North Carolina § 20-63 - Registration plates furnished by Division; requirements; replacement of regular plates with First in Flight plates, First in Freedom plates, or National/State Mottos plates; surrender and reissuance; displaying; preservation and cleaning; alteration or concealment of numbers; commission contracts for issuance.

§ 20-63. Registration plates furnished by Division; requirements; replacement of regular plates with First in Flight plates, First in Freedom plates, or National/State Mottos plates; surrender and reissuance; displaying; preservation and cleaning; alteration or concealment of numbers; commission contracts for issuance.

The Division upon registering a vehicle shall issue to the owner one registration plate for a motorcycle, trailer or semitrailer and for every other motor vehicle. Registration plates issued by the Division under this Article shall be and remain the property of the State, and it shall be lawful for the Commissioner or his duly authorized agents to summarily take possession of any plate or plates which he has reason to believe is being illegally used, and to keep in his possession such plate or plates pending investigation and legal disposition of the same. Whenever the Commissioner finds that any registration plate issued for any vehicle pursuant to the provisions of this Article has become illegible or is in such a condition that the numbers thereon may not be readily distinguished, he may require that such registration plate, and its companion when there are two registration plates, be surrendered to the Division. When said registration plate or plates are so surrendered to the Division, a new registration plate or plates shall be issued in lieu thereof without charge. The owner of any vehicle who receives notice to surrender illegible plate or plates on which the numbers are not readily distinguishable and who willfully refuses to surrender said plates to the Division shall be guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor. Every license plate must display the registration number assigned to the vehicle for which it is issued, the name of the State of North Carolina, which may be abbreviated, and the year number for which it is issued or the date of expiration. A plate issued for a commercial vehicle, as defined in G.S. 20-4.2(1), and weighing 26,001 pounds or more, must bear the word "commercial," unless the plate is a special registration plate authorized in G.S. 20-79.4 or the commercial vehicle is a trailer or is licensed for 6,000 pounds or less. The plate issued for vehicles licensed for 7,000 pounds through 26,000 pounds must bear the word "weighted," unless the plate is a special registration plate authorized in G.S. 20-79.4. The following special registration plates do not have to be a "First in Flight" plate, "First in Freedom" plate, or "National/State Mottos" plate as provided in subsection (b) of this section. The design of the plates that are not "First in Flight" plates, "First in Freedom" plates, or "National/State Mottos" plate must be developed in accordance with G.S. 20-79.4(a3). For special plates authorized in G.S. 20-79.7 on or after July 1, 2013, the Division may not issue the plate on a background under this subsection unless it receives the required number of applications set forth in G.S. 20-79.3A(a). AIDS Awareness - Expired July 1, 2016. Alpha Phi Alpha. ARTS NC. Back Country Horsemen of North Carolina - Expired July 1, 2016. Battle of Kings Mountain. Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament. Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation. Buddy Pelletier Surfing Foundation. Carolina Panthers. Carolina Raptor Center - Expired July 1, 2016. Carolinas Credit Union Foundation - Expired July 1, 2016. Choose Life. Coastal Land Trust. Colorectal Cancer Awareness. Core Sound Waterfowl Museum and Heritage Center. Donate Life. Ducks Unlimited. Farmland Preservation - Expired July 1, 2016. First in Forestry. Fox Hunting - Expired July 1, 2016. Friends of the Appalachian Trail. Friends of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Guilford Battleground Company. Home Care and Hospice. Hospice Care - Expired July 1, 2016. In God We Trust. Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity. Keeping The Lights On. Lung Cancer Research - Expired July 1, 2016. Mountains-to-Sea Trail, Inc. National Wild Turkey Federation. Native Brook Trout. NC Civil War - Expired July 1, 2016. NC Coastal Federation. NC Horse Council. NC Mining - Expired July 1, 2016. NC State Parks. NC Surveyors. NC Tennis Foundation. NC Trout Unlimited. North Carolina Aquarium Society. North Carolina Green Industry Council - Expired July 1, 2016. North Carolina Sheriffs' Association. North Carolina State Flag - Expired July 1, 2016. North Carolina Wildlife Habitat Foundation. North Carolina Zoological Society. Order of the Long Leaf Pine. Pisgah Conservancy. POW/MIA Bring Them Home. Red Drum - Expired July 1, 2016. Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. Save the Honey Bee (SB). S.T.A.R. - Expired July 1, 2016. Stock Car Racing Theme. Support Our Troops. Travel and Tourism - Expired July 1, 2016. United States Service Academy. US Equine Rescue League - Expired July 1, 2016. Such registration plate and the required numerals thereon, except the year number for which issued, shall be of sufficient size to be plainly readable from a distance of 100 feet during daylight. Registration plates issued for a motor vehicle other than a motorcycle, trailer, or semitrailer shall be attached thereto, one in the front and the other in the rear: Provided, that when only one registration plate is issued for a motor vehicle other than a truck-tractor, said registration plate shall be attached to the rear of the motor vehicle. The registration plate issued for a truck-tractor shall be attached to the front thereof. Provided further, that when only one registration plate is issued for a motor vehicle and this motor vehicle is transporting a substance that may adhere to the plate so as to cover or discolor the plate or if the motor vehicle has a mechanical loading device that may damage the plate, the registration plate may be attached to the front of the motor vehicle. Preservation and Cleaning of Registration Plates. - It shall be the duty of each and every registered owner of a motor vehicle to keep the registration plates assigned to such motor vehicle reasonably clean and free from dust and dirt, and such registered owner, or any person in his employ, or who operates such motor vehicle by his authority, shall, upon the request of any proper officer, immediately clean such registration plates so that the numbers thereon may be readily distinguished, and any person who shall neglect or refuse to so clean a registration plate, after having been requested to do so, shall be guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor. Operating with False Numbers. - Any person who shall willfully operate a motor vehicle with a registration plate which has been repainted or altered or forged shall be guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor. Alteration, Disguise, or Concealment of Numbers. - Any operator of a motor vehicle who shall willfully mutilate, bend, twist, cover or cause to be covered or partially covered by any bumper, light, spare tire, tire rack, strap, or other device, or who shall paint, enamel, emboss, stamp, print, perforate, or alter or add to or cut off any part or portion of a registration plate or the figures or letters thereon, or who shall place or deposit or cause to be placed or deposited any oil, grease, or other substance upon such registration plates for the purpose of making dust adhere thereto, or who shall deface, disfigure, change, or attempt to change any letter or figure thereon, or who shall display a number plate in other than a horizontal upright position, shall be guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor. Any operator of a motor vehicle who shall willfully cover or cause to be covered any part or portion of a registration plate or the figures or letters thereon by any device designed or intended to prevent or interfere with the taking of a clear photograph of a registration plate by a traffic control or toll collection system using cameras commits an infraction and shall be penalized under G.S. 14-3.1. Any operator of a motor vehicle who shall otherwise intentionally cover any number or registration renewal sticker on a registration plate with any material that makes the number or registration renewal sticker illegible commits an infraction and shall be penalized under G.S. 14-3.1. Any operator of a motor vehicle who covers any registration plate with any frame or transparent, clear, or color-tinted cover that makes a number or letter included in the vehicle's registration, the State name on the plate, or a number or month on the registration renewal sticker on the plate illegible commits an infraction and shall be penalized under G.S. 14-3.1. Commission Contracts for Issuance of Plates and Certificates. - All registration plates, registration certificates, and certificates of title issued by the Division, outside of those issued from the office of the Division located in Wake, Cumberland, or Mecklenburg Counties and those issued and handled through the United States mail, shall be issued insofar as practicable and possible through commission contracts entered into by the Division for the issuance of the plates and certificates in localities throughout North Carolina, including military installations within this State, with persons, firms, corporations or governmental subdivisions of the State of North Carolina. The Division shall make a reasonable effort in every locality, except as noted above, to enter into a commission contract for the issuance of the plates and certificates and a record of these efforts shall be maintained in the Division. In the event the Division is unsuccessful in making commission contracts, it shall issue the plates and certificates through the regular employees of the Division. Whenever registration plates, registration certificates, and certificates of title are issued by the Division through commission contract arrangements, the Division shall provide proper supervision of the distribution. Nothing contained in this subsection allows or permits the operation of fewer outlets in any county in this State than are now being operated. Issuance of a registration plate, a registration card, a registration sticker, or a certificate of title. Issuance of a handicapped placard or handicapped identification card. Acceptance of an application for a personalized