GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
1991 SESSION
CHAPTER 672
AN ACT TO CONSOLIDATE AND SIMPLIFY THE SPECIAL LICENSE PLATE LAWS.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1. G.S. 20-80 through G.S. 20-81.2 and G.S. 20-81.4 through G.S. 20-81.11 are repealed.
Sec. 2. Chapter 20 of the General Statutes is amended by adding the following new sections to Part 5 of Article 3 of that Chapter to read:
"§ 20-79.4. Special registration plates.
(a) Types. - Upon application and payment of the required registration fees, a person may obtain from the Division a special registration plate for a motor vehicle registered in that person's name if the person qualifies for the registration plate. 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) 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'.
(4) Class D Citizen's Radio Station Operator. - Issuable to a Class D citizen's radio station operator licensed by the Federal Communications Commission. The plate shall bear the operator's official Class D citizen's radio station call letters.
(5) Clerk of Superior Court. - Issuable to a clerk of superior court. The plate shall bear the phrase 'Clerk Superior Court' and the letter 'C' followed by a number that indicates the county the clerk serves.
(6) 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'.
(7) Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient. - Issuable to a recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor.
(8) Disabled Veteran. - Issuable to a veteran of the armed forces of the United States who suffered a 100% service-connected disability.
(9) 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.
(10) 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'.
(11) Historic Vehicle Owner. - Issuable for a motor vehicle that is at least 35 years old measured from the date of manufacture. The plate for a vehicle that is 35 to 50 years old shall bear the phrase 'Antique'. The plate for a vehicle that is at least 50 years old shall bear the phrase 'Horseless Carriage'.
(12) Honorary Plate. - Issuable to a member of the Honorary Consulor Corps, who has been certified by the U. S. State Department, the plate shall bear the words 'Honorary Consulor Corps' and a distinguishing number based on the order of issuance.
(13) Judge or Justice. - Issuable to a sitting or retired judge or justice in accordance with G.S. 20-79.6.
(14) Legislator. - Issuable to a member of the North Carolina General Assembly. The plate shall bear the words 'Senate' or 'State House' followed by the Senator's or Representative's assigned seat number.
(15) 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.
(16) 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.
(17) 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.
(18) 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%.
(19) 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.
(20) 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.
(21) Prisoner of War. - Issuable to 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.
(22) 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'.
(23) State Government Official. - Issuable to elected and appointed members of State government in accordance with G.S. 20-79.5.
(24) 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'.
(25) 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.
(26) 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.
(27) 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.
(b) Fees. - Upon request, the Division shall provide and issue free of charge one registration plate to a recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor, a 100% disabled veteran, and an ex-prisoner of war. The annual fee for a special plate issuable to an active member of the national guard is the amount of the regular motor vehicle registration fee. The annual fee for a personalized plate issued under this section is the amount of the regular motor vehicle registration fee plus an additional twenty dollars ($20.00). The annual fee for any other special plate listed in this section is the regular motor vehicle registration fee plus an additional ten dollars ($10.00).
The Division shall credit one-half of the revenue derived from the additional fee collected for a personalized plate to the Recreation and Natural Heritage Trust Fund established under G.S. 113-77.7. The Division shall credit the remaining revenue derived from the additional fee collected for a personalized plate and all of the additional fee collected for any other special plate to the Special Registration Plate Fund.
(c) Disqualification. - A holder of a special license plate who becomes ineligible for the plate, for whatever reason, shall return the special plate within 30 days.
"§ 20-79.5. Special registration plates for elected and appointed State government officials.
(a) Plates. - The State government officials listed in this section are eligible for a special registration plate under G.S. 20-79.4. The plate shall bear the number designated in the following table for the position held by the official.
