GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 2011

SESSION LAW 2012-41

HOUSE BILL 261

AN ACT to require intrastate motor carriers to be marked.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  G.S. 20-101 reads as rewritten:

"§ 20-101.  Certain business vehicles to be marked.

(a)        A motor vehicle that is subject to 49 C.F.R. Part 390, the federal motor carrier safety regulations, shall be marked as required by that Part.

(b)        A motor vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating of more than 10,000 26,000 pounds that is used in intrastate commerce shall have (i) the name of the owner and (ii) the motor carrier's identification number preceded by the letters "USDOT" and followed by the letters "NC" printed on each side of the vehicle in letters not less that three inches in height, unless either of the following applies:than three inches in height. The provisions of this subsection shall not apply if any of the following are true:

(1)        The motor vehicle is subject to 49 C.F.R. Part 390.

(2)        The motor vehicle is a farm vehicle as further described in G.S. 20-118(c)(4), (c)(5), or (c)(12). The motor vehicle is of a type listed in 49 C.F.R. 390.3(f).

(c)        A motor vehicle that is subject to regulation by the North Carolina Utilities Commission shall be marked as required by that Commission and as otherwise required by this section.

(d)        A motor vehicle equipped to tow or transport another motor vehicle, hired for the purpose of towing or transporting another motor vehicle, shall have the name and address of the registered owner of the vehicle, and the name of the business or person being hired if different, printed on the each side of the vehicle in letters not less than three inches in height. This subsection shall not apply to motor vehicles subject to 49 C.F.R. Part 390."

SECTION 2.  This act becomes effective December 1, 2012, and applies to offenses committed on or after that date. During the period from December 1, 2012, to November 30, 2013, an operator of a motor vehicle who violates this act shall be given a warning of violation only.

In the General Assembly read three times and ratified this the 13^th day of June, 2012.

                                                                    s/  Philip E. Berger

                                                                         President Pro Tempore of the Senate

                                                                    s/  Thom Tillis

                                                                         Speaker of the House of Representatives

                                                                    s/  Beverly E. Perdue

                                                                         Governor

Approved 11:39 a.m. this 20^th day of June, 2012