registration plate. Acceptance of a surrendered registration plate, registration card, or registration renewal sticker, or acceptance of an affidavit stating why a person cannot surrender a registration plate, registration card, or registration renewal sticker. Cancellation of a title because the vehicle has been junked. Acceptance of an application for, or issuance of, a refund for a fee or a tax, other than the highway use tax. Receipt of the civil penalty imposed by G.S. 20-311 for a lapse in financial responsibility or receipt of the restoration fee imposed by that statute. Acceptance of a notice of failure to maintain financial responsibility for a motor vehicle. Collection of civil penalties imposed for violations of G.S. 20-183.8A. , (9) Repealed by Session Laws 2013-372, s. 2(a), effective July 1, 2013. Commission contracts entered into by the Division under this subsection shall also provide for the payment of an additional one dollar ($1.00) of compensation to commission contract agents for any transaction assessed a fee under subdivision (a)(1), (a)(2), (a)(3), (a)(7), (a)(8), or (a)(9) of G.S. 20-85. Upon the closing of the only contract license plate agency in a county, the Division shall as soon as practicable designate a temporary location for the issuance of all registration plates, registration certificates, and certificates of title issued by the Division for that county. The designation shall be posted at the former agency location for not less than 30 days and shall include the street address and telephone number of the temporary location. A former contract agent shall allow the posting of this required notice at the former location for a period of not less than 30 days. A failure to comply with the posting requirements of this section by a former contract agent shall be a Class 3 misdemeanor. Electronic Applications and Collections. - The Division shall accept electronic applications for the issuance of registration plates, registration certificates, salvage certificates of title, and certificates of title, and is authorized to electronically collect fees from online motor vehicle registration vendors under contract with the Division. The Division shall contract with at least two online motor vehicle registration vendors which may enter into contracts with motor vehicle dealers to complete and file Division required documents for the issuance of a certificate of title, registration plate, or registration card or a duplicate certificate of title, registration plate, or registration card for a motor vehicle, upon purchase or sale of a vehicle. Vendors under contract with the Division pursuant to this subsection may also enter into contracts with used motor vehicle dealers whose primary business is the sale of salvage vehicles on behalf of insurers to complete and file documents required by the Division for the issuance of a salvage certificate of title. Commission contract agents are authorized to enter into contracts with online motor vehicle registration vendors which are under contract with the Division to complete and file Division required documents for the issuance of a certificate of title, registration plate, or registration card or a duplicate certificate of title, registration plate, or registration card for a motor vehicle. A registration plate issued by the Division for a private passenger vehicle or for a private hauler vehicle licensed for 6,000 pounds or less shall be, at the option of the owner, either (i) a "First in Flight" plate, (ii) a "First in Freedom" plate, or (iii) a "National/State Mottos" plate. A "First in Flight" plate shall have the words "First in Flight" printed at the top of the plate above all other letters and numerals. The background of the "First in Flight" plate shall depict the Wright Brothers biplane flying over Kitty Hawk Beach, with the plane flying slightly upward and to the right. A "First in Freedom" plate shall have the words "First in Freedom" printed at the top of the plate above all other letters and numerals. The background of the "First in Freedom" plate may include an image chosen by the Division that is representative of the Mecklenburg Declaration of 1775 or the Halifax Resolves of 1776. A "National/State Mottos" plate shall have in words the motto of the United States "In God We Trust" printed at the top of the plate above all other letters and numerals and have in words the State motto "To Be Rather Than To Seem". The background of the "National/State Mottos" plate shall include an image chosen by the Division that is representative of the American Flag. Any motor vehicle of the age of 35 years or more from the date of manufacture may bear the license plates of the year of manufacture instead of the current registration plates, if the current registration plates are maintained within the vehicle and produced upon the request of any person. The Division shall provide registered owners of motorcycles and property hauling motorcycle trailers attached to the rear of motorcycles with suitably reduced size registration plates, approximately four by seven inches in size, that are issued on a multiyear basis in accordance with G.S. 20-88(c) , or on an annual basis as otherwise provided in this Chapter. The terms of a commission contract entered under this subsection shall specify the duration of the