H.B. 199
GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
Feb 23, 2023
SESSION 2023 HOUSE PRINCIPAL CLERK
H D
HOUSE BILL DRH40103-NEf-62C
Short Title: DMV Proposed Legislative Changes.-AB (Public)
Sponsors: Representative B. Jones.
Referred to:
1 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
2 AN ACT TO MAKE VARIOUS CHANGES TO THE MOTOR VEHICLE, LIEN HEARING
3 NOTIFICATION, AND SERVICE OF PROCESS LAWS OF THE STATE, AS
4 RECOMMENDED BY THE DIVISION OF MOTOR VEHICLES OF THE
5 DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.
6 The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
7
8 DEFINE AND STUDY MOBILE DRIVERS LICENSES
9 SECTION 1.(a) G.S. 20-4.01 reads as rewritten:
10 "§ 20-4.01. Definitions.
11 Unless the context requires otherwise, the following definitions apply throughout this
12 Chapter to the defined words and phrases and their cognates:
13 …
14 (21b) Mobile Drivers License. – A supplemental digital version of a valid drivers
15 license that (i) is approved by the Commissioner, (ii) is issued by the Division
16 of Motor Vehicles, (iii) is comprised of the same data elements as are found
17 on a valid drivers license, and (iv) is capable of, and limited to, being linked
18 to, and displayed by a mobile device owned by the person to whom the valid
19 drivers license is issued.
20 (21c) Motor Carrier. – A for-hire motor carrier or a private motor carrier.
21 …."
22 SECTION 1.(b) The Division of Motor Vehicles of the North Carolina Department
23 of Transportation shall study and provide a plan for implementing mobile drivers licenses and
24 mobile special identification cards. The study and plan shall address (i) anticipated drivers license
25 and special identification cards issuance and renewal process changes, (ii) anticipated changes to
26 staffing needs for the Division for implementation of mobile drivers licenses and mobile special
27 identification cards, (iii) estimated one-time and annual costs to the Division or any other State
28 agency resulting from implementation, (iv) evaluation of whether implementation of mobile
29 drivers licenses or mobile special identification cards will be undertaken by the Division or
30 contracted to a third-party vendor and relevant contractual issues associated with either option,
31 (v) changes in revenue for the Division or any other State agency, (vi) security and confidentiality
32 of drivers license information, (vii) concerns of State and local law enforcement agencies within
33 North Carolina, including examining means by which to prevent unintended violations of an
34 individual's constitutional rights, (viii) an estimated time line for implementation, including steps
35 required to facilitate mobile drivers licenses and mobile identification cards, and (ix) any other
36 issue the Division deems relevant to the study. The Division shall report its findings of this study,
*DRH40103-NEf-62C*
 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2023
1 including any legislative recommendations, to the North Carolina General Assembly, the chairs
2 of the Joint Legislative Transportation Oversight Committee, and the Fiscal Research Division
3 no later than January 1, 2024.
4 SECTION 1.(c) Subsection (a) of this section becomes effective July 1, 2025.
5
6 AUTHORIZE DISCLOSURE OF SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBERS TO THE STATE
7 BOARD OF ELECTIONS, EXTEND DURATION OF LICENSES, AND IMPLEMENT
8 MOBILE LICENSES
9 SECTION 2.(a) G.S. 20-7 reads as rewritten:
10 "§ 20-7. Issuance and renewal of drivers licenses.
11 …
12 (b2) Disclosure of Social Security Number. – The social security number of an applicant
13 is not a public record. The Division may not disclose an applicant's social security number except
14 as allowed under federal law. A violation of the disclosure restrictions is punishable as provided
15 in 42 U.S.C. § 408, and amendments to that law.
16 In accordance with 42 U.S.C. 405 and 42 U.S.C. 666, and amendments thereto, the Division
17 may disclose a social security number obtained under subsection (b1) of this section only as
18 follows:
19 …
20 (9) To the State Board of Elections for verifying voter registration data
21 implementing G.S. 163-82.14.
22 …
23 (f) Duration and Renewal of Licenses. – Drivers licenses shall be issued and renewed
24 pursuant to the provisions of this subsection:
25 …
26 (2) Duration of original license for persons at least 18 years of age or older. – A
27 drivers license issued to a person at least 18 years old but less than 66 years
28 old expires on the birthday of the licensee in the eighth sixteenth year after
29 issuance. A drivers license issued to a person at least 66 years old expires on
30 the birthday of the licensee in the fifth year after issuance. A commercial
31 drivers license expires on the birthday of the licensee in the fifth year after
32 issuance. A commercial drivers license that has a vehicles carrying passengers
33 (P) and school bus (S) endorsement issued pursuant to G.S. 20-37.16 expires
34 on the birthday of the licensee in the third year after issuance, if the licensee
35 is certified to drive a school bus in North Carolina.