Position Number on Plate
Governor 1
Lieutenant Governor 2
Speaker of the House of Representatives 3
President Pro Tempore of the Senate 4
Secretary of State 5
State Auditor 6
State Treasurer 7
Superintendent of Public Instruction 8
Attorney General 9
Commissioner of Agriculture 10
Commissioner of Labor 11
Commissioner of Insurance 12
Speaker Pro Tempore of the House 13
Legislative Administrative Officer 14
Secretary of Administration 15
Secretary of Environment, Health, and
Natural Resources 16
Secretary of Revenue 17
Secretary of Human Resources 18
Secretary of Economic and Community
Development 19
Secretary of Correction 20
Secretary of Cultural Resources 21
Secretary of Crime Control and Public
Safety 22
Governor's Staff 23-29
State Budget Officer 30
State Personnel Director 31
Advisory Budget Commission
Nonlegislative Member 32-41
Chair of the State Board of Education 42
President of the U.N.C. System 43
Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission 44-46
Assistant Commissioners of Agriculture 47-48
Deputy Secretary of State 49
Deputy State Treasurer 50
Assistant State Treasurer 51
Deputy Commissioner for the
Department of Labor 52
Chief Deputy for the
Department of Insurance 53
Assistant Commissioner of Insurance 54
Deputies and Assistant to the Attorney
General 55-65
Board of Economic Development
Nonlegislative Member 66-88
State Ports Authority
Nonlegislative Member 89-96
Utilities Commission Member 97-104
Parole Commission Member 105-109
State Board Member, Commission Member,
or State Employee Not Named in List 110-200
(b) Designation. - When the table in subsection (a) designates a range of numbers for certain officials, the number given an official in that group shall be assigned. The Governor shall assign a number for members of the Governor's staff, nonlegislative members of the Advisory Budget Commission, nonlegislative members of the Board of Economic Development, nonlegislative members of the State Ports Authority, members of State boards and commissions, and for State employees. The Attorney General shall assign a number for the Attorney General's deputies and assistants.
The first number assigned to the Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission is reserved for the Chair of that Commission. The remaining numbers shall be assigned to the Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission members on the basis of seniority. The first number assigned to the Utilities Commission is reserved for the Chair of that Commission. The remaining numbers shall be assigned to the Utilities Commission members on the basis of seniority. The first number assigned to the Parole Commission is reserved for the Chair of that Commission. The remaining numbers shall be assigned to the Parole Commission members on the basis of seniority.
"§ 20-79.6. Special registration plates for members of the judiciary.
(a) Appellate Division. - A special plate issued to a Justice or Judge of the North Carolina Appellate Courts shall bear the letter 'J' followed by a number from 1 through 19. The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of North Carolina shall be issued the plate bearing the number 1 and the remaining plates shall be issued to the Associate Justices on the basis of seniority. The Chief Judge of the North Carolina Court of Appeals shall be issued the next judicial plate and the remaining plates shall be issued to the Associate Judges on the basis of seniority. Special plates issued to retired members of the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeals shall bear a number indicating the member's position of seniority at the time of retirement followed by the letter 'X' to indicate the member's retired status.
(b) Superior Court. - A special plate issued to a resident superior court judge shall bear the letter 'J' followed by a number indicative of the judicial district the judge serves. The number issued to the senior resident superior court judge shall be equal to the sum of the numerical designation of the judge's judicial district, as defined in G.S. 7A-41.1(a)(1), plus 20. If a district has more than one regular resident superior court judge, a special plate for a resident superior court judge of that district shall bear the number issued to the senior resident superior court judge followed by a hyphen and a letter of the alphabet beginning with the letter 'A' to indicate the judge's seniority.
For a set of districts as defined in G.S. 7A-41.1(a)(2), other than 7A and 7C, the number issued to the senior resident superior court judge shall be equal to the sum of 20 plus the number the districts in the set have in common. A special plate issued to the other regular resident superior court judges of the set of districts shall bear the number issued to the senior resident superior court judge followed by a hyphen and a letter of the alphabet beginning with the letter 'A' to indicate the judge's seniority among all of the regular resident superior court judges of the set of districts. The letter assigned to a resident superior court judge will not necessarily correspond with the letter designation of the district the judge serves. For the set of districts 7B and 7C, the senior resident superior court judge for that set shall be issued a special plate bearing the designation 27C following the letter 'J', and all other resident superior court judges of the set shall be issued a special plate bearing that designation followed by the letter 'B'.