contract and either include or incorporate by reference standards by which the Division may supervise and evaluate the performance of the commission contractor. The duration of an initial commission contract may not exceed eight years and the duration of a renewal commission contract may not exceed two years. The Division may award monetary performance bonuses, not to exceed an aggregate total of ninety thousand dollars ($90,000) annually, to commission contractors based on their performance. The amount of compensation payable to a commission contractor is determined on a per transaction basis. The collection of the highway use tax and the removal of an inspection stop are each considered a separate transaction for which one dollar and fifty-six cents ($1.56) compensation shall be paid. The issuance of a limited registration "T" sticker and the collection of property tax are each considered a separate transaction for which compensation at the rate of one dollar and thirty cents ($1.30) and one dollar and eight cents ($1.08) respectively, shall be paid by counties and municipalities as a cost of the combined motor vehicle registration renewal and property tax collection system. The performance at the same time of one or more of the transactions below is considered a single transaction for which one dollar and seventy-five cents ($1.75) compensation shall be paid: (10) Acceptance of a temporary lien filing. (11) Conversion of an existing paper title to an electronic lien upon request of a primary lienholder. History (1937, c. 407, s. 27; 1943, c. 726; 1951, c. 102, ss. 1-3; 1955, c. 119, s. 1; 1961, c. 360, s. 4; c. 861, s. 2; 1963, c. 552, s. 6; c. 1071; 1965, c. 1088; 1969, c. 1140; 1971, c. 945; 1973, c. 629; 1975, c. 716, s. 5; 1979, c. 470, s. 1; c. 604, s. 1; c. 917, s. 4; 1981, c. 750; c. 859, s. 76; 1983, c. 253, ss. 1-3; 1985, c. 257; 1991 (Reg. Sess., 1992), c. 1007, s. 32; 1993, c. 539, ss. 333-336; 1994, Ex. Sess., c. 24, s. 14(c); 1997-36, s. 1; 1997-443, s. 32.7(a); 1997-461, s. 1; 1998-160, s. 3; 1998-212, ss. 15.4(a), 27.6(a); 1999-452, ss. 13, 14; 2000-182, s. 3; 2001-424, s. 27.21; 2001-487, s. 50(c); 2002-159, s. 31.1; 2003-424, s. 1; 2004-77, s. 1; 2004-79, s. 1; 2004-131, s. 1; 2004-185, s. 1; 2005-216, s. 1; 2006-209, s. 1; 2006-213, s. 4; 2007-243, s. 1; 2007-400, s. 1; 2007-483, s. 1; 2007-488, ss. 2-5; 2008-225, s. 8; 2009-445, s. 24(b1); 2009-456, s. 1; 2010-96, s. 40(a); 2010-132, ss. 2, 3; 2011-382, s. 4; 2011-392, ss. 1, 1.1; 2012-79, s. 1.12(a); 2013-87, s. 1; 2013-372, s. 2(a); 2013-376, s. 9(a), (b), (d); 2014-3, s. 13.2; 2014-96, s. 2; 2014-100, ss. 8.11(e), 34.7(b), 34.28(a); 2015-241, ss. 29.32(a), 29.40(a); 2015-264, s. 40.6(a); 2015-286, s. 3.5(a); 2016-120, s. 2; 2017-107, s. 1; 2017-114, s. 1; 2018-5, s. 34.27(a); 2018-74, ss. 12(a), 16.10; 2018-77, s. 2(a); 2019-153, s. 2; 2019-213, s. 2(a); 2019-231, s. 4.18(a).) Inactive Special Interest Plates. - Pursuant to G.S. 20-79.8(a) , several special plates authorized by G.S. 20‐79.4 prior to October 1, 2014, expired as a matter of law on July 1, 2016, because the number of applications required for their production was not received by the Division of Motor Vehicles. At the direction of the Revisor of Statutes, pursuant to G.S. 20-79.8(c) , those special plates not meeting this requirement have been set out as expired effective July 1, 2016. Editor's note. - Subdivisions (b)(21) through (b)(24), as enacted by Session Laws 2007-483, s. 1, have been redesignated as subdivisions (b)(22) through (b)(25), at the direction of the Revisor of Statutes. Session Laws 2011-382, s. 1, provides: "The Joint Legislative Program Evaluation Oversight Committee shall include in the 2011-2012 Work Plan for the Program Evaluation Division of the General Assembly a study to evaluate the Division of Motor Vehicles' Commission Contract for the Issuance of Plates and Certificates program, authorized in G.S. 20-63(h) , to determine the cost-effectiveness and savings that can be effected by changing or maintaining the current operating procedures and to develop any plans or practices that, if implemented, would result in increased operating efficiency of the Division of Motor Vehicles' Commission Contract program." Session Laws 2011-382, s. 2, provides: "The Program Evaluation Division shall submit its findings and recommendations for Section 1 of this act to the Joint Legislative Program Evaluation Oversight Committee, the Joint Legislative Transportation Oversight Committee, and the Fiscal Research Division at a date to be determined by the Joint Legislative Program Evaluation Oversight Committee." Session Laws 2011-382, s. 3, provides: "The Commissioner of Motor Vehicles shall not cancel or amend any commission contracts for any reason other than malfeasance, misfeasance, or nonfeasance of the commission contractor until the study required by this act is complete and final recommendations have been acted upon by the Joint Legislative Program Evaluation Oversight Committee." Session Laws 2011-392, s. 1.1, effective July 1, 2016, repealed subsection (b1). Session Laws 2013-376, s. 9(b), effective July 29, 2013, repealed Session Laws 2011-392, s. 1.1. Session Laws 2013-376, s. 9(d), amended the effective date provision in Session Laws 2011-392, s. 12, to remove the reference to Session Laws 2011-392, s. 1.1. Session