmers of America. – Issuable to a member or a supporter of the National Future Farmers of America Organization. The plate shall bear the emblem of the organization and the letters "FFA". The Division may not issue the plate authorized by this subdivision unless it receives at least 300 applications for the plate.
(17)	Historic Vehicle Owner. – Issuable for a motor vehicle that is at least 35 years old measured from the date of manufacture. The plate for an historic vehicle shall bear the word "Antique”unless the vehicle is a model year 1943 or older. The plate for a vehicle that is a model year 1943 or older shall bear the word "Antique”or the words "Horseless Carriage", at the option of the vehicle owner.
(18)	Historical Attraction Plate. – Issuable to the registered owner of a motor vehicle in accordance with G.S. 20-81.12. The plate may bear a phrase or an insignia representing a publicly owned or nonprofit historical attraction located in North Carolina.
(19)	Honorary Plate. – Issuable to a member of the Honorary Consular Corps, who has been certified by the U. S. State Department, the plate shall bear the words "Honorary Consular Corps”and a distinguishing number based on the order of issuance.
(20)	Judge or Justice. – Issuable to a sitting or retired judge or justice in accordance with G.S. 20-79.6.
(21)	Legion of Valor. – Issuable to a recipient of one of the following military decorations: the Congressional Medal of Honor, the Distinguished Service Cross, the Navy Cross, or the Air Force Cross. The plate shall bear the emblem and name of the recipient's decoration.
(22)	Legislator. – Issuable to a member of the North Carolina General Assembly. The plate shall bear "The Great Seal of the State of North Carolina”and, as appropriate, the word "Senate”or "House”followed by the Senator's or Representative's assigned seat number.
(23)	Magistrate. – Issuable to a North Carolina magistrate. The plate shall bear the letters "MJ”followed by a number indicating the district court district the magistrate serves, then by a hyphen, and then by a number indicating the seniority of the magistrate. The Division shall use the number "9”to designate District Court Districts 9 and 9B.
(24)	March of Dimes. – Issuable to the registered owner of a motor vehicle in accordance with G.S. 20-81.12. The plate may bear a phrase or an insignia representing the March of Dimes Foundation.
(25)	Marshal. – Issuable to a United States Marshal. The plate shall bear the phrase "U.S. Marshal”followed by a number that represents the district the Marshal serves, with 1 being the Eastern District, 2 being the Middle District, and 3 being the Western District.
(26)	Military Reservist. – Issuable to a member of a reserve component of the armed forces of the United States. The plate shall bear the name and insignia of the appropriate reserve component. Plates shall be numbered sequentially for members of a component with the numbers 1 through 5000 reserved for officers, without regard to rank.
(27)	Military Retiree. – Issuable to an individual who has retired from the armed forces of the United States. The plate shall bear the word "Retired”and the name and insignia of the branch of service from which the individual retired. The Division may not issue the plate authorized by this subdivision unless it receives at least 300 applications for the plate.
(28)	National Guard Member. – Issuable to an active or a retired member of the North Carolina National Guard. The plate shall bear the phrase "National Guard". A plate issued to an active member shall bear a number that reflects the seniority of the member; a plate issued to a commissioned officer shall begin with the number "1"; a plate issued to a noncommissioned officer with a rank of E7, E8, or E9 shall begin with the number "1601"; a plate issued to an enlisted member with a rank of E6 or below shall begin with the number "3001". The plate issued to a retired or separated member shall indicate the member's retired status.
(29)	Olympic Games. – Issuable to the registered owner of a motor vehicle in accordance with G.S. 20-81.12. The plate may bear a phrase or insignia representing the Olympic Games.
(30)	Partially Disabled Veteran. – Issuable to a veteran of the armed forces of the United States who suffered a service connected disability of less than 100%.
(31)	Pearl Harbor Survivor. – Issuable to a veteran of the armed forces of the United States who was present at and survived the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. The plate will bear the phrase "Pearl Harbor Survivor”and the insignia of the Pearl Harbor Survivors' Association.
(32)	Personalized. – Issuable to the registered owner of a motor vehicle. The plate will bear the letters or letters and numbers requested by the owner. The Division may refuse to issue a plate with a letter combination that is offensive to good taste and decency. The Division may not issue a plate that duplicates another plate.
(33)	Prisoner of War. – Issuable to the following:
a.	A member or veteran member of the armed forces of the United States who has been captured and held prisoner by forces hostile to the United States while serving in the armed forces.
b.	The surviving spouse of a person who had a prisoner of war plate at the time of death so long as the surviving spouse continues to renew the plate and does not remarry.
(34)	Professional Sports Fan. – Issuable to the registered owner of a motor vehicle. The plate shall bear the logo of a professional sports team located in North Carolina. The Division shall receive 300 or more applications for a professional sports fan plate before a plate may be issued. The Division shall not develop a professional sports fan plate unless the professional sports team licenses, without charge, the State to use the official team logo on the plate.
