A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to correct an apparent error in the expiration date for drivers licenses and to increase the age of persons receiving an eight‑year drivers license.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  G.S. 20‑7(f) reads as rewritten:
"§ 20‑7.  Issuance and renewal of drivers licenses.
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(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 expires on the person's twenty‑first birthday.
(2)	Duration of original 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 54 years old expires on the birthday of the licensee in the eighth year after issuance. A drivers license issued to a person at least 54 years old expires on the birthday of the licensee in the fifth year after issuance.
(2a)	Duration of renewed licenses. – A renewed drivers license that was issued by the Division to a person at least 18 years old but less than 54 years old expires eight years after the expiration date of the license that is renewed. A renewed drivers license that was issued by the Division to a person at least 54 years old expires five years after the expiration date of the license that is renewed. 
(3)	Duration of license for certain other drivers. –The durations listed in subdivisions (1), (2), and (2a) of this subsection are valid 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 Homeland Security, but in no event shall the license expire later than the applicant's lawful presence in the United States. 
(3a)	When to renew. – 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.
(4)	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.
(5)	(Effective July 1, 2008) License to be sent by mail. – The Division shall issue to the applicant a temporary driving certificate valid for 20 days, unless the applicant is applying for renewal by mail under subdivision (4) of this subsection. The temporary driving certificate shall be valid for driving purposes only and shall not be valid for identification purposes. The Division shall produce the applicant's drivers license at a central location and send it to the applicant by first‑class mail at the residence address provided by the applicant.
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SECTION 2.  G.S. 20‑7(f), as amended by Section 1 of this act, reads as rewritten:
"§ 20‑7.  Issuance and renewal of drivers licenses.
…
(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 expires on the person's twenty‑first birthday.
(2)	Duration of original 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  65 years old expires on the birthday of the licensee in the eighth year after issuance. A drivers license issued to a person at least  65 years old expires on the birthday of the licensee in the fifth year after issuance.
(2a)	Duration of renewed licenses. – A renewed drivers license that was issued by the Division to a person at least 18 years old but less than  65 years old expires eight years after the expiration date of the license that is renewed. A renewed drivers license that was issued by the Division to a person at least  65 years old expires five years after the expiration date of the license that is renewed. 
(3)	Duration of license for certain other drivers. –The durations listed in subdivisions (1), (2), and (2a) of this subsection are valid 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 Homeland Security, but in no event shall the license expire later than the applicant's lawful presence in the United States. 
(3a)	When to renew. – 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.
(4)	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.
(5)	(Effective July 1, 2008) License to be sent by mail. – The Division shall issue to the applicant a temporary driving certificate valid for 20 days, unless the applicant is applying for renewal by mail under subdivision (4) of this subsection. The temporary driving certificate shall be valid for driving purposes only and shall not be valid for identification purposes. The Division shall produce the applicant's drivers license at a central location and send it to the applicant by first‑class mail at the residence address provided by the applicant.
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SECTION 3.  Section 1 of this act becomes effective January 1, 2007, and applies to drivers licenses issued or renewed on or after that date.  Section 2 of this act becomes effective January 1, 2008.  The remainder of this act is effective when it becomes law.