AN ACT to require mopeds to be registered with the division of motor vehicles.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  Article 3 of Chapter 20 of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:
"§ 20‑53.4.  Registration of Mopeds.
Mopeds shall be registered with the Division. The owner of the moped shall pay the same base fee and be issued the same type of registration card and plate issued for a motorcycle. In order to be registered with the Division and operated upon a highway or public vehicular area, a moped must meet the following requirements:
(1)	The moped has a manufacturer's certificate of origin.
(2)	The moped was designed and manufactured for use on highways or public vehicular areas."
SECTION 2.  G.S. 20‑51(9) is repealed.
SECTION 3.  G.S. 20‑76 is amended by adding a new subsection to read:
"(c)	Whenever an applicant for the registration of a moped is unable to present a manufacturer's certificate of origin for the moped, the applicant must submit an affidavit stating why the applicant does not have the manufacturer's certificate of origin and attesting that the applicant is entitled to registration. Upon receipt of the application and accompanying affidavit, the Division shall issue the applicant a registration card and plate. The Division may not require the applicant to post a bond as required under subsection (b) of this section. A person damaged by issuance of the registration card does not have a right of action against the Division."
SECTION 4.  The Joint Legislative Transportation Oversight Committee shall study whether additional statutory changes are needed to ensure the safe operation of mopeds. The report shall include data on (i) the number of mopeds involved in traffic accidents, (ii) the number and types of injuries resulting from traffic accidents involving mopeds, and (iii) the causes for the traffic accidents involving mopeds. The Committee shall also study whether insurance should be required to operate a moped on a public street or highway. The Committee shall report its findings, together with any recommended legislation, to the 2015 Regular Session of the General Assembly upon its convening.
SECTION 5.  Sections 1, 2, and 3 of this act become effective July 1, 2015, and apply to offenses committed on or after that date. The remainder of this act is effective when it becomes law.
In the General Assembly read three times and ratified this the 1st day of August, 2014.

	s/	 Neal Hunt
	 Presiding Officer of the Senate

	s/	 Thom Tillis
	 Presiding Officer of the House of Representatives

	_____________________________________
		 Pat McCrory
	 Governor

Approved __________.m. this ______________ day of ___________________, 2014