(35)	Purple Heart Recipient. – Issuable to a recipient of the Purple Heart award. The plate shall bear the phrase "Purple Heart Veteran, Combat Wounded”and the letters "PH".
(36)	Register of Deeds. – Issuable to a register of deeds. The plate shall bear the words "Register of Deeds”and the letter "R”followed by a number representing the county of the register of deeds. The number of a county shall be the order of the county in an alphabetical list of counties that assigns number one to the first county in the list.
(37)	Scenic Rivers. – Issuable to the registered owner of a motor vehicle in accordance with G.S. 20-81.12. The plate shall bear the words "Scenic Rivers”and a picture representing the unique beauty of the scenic rivers of North Carolina.
(38)	School Technology. – Issuable to the registered owner of a motor vehicle in accordance with G.S. 20-81.12. The plate may bear a phrase or an insignia representing the public school system in North Carolina.
(39)	Sheriff. – Issuable to a current sheriff or to a retired sheriff who served as sheriff for at least 10 years before retiring. A plate issued to a current sheriff shall bear the word "Sheriff”and the letter "S”followed by a number that indicates the county the sheriff serves. A plate issued to a retired sheriff shall bear the phrase "Sheriff, Retired", the letter "S”followed by a number that indicates the county the sheriff served, and the letter "X”indicating the sheriff's retired status.
(40)	Soil and Water Conservation. – Issuable to the registered owner of a motor vehicle in accordance with G.S. 20-81.12. The plate may bear a phrase and picture appropriate to the subject of water quality and environmental protection in North Carolina.
(41)	Special Olympics. – Issuable to the registered owner of a motor vehicle in accordance with G.S. 20-81.12. The plate may bear a phrase or an insignia representing the North Carolina Special Olympics.
(42)	Square Dance Clubs. – Issuable to a member of a recognized square dance organization exempt from corporate income tax under G.S. 105-130.11(a)(5). The plate shall bear a word or phrase identifying the club and the emblem of the club. The Division shall not issue a dance club plate authorized by this subdivision unless it receives at least 300 applications for that dance club plate.
(43)	State Government Official. – Issuable to elected and appointed members of State government in accordance with G.S. 20-79.5.
(44)	State Attraction. – Issuable to the registered owner of a motor vehicle in accordance with G.S. 20-81.12. The plate may bear a phrase or an insignia representing a publicly owned or nonprofit State or federal attraction located in North Carolina.
(45)	Street Rod Owner. – Issuable to the registered owner of a modernized private passenger motor vehicle manufactured prior to the year 1949 or designed to resemble a vehicle manufactured prior to the year 1949. The plate shall bear the phrase "Street Rod". The Division may not issue the plate authorized by this subdivision unless it receives at least 300 applications for the plate.
(46)	Transportation Personnel. – Issuable to various members of the Divisions of the Department of Transportation. The plate shall bear the letters "DOT”followed by a number from 1 to 85, as designated by the Governor.
(47)	U.S. Representative. – Issuable to a United States Representative for North Carolina. The plate shall bear the phrase "U.S. House”and shall be issued on the basis of Congressional district numbers.
(48)	U.S. Senator. – Issuable to a United States Senator for North Carolina. The plates shall bear the phrase "U.S. Senate”and shall be issued on the basis of seniority represented by the numbers 1 and 2.
(49)	Veterans of Foreign Wars. – Issuable to a member or a supporter of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. The plate shall bear the words "Veterans of Foreign Wars”or "VFW”and the emblem of the VFW. The Division may not issue the plate authorized by this subdivision unless it receives at least 300 applications for the plate.
(50)	Vietnam Veteran. – Issuable to a veteran of the armed forces of the United States who served in Vietnam. The Division may not issue the plate authorized by this subdivision unless it receives at least 300 applications for the plate.
(51)	Wildlife Resources. – Issuable to the registered owner of a motor vehicle in accordance with G.S. 20-81.12. The plate shall bear a picture representing a native wildlife species occurring in North Carolina."
Section 2. G.S. 20-63(d) reads as rewritten:
"(d)	Registration plates issued for a motor vehicle other than a motorcycle, trailer, or semitrailer shall be attached thereto, one in the front and the other in the rear: Provided, that when only one registration plate is issued for a motor vehicle other than a truck-tractor, said registration plate shall be attached to the rear of the motor vehicle. The registration plate issued for a truck-tractor shall be attached to the front thereof. Provided further, that when only one registration plate is issued for a motor vehicle and this motor vehicle is transporting a substance that may adhere to the plate so as to cover or discolor the plate or if the motor vehicle has a mechanical loading device that may damage the plate, the registration plate may be attached to the front of the motor vehicle.
Any motor vehicle of the age of 35 years or more from the date of manufacture may bear the license plates of the year of manufacture instead of the current registration plates, if the current registration plates are maintained within the vehicle and produced upon the request of any person.
The Division shall provide registered owners of motorcycles and motorcycle trailers with suitably reduced size registration plates."
Section 3.  This act is effective when it becomes law.