Bill Summaries: H863 (2017-2018 Session)

Tracking:
  • Summary date: Jun 15 2017 - View summary

    House committee substitute makes the following changes to the 1st edition.

    Amends GS 20-16 (Authority of Division to suspend license). Deletes the provision limiting the length of suspension under the point system, based on the number of such suspensions, as well as the provision limiting the length of suspension under the three speeding-related reasons. Provides that a license suspension under the point system, or for any of the three speeding-related reasons, is indefinite until the person completes the driver retraining course. Amends the requirement that the Division of Motor Vehicles (Division) cancel or terminate a suspension, as applicable, to subject it to other provisions of law that may suspend or revoke the license. Increases the fee for the driver retraining course to $175 (was, $150), of which $25 will be retained by the Division. Requires the driver retraining course to be demonstrated scientifically to be associated with decreases in traffic violations (was, to be scientifically proven effective at changing driver behavior). Requires the course to include psychology-based principles or methodologies (was, scientifically proven educational or psychological principles or methodologies), as they relate to behind-the-wheel driving behavior.

    Makes conforming changes to GS 20-19 (Period of suspension or revocation; conditions of restoration).

    Deletes the provision requiring the Division of Motor Vehicles to report on its progress in establishing the driver retraining courses. Makes conforming changes.

    Makes the act effective July 1, 2018 (was, December 1, 2017).


  • Summary date: Apr 20 2017 - View summary

    Amends GS 20-16 (Authority of Division to suspend license). 

    Makes clarifying and technical changes throughout. Makes the statute's language gender neutral.

    Adds to the provision in subsection (c) that cancels any previously accumulated points in a person's driver's record upon the restoration of the license or driving privilege of the person whose license or driving privilege was suspended or revoked because of a traffic offense. Adds a new provision to provide for any previously accumulated points in a person's driver's record to be cancelled upon completion of the driver retraining course established in accordance with new subsection (d1) of the statute within the 90-day pre-suspension notice period required under subsection (d) of the statute, as amended.

    Adds new subsection (d1) requiring the Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to establish and conduct, itself or through a third-party vendor, driver retraining courses for persons who have had their license suspended or been placed on probation pursuant to subdivisions (5), (9), (10), or (10a) of subsection (a) of the statute.

    Respectively, subdivisions (5), (9), (10), or (10a) of subsection (a) authorize the DMV to suspend a licensee without a preliminary hearing upon a showing by its records or other satisfactory evidence that the licensee: (1) has, under the provisions of subsection (c), within a three-year period, accumulated 12 or more points, or eight or more points in the three-year period immediately following the reinstatement of a license which has been suspended or revoked because of a conviction for one or more traffic offenses; (2) has, within a period of 12 months, been convicted of two or more charges of speeding in excess of 55 and not more than 80 miles per hour, one or more charges of reckless driving and one or more charges of speeding in excess of 55 and not more than 80 miles per hour, or one or more charges of aggressive driving and one or more charges of speeding in excess of 55 and not more than 80 miles per hour; (3) has been convicted of operating a motor vehicle at a speed in excess of 75 miles per hour on a public road or highway where the maximum speed is less than 70 miles per hour; and (4) has been convicted of operating a motor vehicle at a speed in excess of 80 miles per hour on a public highway where the maximum speed is 70 miles per hour.

    Requires the DMV to maintain oversight of the driver retraining course established and conducted by the third-party vendor if the DMV chooses to utilize a third-party vendor. Directs the DMV to set a fee no more than $150 to be paid by each driver attending a driver retraining course. Requires the driver to attend the course in person. Requires the course to be at least eight hours. Details further requirements of the driver retraining course and content that must be included in the course.

    Further amends subsection (c), concerning licenses suspended under the point system described in the subsection, to explicitly require a licensee to complete the driver retraining course established in new subsection (d1) for a license suspended pursuant to subdivisions (5), (9), (10), and (10a) of subsection (a). Requires the DMV to cancel the suspension and allow the licensee to retain his or her license if the licensee completes the driver retraining course within the 90-day pre-suspension notice period required under subsection (d) so long as the driver's license is not subject to suspension or revocation under another other provision of law. Directs the DMV to cancel the unexpired term of the suspension and restore the suspended license if the licensee completes the driver retraining course after the 90-day pre-suspension notice period required under subsection (d) so long as the driver's license is not subject to suspension or revocation under another other provision of law. Prohibits the DMV from substituting a period of probation for suspension or for any unexpired period of suspension before the licensee completes the driver retraining course established in accordance with subsection (d1) of the statute if the license was suspended pursuant to subdivisions (5), (9), (10), or (10a) of subsection (a).

    Adds a new provision to subsection (d), concerning suspending licenses as authorized by the statute, to set forth a 90-day pre-suspension notice period for a license suspended pursuant to subdivisions (5), (9), (10), or (10a) of subsection (a). Again, expressly prohibits the DMV from substituting a period of probation for suspension or for any unexpired period of suspension before the licensee completes the driver retraining course established in accordance with subsection (d1) of the statute if the license was suspended pursuant to subdivisions (5), (9), (10), or (10a) of subsection (a).

    Effective December 1, 2017, and applies to licenses suspended on or after that date.

    Directs the DMV to report to the Joint Legislative Transportation Oversight Committee on its progress in establishing the driver retraining courses by October 1, 2017. Requires the DMV to specifically state who the vendor is and provide other relevant details if the DMV uses a third-party vendor.