H199 - Division of Motor Vehicles Proposed Legislative Changes. (SL 2024-30)

Overview: S.L. 2024-30 makes the following changes to laws related to motor vehicles:

• Directs the Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to study and implement a plan for issuance of a digital version of a drivers license that can be displayed on a mobile device as a supplement to a traditional drivers license and authorizes issuance of mobile drivers licenses.
• Requires ignition interlock as a condition for restoration of a drivers license after certain revocations based on a conviction of death by motor vehicle.
• Increases the notary fee for DMV employees and officers.
• Clarifies circumstances under which transporter plates may be used.
• Requires DMV to study using alternative materials for registration plates.
• Requires DMV to study ways to modernize issuance of dealer plates.
• Conforms statutory odometer disclosure requirement to the federal requirement.
• Requires DMV to implement a print-on-demand system for issuance of temporary registration plates.
• Requires all headlamps modified or installed on a motor vehicle to comply with the federal motor vehicle safety standard.
• Increases fees for service of process upon nonresident drivers.
• Clarifies the process by which a lienor must notify owners of personal property subject to a lien prior to selling the property to satisfy the lien.
• Requires rental car companies, when renting light cargo vehicles, to make a good faith effort to recover as part of the rental transaction no more than the actual costs incurred for license and registration fees, in the same manner as is required when renting passenger vehicles.
• Authorizes remote electronic notarization and electronic signatures for motor vehicle transactions.
• Extends the duration of temporary registration plates issued by dealers from 30 to 60 days, and increases from 20 to 60 the number of days within which a dealer must mail or deliver a vehicle purchaser's application and fees for titling and registration to DMV for processing.
• Amends statutes related to commercial drivers licensing to comply with federal requirements.
• Amends the law as it relates to DMV commission contractors.
• Requires DMV to develop a highway work zone safety training course.
• Makes changes to the statute requiring DMV to contract with online motor vehicle registration vendors.
• Amends exemptions applicable to covered farm vehicles.
• Increases the fee for an annual oversize/overweight permit to move commodities and allows electric vehicle batteries to be transported as a nondivisible load for permitting purposes with the payment of an additional fee.
• Repeals provisions that would have made use of L/D plates mandatory for service loaner vehicles in 2025, so they remain optional for dealers.
• Authorizes Home of the Venus Flytrap and North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics special registration plates.
• Amends the definition of "established salesroom" to provide that a dealer is not prohibited from sharing a building with another business as long as requirements for a salesroom are met.
• Increases the licensing period for motor vehicle dealers from one year to two years, and makes other clarifying changes to the licensing statute.
• Increases the penalties for littering.
• Clarifies that Civilian Traffic Investigators employed by municipalities are not required to be licensed as private investigators.
• Increases from $8 to $10 the maximum tax rate transportation authorities may levy for registered motor vehicles.
• Requires the Department of Transportation (DOT) to contract with a private entity to administer the logo sign program.
• Adds clarifying language to statutes related to Turnpike Authority projects.
• Requires the CFO of DOT to align its internal ledger and business practices with its certified budget in accordance with Government Accounting Standards Board standards.
• Designates an overpass being constructed in Columbus County as the "Waccamaw Siouan Tribe Bridge".

This act has various effective dates. Please see full summary for more detail.