36 (2a) Duration of renewed licenses. – A renewed drivers license that was issued by
37 the Division to a person at least 18 years old but less than 66 years old expires
38 eight 16 years after the expiration date of the license that is renewed. A
39 renewed drivers license that was issued by the Division to a person at least 66
40 years old expires five years after the expiration date of the license that is
41 renewed. A renewed commercial drivers license expires five years after the
42 expiration date of the license that is renewed.
43 …
44 (6) Remote renewal or conversion. – Subject to the following requirements and
45 limitations, the Division may offer remote renewal of a drivers license or
46 remote conversion of a full provisional license issued by the Division:
47 …
48 c. Duration of remote renewal or conversion. – A drivers license issued
49 to a person by remote renewal or conversion under this subdivision
50 expires according to the following schedule:
Page 2 DRH40103-NEf-62C
 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2023
1 1. For a person at least 18 years old but less than 66 years old, on
2 the birthday of the licensee in the eighth sixteenth year after
3 issuance.
4 2. For a person at least 66 years old, on the birthday of the
5 licensee in the fifth year after issuance.
6 …."
7 SECTION 2.(b) G.S. 20-7 is amended by adding a new subsection to read:
8 "(m1) Mobile Drivers License. – Upon request of an applicant for whom a valid license
9 exists or is issued, the Commissioner may issue a mobile drivers license as a supplement to the
10 valid license. A mobile drivers license shall be treated as the legal equivalent of a valid license."
11 SECTION 2.(c) Subsection (a) of this section becomes effective October 1, 2023,
12 and applies to licenses issued or renewed on or after that date. Subsection (b) of this section
13 becomes effective July 1, 2025.
14
15 CLARIFY SCOPE OF INTERLOCK REQUIREMENT
16 SECTION 3.(a) G.S. 20-17.8 reads as rewritten:
17 "§ 20-17.8. Restoration of a license after certain driving while impaired convictions;
18 ignition interlock.
19 …
20 (a1) Additional Scope. – This section applies to a person whose license was revoked as a
21 result of a conviction of habitual impaired driving, G.S. 20-138.5. Except for a conviction under
22 G.S. 20-141.4(a2), this section also applies to a person whose license was revoked as a result of
23 a conviction under G.S. 20-141.4.
24 …."
25 SECTION 3.(b) This section becomes effective December 1, 2023, and applies to
26 offenses committed on or after that date.
27
28 RESTRICT DISCLOSURE OF PERSONAL INFORMATION FOR JUDGES AND
29 ADJUST FEE FOR RECORDS REQUEST
30 SECTION 4. G.S. 20-43.1 reads as rewritten:
31 "§ 20-43.1. Disclosure of personal information in motor vehicle records.
32 …
33 (c1) To the extent permissible under 18 U.S.C. § 2721, the Division may adopt rules
34 restricting the disclosure of personal information about any person who currently serves or has
35 served as a state or federal judicial officer.
36 …
37 (e1) As authorized in 18 U.S.C. § 2721 and for verification purposes, the Division may
38 provide information on motor vehicle registration or liability insurance upon written request and
39 payment of a fee of one dollar ($1.00) five dollars ($5.00) per individual record.
40 …."
41
42 ELIMINATE MANDATORY REPLACEMENT OF NONDEALER REGISTRATION
43 PLATES
44 SECTION 5. G.S. 20-63.1 reads as rewritten:
45 "§ 20-63.1. Division shall cause plates to be reflectorized.
46 (a) Registration Plate Standards. – The Division of Motor Vehicles is hereby authorized
47 to cause vehicle license plates for 1968 and future years to be completely treated with
48 reflectorized materials designed to increase visibility and legibility of license plates at night. The
49 Division of Motor Vehicles shall develop standards for reflectivity that use the most current
50 technology available while maintaining a competitive bid process.
DRH40103-NEf-62C Page 3
 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2023
1 (b) Registration Plate Mandatory Replacement. – All registration plates shall be replaced
2 every seven years."
3
4 REVISE REGISTRATION TITLE ISSUANCE STATUTES
5 SECTION 6.(a) G.S. 20-63 reads as rewritten:
6 "§ 20-63. Registration plates furnished by Division; requirements; replacement of regular
7 plates with First in Flight plates, First in Freedom plates, or National/State
8 Mottos plates; surrender and reissuance; displaying; preservation and cleaning;
9 alteration or concealment of numbers; commission contracts for issuance.
10 …
11 (h) Commission Contracts for Issuance of Plates and Certificates. – All registration
12 Registration plates, registration certificates, and certificates of title issued by the Division, any
13 office of the Division within this State, outside of those issued from the office of the Division
14 located in Wake, Cumberland, or Mecklenburg Counties and those issued and handled through
15 the United States mail, shall be issued insofar as practicable and possible through commission
16 contracts entered into by the Division for the issuance of the plates and certificates in localities
17 throughout North Carolina, including military installations within this State, with persons, firms,
18 corporations or governmental subdivisions of the State of North Carolina. The Division shall
19 make a reasonable effort in every locality, except as noted above, to enter into a commission
20 contract for the issuance of the plates and certificates and a record of these efforts shall be
21 maintained in the Division. In the event the Division is unsuccessful in making commission
22 contracts, it shall issue the plates and certificates through the regular employees of the Division.