Laws 2011-392, s. 9, provides: "Notwithstanding Section 8 of this act, any special registration plate authorized in G.S. 20-79.7 , prior to July 1, 2011, shall expire, as a matter of law, on July 1, 2013, if the number of applications required for the production of the special registration plate has not been received by the Division of Motor Vehicles on or before that date. Upon notification of expiration of the authorization for any special plate by the Division pursuant to this section, the Revisor of Statutes shall verify that the authorization for each special registration plate listed has expired and shall notate such expiration in the applicable statutes. If an authorization for a special registration plate listed in G.S. 20-79.4 expires, the Revisor of Statutes shall revise the subdivision referring to the special registration plate to leave the name of the special plate authorized and the date the special registration plate's authorization expired. If an authorization for a special registration plate listed in G.S. 20-79.4 expires, the Revisor of Statutes shall also make corresponding changes to reflect the expiration of the special registration plate's authorization, if applicable, in G.S. 20-63(b) , 20-79.7, and 20-81.12." Session Laws 2011-392, s. 11, provides: "The Department of Crime Control and Public Safety [now Department of Public Safety] and the Department of Transportation shall study whether, for purposes of effective law enforcement, full-color special license plates should continue to be authorized or be phased out, with all special license plates being on the First in Flight background. The study shall also include an estimate of the replacement costs and recommendations for funding those costs. The Departments shall report their findings and make recommendations to the Joint Legislative Transportation Oversight Committee on or before the convening of the 2012 Regular Session of the 2011 General Assembly. The Joint Legislative Transportation Oversight Committee shall make any legislative recommendations based on the study to the 2012 Regular Session of the 2011 General Assembly." Session Laws 2013-372, s. 2(c), as amended by Session Laws 2014-3, s. 13.1, provides: "Notwithstanding G.S. 20-63(h) , as amended by subsection (a) of this section, the transaction rate of one dollar and six cents ($1.06) applies to the collection of property tax by commission contractors for vehicles whose registration renewals expire on or between September 30, 2013, and June 30, 2014." Session Laws 2013-372, s. 3, provides: "Implementation by the Division of Motor Vehicles of the Department of Transportation of an integrated computer system that combines vehicle registration with the collection of property tax includes training commission contractors under G.S. 20-63(h) on the use of that integrated computer system. The cost of the system training required of the commission contractors on or after April 1, 2013, and before July 1, 2013, is a cost of the combined motor vehicle registration renewal and property tax collection system and is payable from the Combined Motor Vehicle and Registration Account, established under G.S. 105-330.10 ." Session Laws 2014-3, s. 13.1(b), provides: "The Division of Motor Vehicles must compensate license plate agents the additional fee for the collection of property taxes as provided in this section. For the period between March 1, 2014, and the date the Division of Motor Vehicles is able to implement the additional fee, the Division must calculate the difference in the fee for agents contracting with the Division authorized by this section and the fee authorized in S.L. 2013-372. The Division must calculate the difference by September 1, 2014. The difference in the fee must be paid to the agents by reducing future remittances of tax payments to counties and municipalities under the Tax and Tag Together Program in equal amounts over a three month period." Session Laws 2014-3, s. 13.5, made the amendment to this section by Session Laws 2014-3, s. 13.2, applicable to collections of property tax on or after July 1, 2014. Session Laws 2014-96, s. 1(a), provides: "Any special registration plate authorized under G.S. 20-79.4 that expired as a matter of law on July 1, 2013, pursuant to G.S. 20-79.8 , is reenacted. The corresponding provisions for fees under G.S. 20-79.7(a1) and (b) and any other corresponding requirements for the plates under G.S. 20-81.12 are also reenacted. A special registration plate reenacted under this section is subject to the requirements of G.S. 20-63(b1) if the plate is authorized to be on a background other than a "First in Flight" background." Session Laws 2014-96, s. 1(b), provides: "This section is effective when it becomes law. A special registration plate reenacted by this section shall expire, as a matter of law, on October 1, 2014, if the required number of applications for the special registration plate has not been received by the Division of Motor Vehicles by that date. The notification procedure and the responsibilities of the Revisor of Statutes for a special registration plate that expires pursuant to this subsection shall be in accordance with G.S. 20-79.8 except that the notification date shall be no later than October 15, 2015. The Division shall not accept applications for nor advertise any