A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to authorize the division of motor vehicles to issue registration plates.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  Chapter 20 of the General Statues is amended by adding a new section to read:
"§ 20‑79.02. Department of Defense registration plates.
(a)	The Commissioner may issue registration plates to the United States Department of Defense upon application on a form to be developed by the Division.
(b)	The Department of Defense registration plate shall be a 'First in Flight' plate and is subject to G.S. 20‑63, except for the requirement that the plate display the registration number of a specific motor vehicle.
(c)	The registration plate authorized by this section may be used on any Department of Defense vehicle and may be moved from vehicle to vehicle, except that the vehicle upon which the registration plate is displayed shall only be used for official government business and may not be used on any vehicle permanently assigned to a single individual.
(d)	The driver of a vehicle bearing a registration plate authorized by this section shall carry a copy of the registration card for the Department of Defense plate while operating the vehicle on the public highways.
(e)	Plates issued pursuant to this section shall be issued on the first day of the fiscal year and shall be renewed annually upon the payment of a fee of twenty dollars ($20.00) for each plate.
(f)	Records related to plates issued pursuant to this section shall be treated by the Division in the same manner as confidential license plates pursuant to G.S. 20‑39.1(e)."
SECTION 2.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2004.