GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1999

S	1 

SENATE BILL 791

Short Title:  Ten Year Drivers License.	(Public)

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Sponsors: Senator Hoyle.

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Referred to:  Finance.

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April 8, 1999

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO CHANGE THE GENERAL DRIVERS LICENSE RENEWAL CYCLE FROM FIVE TO TEN YEARS.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1.  G.S. 20-7(f) reads as rewritten:
"(f)	License Expiration. 
A drivers license issued to a person at least 16 but less than 18 years of age expires on the person's twentieth birthday.  A drivers license issued to a person age 18 but less than age 60 expires 10 years after the date of issuance, or on the person's sixty-fifth birthday, whichever is earlier. A drivers license issued to a person age 60 but less than age 80 expires five years after the date of issuance, or on the person's eightieth birthday, whichever is earlier.  A drivers license issued to a person age 80 or over expires three years from the date of issuance.
(f1)	Early renewal. – 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.
(f2)	Temporary license by mail. –
(1)	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.
(2)	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.  G.S. 20-7 is amended by adding a new subsection to read:
"( f3)	Consultation. – Any person who holds a drivers license with a duration greater than five years who has three reportable accidents as defined in G.S. 2-4.01(33b), or is convicted of three moving violations as specified in G.S. 20-16(c) during any twelve-month period shall be notified by the Division and required to attend a drivers license consultation.  The Division shall establish the format of the consultation, which shall include a review of traffic law and rules, and a review of road signs."
Section 3.  G.S. 20-37.7(d) reads as rewritten:
	"(d)	Expiration and Fee. – A special identification card issued to a person under this section expires five years following the date of issuance.  
The fee for a special identification card is the same as the fee set in G.S. 20-14 for a duplicate license.  The fee does not apply to a special identification card issued to a resident of this State who is legally blind, is at least 70 years old, or is homeless.  To obtain a special identification card without paying a fee, a homeless person must present a letter to the Division from the director of a facility that provides care or shelter to homeless persons verifying that the person is homeless."
Section 4. This act becomes effective July 1, 2000.