A special judge, emergency judge, or retired judge of the superior court shall be issued a special plate bearing the letter 'J' followed by a number designated by the Administrative Office of the Courts with the approval of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of North Carolina. The plate for a retired judge shall have the letter 'X' after the designated number to indicate the judge's retired status.
(c) District Court. - A special plate issued to a North Carolina district court judge shall bear the letter 'J' followed by a number. For the chief judge of the district court district, the number shall be equal to the sum of the numerical designation of the district court district the chief judge serves, plus 100. The number for all other judges of the district courts serving within the same district court district shall be the same number as appears on the special plate issued to the chief district judge followed by a letter of the alphabet beginning with the letter 'A' to indicate the judge's seniority. A retired district court judge shall be issued a similar plate except that the numerical designation shall be followed by the letter 'X' to indicate the judge's retired status.
(d) United States. - A special plate issued to a Justice of the United States Supreme Court, a Judge of the United States Circuit Court of Appeals, or a District Judge of the United States District Court residing in North Carolina shall bear the words 'U.S. J' followed by a number beginning with '1'. The number shall reflect the judge's seniority based on continuous service as a United States Judge as designated by the Secretary of State. A judge who has retired or taken senior status shall be issued a similar plate except that the number shall be based on the date of the judge's retirement or assumption of senior status and shall follow the numerical designation of active justices and judges."
Sec. 3. G.S. 20-81.3 is recodified as G.S. 20-79.7 and reads as rewritten:
"§ 20iRegistration
Plate Fund.
(a) The Commissioner
may promulgate rules on the issuance of special personalized registration
plates to the owner of private passenger motor vehicles, private trucks, or
commercial motor vehicles weighing 5,000 pounds or more gross weight, in lieu
of other number plates. Such personalized registration plate shall be of
such design and shall bear such letter or letters and numerals as the
Commissioner shall prescribe, but there shall be no duplication of a
registration plate. The Commissioner shall in his discretion refuse the issue
of such letter combinations which might carry connotations offensive to good
taste and decency. Fund. - The Special Registration Plate Fund is
established. The Fund consists of the revenue derived from one-half of
the additional fee collected for a personalized registration plate and all of
the additional fee collected for any other special registration plate issued
under G.S. 20-79.4. The Commissioner shall deduct the costs of the
registration plates, including the costs of issuing, handling, and advertising
the availability of the special plates from the Fund.
(b) An owner who
desires personalized registration plates shall make application for such plates
on forms which shall be provided by the Division of Motor Vehicles and pay the
sum of twenty dollars ($20.00) annually, which shall be in addition to the
regular motor vehicle registration fee. Once an owner has obtained personalized
plates, he, where possible, will have first priority on those plates for the
following years provided he makes timely and appropriate application; provided,
however, that the Commissioner shall not issue a personalized license plate
pursuant to this section except upon written application therefor on a form
furnished by the Commissioner in which the applicant certifies that his
operator's or chauffeur's license has not been revoked or suspended under
Article 2 of Chapter 20 of the General Statutes within two years prior to the
date of the application; and provided, further, that any personalized license
plate issued pursuant to this section shall be cancelled and recalled by the
Commissioner and the application fee forfeited in the event that the
Commissioner determines that a false application has been submitted. Initial
Distribution of Proceeds. - After deducting the costs of the special
registration plates from the Fund, the Secretary of Transportation may allocate
and reserve up to one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) to the Department of
Transportation each fiscal year for the purpose of traffic control at major
events as provided for by G.S. 136-44.2. Any funds allocated for traffic
control that are neither used nor obligated at the end of the fiscal year shall
remain in the Fund and be used in accordance with subsection (c) of this
section.