special registration plate that has expired pursuant to this subsection." Subdivisions (b1)(44) through (47) as added by Session Laws 2014-96, s. 2, were renumbered as (b1)(45) through (48) at the direction of the Revisor of Statutes. Session Laws 2014-100, s. 34.28(d), made the amendment to this section by Session Laws 2014-100, s. 34.28(a), effective July 1, 2015, and applicable to registration plates issued on or after that date. Session Laws 2015-241, s. 29.32(b), provides: "All commission contracts entered into by the Division of Motor Vehicles under G.S. 20-63(h) after the effective date of this subsection shall specify the duration of the contract and include or incorporate by reference the standards required under subsection (a) of this section. No later than July 1, 2018, all other commission contracts entered into by the Division of Motor Vehicles shall specify the duration of the contract and include or incorporate by reference the standards required under subsection (a) of this section." Session Laws 2015-241, s. 29.32(c), made the compensation rates set forth in subsection (h) of this section, as amended by Session Laws 2015-241, s. 29.32(a), effective July 1, 2015, and applicable to transactions on or after that date. Session Laws 2015-241, s. 29.40(s), provides: "Subsections (r) and (s) of this section are effective when this act becomes law. The remainder of this section is effective 90 days after this act becomes law." Session Laws 2015-241, s. 1.1, provides: "This act shall be known as 'The Current Operations and Capital Improvements Appropriations Act of 2015.'" Session Laws 2015-241, s. 33.4, provides: "Except for statutory changes or other provisions that clearly indicate an intention to have effects beyond the 2015-2017 fiscal biennium, the textual provisions of this act apply only to funds appropriated for, and activities occurring during, the 2015-2017 fiscal biennium." Session Laws 2015-241, s. 33.6, is a severability clause. Session Laws 2015-264, s. 40.6(c), provides: "Nothing in G.S. 20-63(b1) or G.S. 20-79.3 A(a) shall be construed as requiring an additional 200 applications for the Division of Motor Vehicles to issue a full-color background 'Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity' special registration plate in accordance with G.S. 20-63(b1) , as amended by subsection (a) of this section." Session Laws 2015-264, s. 40.6(d) provides: "This section becomes effective 90 days after S.L. 2015-241 becomes law." Session Laws 2015-241 became law September 18, 2015. Session Laws 2015-264, s. 91.7, is a severability clause. Session Laws 2016-120, s. 3, provides: "The Division of Motor Vehicles of the Department of Transportation is directed to study the following and to report its findings and recommendations to the Joint Legislative Transportation Oversight Committee by December 1, 2017: "(1) The number of State vehicle inspection stops that were overridden in the two most recent fiscal years due to the failure of data to be transmitted timely from an inspection station to the State Titling and Registration System (STARS) or due to other reasons. "(2) Any changes, in the process or in the law, required to reduce or eliminate the need for commission contractors to override, through a cumbersome data entry process, an incorrect State inspection stop. "(3) The number of vehicles registered in the State in the two most recent fiscal years that were subject to inspection under federal law. "(4) The process by which data is entered in STARS to reflect that a vehicle has met the federal inspection requirement and whether this process can be made simpler." Subdivisions (b1)(54) through (56), as added by Session Laws 2017-114, s. 1, were renumbered as subdivisions (b1)(55) through (57) at the direction of the Revisor of Statutes. Session Laws 2018-5, s. 1.1, provides: "This act shall be known as the 'Current Operations Appropriations Act of 2018.'" Session Laws 2018-5, s. 39.7, is a severability clause. Session Laws 2018-74, s. 12(a), and 2018-77, s. 2(a) are identical, effective February 1, 2019, and reenacted subdivision (b1)(47) as it existed immediately before its repeal. Session Laws 2019-213, s. 2(e), provides: "The Revisor of Statutes is authorized to alphabetize, number, and renumber the special registration plates listed in G.S. 20-63(b1) , 20-79.4(b), and 20-81.12 to ensure that all the special registration plates are listed in alphabetical order and numbered accordingly." Pursuant to this authority, the subdivisions in subsection (b1) have been renumbered. Session Laws 2019-227, s. 7, provides: "The Joint Legislative Transportation Oversight Committee shall study the feasibility of making digital license plates available to the public as an alternative to traditional physical registration plates currently issued by the Division of Motor Vehicles. The Committee shall report its findings, together with any recommended legislation, to the 2020 Regular Session of the 2019 General Assembly." Session Laws 2019-231, s. 4.18(b), made the amendment to subsection (h) of this section by Session Laws 2019-231, s. 4.18(a), effective October 18, 2019, and applicable to transactions on or after that date. Session Laws 2019-231, s. 5.3, provides: "Except for statutory changes or other provisions that clearly indicate an intention to have