A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to authorize EIGHT‑YEAR drivers licenses and internet renewal of drivers licenses, as recommended by the joint legislative transportation oversight committee.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  G.S. 20‑7(f) reads as rewritten:
"(f)	Duration and Renewal of Licenses. – 
Drivers licenses shall be issued and renewed pursuant to the provisions of this subsection.
(1)	Duration of license for persons under age 18. – A full provisional license issued to a person under the age of 18 shall expire on the person's 21st birthday.
(2)	Duration of license for persons at least 18 years of age or older. – A drivers license issued to a person at least 18 years old but less than 38 years old expires eight years after the date of issuance. A drivers license issued to a person at least 38 years old expires five years after the date of issuance. 
(3)	Internet renewal of license authorized for certain persons. – The Division is authorized to renew a drivers license electronically in accordance with this subdivision. The Division may waive the sign tests for applicants renewing electronically. A person who holds a commercial drivers license and is required by federal regulations to be retested shall not renew electronically. A person may renew his or her drivers license electronically for one five‑year period at the time of each expiration of a license issued in a drivers license office if all of the following apply:a.	The person has no more than two reportable accidents on his or her drivers license record in the previous year.
b.	The person has no restrictions other than a restriction for corrective lenses on his or her drivers license record in the previous year.
c.	The person has four or fewer drivers license points.
d.	The person is at least 25 years old and less than 60 years old.
e.	The person has obtained an eye examination by a licensed ophthalmologist or licensed optometrist within 12 months prior to the date of electronic renewal, and the results of the examination are submitted to the Division by the ophthalmologist or optometrist to the Division at the time of the application for the electronic renewal.
(4)	Duration of license for certain visa holders. – A drivers license that was issued by the Division and is renewed by the Division expires at the end of the period provided by this subsection after the expiration date of the license that is renewed unless the Division determines that a license of shorter duration should be issued when the applicant holds a visa of limited duration from the United States Department of State. A person may apply to the Division to renew a license during the 180 day period before the license expires. The Division may not accept an application for renewal made before the 180 day period begins.
(5)	Renewal by mail. – The Division may renew by mail a drivers license issued by the Division to a person who meets any of the following descriptions:
a.	Is serving on active duty in the armed forces of the United States and is stationed outside this State.
b.	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."
SECTION 2.  This act becomes effective January 1, 2006.