(c) One-half of the
revenue derived from the additional fee shall be deposited in the Recreation
and Natural Heritage Trust Fund established under G.S. 113-77.7. The
remaining one-half of the revenue derived from the additional fee for the
special personalized registration plates shall be placed in a separate fund
designated the "Personalized Registration Plate Fund". After
deducting the cost of the plates, plus budgetary requirements for advertising,
handling, and issuance to be determined by the Commissioner, the revenue in the
Personalized Registration Plate Use of Remaining Proceeds. - The
remaining revenue in the Fund shall be transferred quarterly as follows:
(1) Thirty-three percent (33%) to the account of the Department of Economic and Community Development to aid in financing out-of-state print and other media advertising under the program for the promotion of travel and industrial development in this State.
(2) Fifty percent (50%) to the Department of Transportation to be used solely for the purpose of beautification of highways other than those designated as interstate. These funds shall be administered by the Department of Transportation for beautification purposes not inconsistent with good landscaping and engineering principles.
(3) Seventeen percent
(17%) to the account of the Department of Human Resources to promote travel
accessibility for disabled persons in this State. These funds shall be used:
used to collect and update site information on travel attractions
designated by the Department of Economic and Community Development in its publications;
publications, to provide technical assistance to travel attractions
concerning accommodation of disabled tourists; tourists, and to
develop, print, and promote the publication ACCESS NORTH CAROLINA. ACCESS
NORTH CAROLINA as provided in G.S.168-2. The Department of Human
Resources shall make copies of ACCESS NORTH CAROLINA available to the
Department of Economic and Community Development for its use in Welcome Centers
and other appropriate Department of Economic and Community Development
offices. Any funds allocated for these purposes that are neither
spent nor obligated at the end of the fiscal year shall be transferred to the
Department of Administration for removal of man-made barriers to disabled
travelers at State-funded travel attractions. Guidelines for the removal
of man-made barriers shall be developed in consultation with the Department of
Human Resources.
(4) The
Department of Economic and Community Development shall promote ACCESS NORTH
CAROLINA in its publications (including providing a toll-free telephone line
and an address for requesting copies of the publication) and provide technical
assistance to the Department of Human Resources on travel attractions to be
included in ACCESS NORTH CAROLINA. The Department of Economic and
Community Development shall forward all requests for mailing ACCESS NORTH
CAROLINA to the Department of Human Resources.
(5) Funds
allocated by this subsection for promotion of travel accessibility and ACCESS
NORTH CAROLINA which are not spent and are not obligated at the end of the
fiscal year shall not revert but shall be transferred to the Department of
Administration for removal of man-made barriers to disabled travelers at
State-funded travel attractions. Guidelines for the removal of man-made
barriers shall be developed in consultation with the Department of Human
Resources.
(d) Repealed by
Session Laws 1975, c. 716, s. 5.
(e) Special
personalized registration plate shall mean any registration plate bearing any
combination of letters or numerals, or both, other than that which the Division
determines would normally be issued sequentially to an applicant for original
or renewal vehicle registration.
(f) In
the event a personalized registration plate is lost, stolen or mutilated, the
owner may not obtain another such plate bearing the same letter, letters or
numerals until the next registration year. He may, upon proper application and
payment of a fee of nine dollars ($9.00), obtain a plate of the regular series.
Provided, further, that a special personalized registration plate revoked for
violation of the motor vehicle laws shall not be reissued, but in lieu thereof
a plate of the regular series will be issued upon payment of the appropriate
fee for the new registration plate.
(g) The
Secretary of Transportation may allocate and reserve up to one hundred thousand
dollars ($100,000) to the Department of Transportation each fiscal year from
the "Personalized Registration Plate Fund", before any other
transfers are made pursuant to subsection (c) of this section, for the purpose
of traffic control at major events as provided for by G.S. 136-44.2. Any
funds allocated pursuant to this subsection that are not used or obligated
shall remain in the "Personalized Registration Plate Fund"for
use for the fund's other purposes."