23 Whenever registration plates, registration certificates, and certificates of title are issued by the
24 Division through commission contract arrangements, the Division shall provide proper
25 supervision of the distribution. Nothing contained in this subsection allows or permits the
26 operation of fewer outlets in any county in this State than are now being operated.
27 …
28 (h1) Commission contracts entered into by the Division under this subsection shall also
29 provide for the payment of an additional one dollar ($1.00) of compensation to commission
30 contract agents for any transaction assessed a fee under subdivision (a)(1), (a)(2), (a)(3), (a)(7),
31 (a)(8), or (a)(9) (a)(8) or (a)(9) of G.S. 20-85.
32 …."
33 SECTION 6.(b) G.S. 20-66 reads as rewritten:
34 "§ 20-66. Renewal of vehicle registration.
35 (a) Annual Renewal. – The registration of a vehicle must be renewed annually. In
36 accordance with G.S. 105-330.5(b), upon receiving written consent from the owner of the
37 vehicle, the Division may send any required notice of renewal electronically to an e-mail address
38 provided by the owner of the vehicle. To renew the registration of a vehicle, the owner of the
39 vehicle must file an application with the Division and pay the required registration fee. The owner
40 of a vehicle registered in North Carolina may renew that vehicle registration by mail. The
41 Division may receive and grant an application for renewal of registration at any time before the
42 registration expires.
43 …."
44 SECTION 6.(c) G.S. 20-85 reads as rewritten:
45 "§ 20-85. Schedule of fees.
46 (a) The following fees are imposed concerning a certificate of title, a registration card, or
47 a registration plate for a motor vehicle. These fees are payable to the Division and are in addition
48 to the tax imposed by Article 5A of Chapter 105 of the General Statutes:
49 …
50 (11) Each set of replacement Stock Car Racing Theme plates
51 issued under G.S. 20-79.4..................................................................................25.00.25.00
Page 4 DRH40103-NEf-62C
 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2023
1 (12) Each application for a certificate of title prepared and delivered using
2 a one-day title service………………………………………………………..105.75.
3
4 (a1) One dollar ($1.00) Two dollars ($2.00) of the fee imposed for any transaction assessed
5 a fee under subdivision (a)(1), (a)(2), (a)(3), (a)(7), (a)(8), or (a)(9) (a)(8), (a)(9), or (a)(12) of
6 this section shall be credited to the North Carolina Highway Fund. The Division shall use the
7 fees derived from transactions with commission contract agents for the payment of compensation
8 to commission contract agents. An additional twenty cents (20¢) of the fee imposed for any
9 transaction assessed a fee under subdivision (a)(1) or (a)(12) of this section shall be credited to
10 the Mercury Pollution Prevention Fund in the Department of Environmental Quality.
11 …."
12 SECTION 6.(d) G.S. 20-85.1 is repealed.
13 SECTION 6.(e) G.S. 20-85(a1) reads as rewritten:
14 "(a1) One dollar ($1.00) of the fee imposed for any transaction assessed a fee under
15 subdivision (a)(1), (a)(2), (a)(3), (a)(7), (a)(8), (a)(9), or (a)(12) of this section shall be credited
16 to the North Carolina Highway Fund. The Division shall use the fees derived from transactions
17 with commission contract agents for the payment of compensation to commission contract
18 agents. or (a)(12)"
19 SECTION 6.(f) Subsections (a) through (d) of this section become effective October
20 1, 2023, and apply to certificates of title issued or renewed on or after that date. Subsection (e)
21 of this section becomes effective June 30, 2031.
22
23 INCREASE FEE FOR AUTHORIZATION TO ADMINISTER OATHS
24 SECTION 7. G.S. 20-42 reads as rewritten:
25 "§ 20-42. Authority to administer oaths and certify copies of records.
26 (a) Officers and employees of the Division designated by the Commissioner are, for the
27 purpose of administering the motor vehicle laws, authorized to administer oaths and acknowledge
28 signatures, and shall charge for the acknowledgment of signatures a fee according to the
29 following schedule:
30 (1) One signature $2.00$6.00
31 (2) Two signatures 3.007.00
32 (3) Three or more signatures 4.008.00
33 Funds received under the provisions of this subsection shall be used to defray a part of the
34 costs of distribution of license plates, registration certificates and certificates of title issued by
35 the Division.
36 …."
37
38 DIVERSIFY ADVISORY COMMITTEE OF COMMISSION CONTRACTORS
39 SECTION 8. G.S. 20-63.02(b) reads as rewritten:
40 "(b) Membership and Terms. – The LPA Advisory Committee consists of (i) persons who
41 are on the staff