effects beyond the 2019-2021 fiscal biennium, the textual provisions of this act apply only to funds appropriated for, and activities occurring during, the 2019-2021 fiscal biennium." Session Laws 2019-231, s. 5.5, is a severability clause. Effect of Amendments. - Session Laws 2004-77, s. 1, effective October 1, 2004, and applicable to fees assessed on or after that date inserted subsection (h1). Session Laws 2004-79, s. 1, effective October 1, 2004, and applicable to acts committed on or after that date, inserted the second and fourth sentences of subsection (g). Session Laws 2004-131, s. 1, effective July 29, 2004, added subdivision (b)(6). Session Laws 2004-185, s. 1, effective October 1, 2004, added the subdivision designated herein as subdivision (b)(7). Session Laws 2005-216, s. 1, effective July 20, 2005, added subdivisions (b)(8) through (b)(14). Session Laws 2006-209, s. 1, effective August 8, 2006, added subdivisions (b)(15) through (b)(20). Session Laws 2006-213, s. 4, effective July 1, 2008, and applicable to lapses occurring on or after that date, substituted "G.S. 20-311" for "G.S. 20-309" in subdivision (h)(7). Session Laws 2007-243, s. 1, effective July 20, 2007, added subsection (h2). Session Laws 2007-400, s. 1, effective August 21, 2007, added subdivision (b)(21). Session Laws 2007-483, s. 1, effective August 30, 2007, added subdivisions (b)(22) through (b)(25). Session Laws 2007-488, ss. 2 through 5, effective August 30, 2007, in subsection (h), inserted "Charlotte and" in the first sentence; in subsection (i), substituted "shall accept" for "is authorized to accept" and "is authorized to electronically collect fees from online motor vehicle registration vendors under contract with the Division" for "to electronically collect fees and penalties"; and added subsections (j) and (k). Session Laws 2008-225, s. 8, effective December 1, 2008, inserted "or toll collection" following "traffic control" twice in subsection (g). Session Laws 2009-445, s. 24(b1), effective August 7, 2009, inserted "issued without collection of property taxes or fees under G.S. 105-330.5 " in subdivision (h)(1). Session Laws 2009-456, s. 1, effective December 1, 2009, and applicable to offenses committed on or after that date, in subsection (g), inserted the next-to-last sentence and in the last sentence, substituted "do not prevent" for "are not designed or intended to prevent." See Editor's note for applicability. Session Laws 2010-96, s. 40(a), effective December 1, 2010, and applicable to offenses committed on or after that date, in the last sentence in subsection (g), substituted "transparent, clear" for "transparent clear" and "number or letter included in the vehicles registration" for "number or letter on the plate." Session Laws 2010-132, ss. 2 and 3, effective December 1, 2010, and applicable to offenses committed on or after that date, in the first paragraph in subsection (b), in the first sentence, substituted "Every license plate must display" for "Every license plate shall have displayed upon it," and in the last sentence, added "unless the plate is a special registration plate authorized in G.S. 20-79.4 "; and in subsection (g), in the second and third sentences, substituted "shall be penalized" for "shall be fined," added the last sentence, and deleted the former last two sentences, which read: "Any operator of a motor vehicle who covers the State name, year sticker, or month sticker on a registration plate with a license plate frame commits an infraction and shall be fined under G.S. 14-3.1 . Nothing in this subsection shall prohibit the use of transparent covers that do not prevent or interfere with the taking of a clear photograph of a registration plate by a traffic control or toll collection system using cameras." Session Laws 2011-382, s. 4, effective June 27, 2011, in the first sentence of subsection (h), substituted "Charlotte, Fort Bragg and Raleigh offices" for "Charlotte and Raleigh offices" and inserted "including military installations within this State." Session Laws 2011-392, s. 1, effective June 30, 2011, in the last paragraph of subsection (b), deleted "Except as otherwise provided in this subsection" from the beginning; and added the subsection (b1) designation, and therein, in the first paragraph, added "as provided in subsection (b) of this section" in the first sentence, and added the last sentence. Session Laws 2012-79, s. 1.12(a), effective June 26, 2012, added subdivision (b1)(43). Session Laws 2013-87, s. 1, effective July 1, 2013, substituted "office of the Division located in Wake, Cumberland, or Mecklenburg Counties" for "Charlotte, Fort Bragg and Raleigh offices of the Division" in the first sentence of subsection (h). Session Laws 2013-372, s. 2(a), effective July 1, 2013, in the second paragraph of subsection (h), substituted "is" for "shall be" following "use tax" in the second sentence, added the third sentence, and in the fourth sentence, substituted "transactions below is" for "remaining transactions listed in this subsection shall be" and deleted the former third paragraph, which read: "A transaction is any of the following activities:"; in subdivision (h)(1), deleted "issued without collection of property taxes or fees under G.S. 105-330.5 " following "card" and "renewal" preceding "sticker"; and deleted subdivisions (h)(8b) and (h)(9), pertaining to sale of inspection stickers to inspection stations and collection of the highway use tax. Session Laws 2013-376, s. 9(a), effective July 29, 2013, rewrote the second and third sentences of subsection (b1), which formerly read "The design of the plates that are not 'First in Flight' plates must be approved by the Division and the State Highway Patrol for clarity and ease of identification. When the Division registers a vehicle or renews the registration of a vehicle on or after July 1, 2015, the Division must send the owner a replacement special license plate in a standardized format in accordance with subsection (b) of this section and G.S. 20-79.4(a3) ." Session Laws 2014-3, s. 13.2, effective July 1, 2014, in subsection (h), substituted "one dollar and six cents ($1.06)" for "seventy one cents ($0.71)" in the third sentence of the second paragraph, and made a minor stylistic change. See Editor's note for applicability. Session Laws 2014-96, s. 2, effective August 1, 2014, added subdivisions (b1)(44) through (b1)(47). Session Laws 2014-100, s. 8.11(e), effective July 1, 2014, added subdivision (b1)(44). Session Laws 2014-3, s. 13.2, effective July 1, 2014, in subsection (h), substituted "one dollar and six cents ($1.06)" for "seventy one cents ($0.71)" in the third sentence of the second paragraph, and made a minor stylistic change. See Editor's note for applicability. Session Laws 2014-96, s. 2, effective August 1, 2014, added subdivisions (b1)(45) through (b1)(48). Session Laws 2014-100, s. 8.11(e), effective July 1, 2014, added subdivision (b1)(44). Session Laws 2014-100, s. 34.7(b), effective January 1, 2015, added subdivision (h)(11). Session Laws 2014-100, s. 34.28(a), inserted "or First in Freedom plates" or similar language in the section heading and subsection (b1); and rewrote the second paragraph in subsection (b) to add the "First in Freedom" plates and the last two sentences. See Editor's note for effective date and applicability. Session Laws 2015-241, s. 29.32(a), effective July 1, 2015, in subsection (h), inserted the second paragraph, and in the last paragraph, rewrote the first sentence, and the dollar amounts throughout. For applicability, see editor's note. Session Laws 2015-241, s. 29.40(a), effective December 17, 2015, added subdivisions (b1)(49) through (b1)(52). For effective date, see editor's note. Session Laws 2015-264, s. 40.6(a), effective December 17, 2015, added subdivision (b1)(53). For effective date, see editor's note. Session Laws 2015-286, s. 3.5(a), effective January 1, 2016, rewrote the third paragraph of subsection (d), which read "The Division shall provide registered owners of motorcycles and motorcycle trailers with suitably reduced size registration plates." Session Laws 2016-120, s. 2, effective October 1, 2016, substituted "and the removal of an inspection stop are each" for "is" in the second sentence of the third paragraph of subsection (h). Session Laws 2017-107, s. 1, effective July 1, 2017, added subdivision (b1)(54). Session Laws 2017-114, s. 1, effective July 18, 2017, in subsection (b1), substituted "the required number of applications set forth in G.S. 20-79.3 A(a)" for "at least 200 applications for the plate in addition to the applications required under G.S. 20-79.4 or G.S. 20-81.12 "; and added subdivisions (b1)(55) through (57). Session Laws 2018-5, s. 34.27(a), effective July 1, 2018, in the heading, inserted "or National/State Mottos plates" and made related changes; in the second paragraph of subsection (b), in the first sentence, inserted "or (iii) a 'National/State Mottos' plate" and made related changes and added the last sentence; and, in subsection (b1), inserted "or 'National/State Mottos' plate" twice and made related changes. Session Laws 2018-74, s. 16.10, effective July 1, 2018, rewrote the former last sentence of subsection (b), which read "A 'National/State Mottos' plate shall (i) be a white plate, (ii) have above all other letters and numerals the motto of the United States 'In God We Trust' printed in gold lettering over a background containing the American flag, (iii) have the letters and numerals of the plate number in dark blue lettering, (iv) have below the plate number 'North Carolina' printed in light blue bold Arial Black capitalized font, and (v) have at the bottom of the plate the State motto 'To Be Rather Than To Seem' printed in dark blue lettering matching the North Carolina flag and italicized" and added the last sentence. Session Laws 2018-74, s. 12(a), and 2018-77, s. 2(a), are identical, both effective February 1, 2019, and both reenacted subdivision (b1)(47) as that subdivision existed immediately before its repeal. Session Laws 2019-153, s. 2, effective October 1, 2019, inserted "salvage certificates of title" in subsection (i); and added the last sentence in subsection (j). Session Laws 2019-213, s. 2(a), effective March 1, 2020, added subdivisions (b1)(28) and (b1)(49). Session Laws 2019-231, s. 4.18(a), in the third paragraph of subsection (h), substituted "one dollar and fifty-six cents ($1.56)" for "one dollar and thirty cents ($1.30)" in the second sentence and substituted "one dollar and seventy-five cents ($1.75)" for "one dollar and forty-six cents ($1.46)" in the fourth sentence. For effective date and applicability, see editor's note.