Sec. 4. G.S. 168-2 reads as rewritten:
"§ 168-2. Right of access to and use of public places.
Handicapped persons have the same right as the ablebodied to the full and free use of the streets, highways, sidewalks, walkways, public buildings, public facilities, and all other buildings and facilities, both publicly and privately owned, which serve the public. The Department of Human Resources shall develop, print, and promote the publication ACCESS NORTH CAROLINA. It shall make copies of the publication available to the Department of Economic and Community Development for its use in Welcome Centers and other appropriate Department of Economic and Community Development offices. The Department of Economic and Community Development shall promote ACCESS NORTH CAROLINA in its publications (including providing a toll-free telephone line and an address for requesting copies of the publication) and provide technical assistance to the Department of Human Resources on travel attractions to be included in ACCESS NORTH CAROLINA. The Department of Economic and Community Development shall forward all requests for mailing ACCESS NORTH CAROLINA to the Department of Human Resources."
Sec. 5. G.S. 20-37.6(e) reads as rewritten:
"(e) Enforcement of Handicapped Parking Privileges. - It shall be unlawful:
(1) To park or leave
standing any vehicle in a space designated with a sign pursuant to subsection
(d) of this section for handicapped persons or visually impaired persons when
the vehicle does not display the distinguishing license plate, placard, or
identification card as provided in this section or a disabled veteran
registration plate issued pursuant to G.S. 20-81.4; under G.S.
20-79.4;
(2) For any person not qualifying for the rights and privileges extended to handicapped or visually impaired persons under this section to exercise or attempt to exercise such rights or privileges by the unauthorized use of a distinguishing license plate, placard, or identification card issued pursuant to the provisions of this section;
(3) To park or leave standing any vehicle so as to obstruct a curb ramp or curb cut for handicapped persons as provided for by the North Carolina Building Code or as designated in G.S. 136-44.14;
(4) For those responsible for designating parking spaces for the handicapped to erect or otherwise use signs not conforming to G.S. 20-37.6(d) for this purpose.
This section is enforceable in all public vehicular areas specified in G.S. 20-4.01(32)."
Sec. 6. G.S. 20-95 reads as rewritten:
"§ 20-95. Licenses for less than a year.
(a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, licenses issued on or after April 1 and before July 1 of each year shall be three fourths of the annual fee; licenses issued on or after July 1 and before October 1 shall be one half of the annual fee; and licenses issued on or after October 1 shall be one fourth of the annual fee.
(b) This section shall
not apply to licenses issued pursuant to G.S. 20-65, 20-79.1, 20-79.2,
20-79.3, 20-81.2, 20-84, 20-84.1, 20-87(9) through (10) and
20-88(c)."
Sec. 7. G.S. 20-66(b) reads as rewritten:
"(b) For the registration
period beginning January 1, 1975, the Division, upon proper application for
renewal of registration for private passenger motor vehicles, shall issue a new
registration plate and registration card. For the registration period beginning
January 1, 1976, and all subsequent registration periods, the Division, upon
application for renewal of registration, shall, in lieu of a new registration
plate, issue one or more stickers, tabs or other suitable devices denoting the
registration period for which issued; provided that for the registration
periods beginning January 1, 1978, and thereafter, the Division may, as it
deems advisable in the discretion of the Commissioner, issue new registration
plates together with such stickers, tabs or other devices; provided further,
the provisions of this subsection shall not apply to special issue plates,
including but not limited to official plates, legislator plates, civil air
patrol plates and national guard plates. devices."
Sec. 8. This act becomes effective July 1, 1991.
In the General Assembly read three times and ratified this the 13th day of July, 1991.
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James C. Gardner
President of the Senate
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Daniel Blue, Jr.
Speaker of the House of Representatives