G.S. ch. 20, art. 1C

in effect

G.S. 20-4.21 Title of Article.

§ 20-4.21. Title of Article. This Article is the Drivers License Compact and may be cited by that name. (1993, c. 533, s. 1.)

G.S. 20-4.22 Commissioner may make reciprocity agreements, arrangements, or declarations.

§ 20-4.22. Commissioner may make reciprocity agreements, arrangements, or declarations. The Commissioner may execute or make agreements, arrangements, or declarations to implement this Article. (1993, c. 533, s. 1.)

G.S. 20-4.23 Legislative findings and policy.

§ 20-4.23. Legislative findings and policy. (a) Findings. - The General Assembly and the states that are members of the Drivers License Compact find that: (1) The safety of their streets and highways is materially affected by the degree of compliance with state laws and local ordinances relating to the operation of motor vehicles. (2) The violation of a law or an ordinance relating to the operation of a motor vehicle is evidence that the violator engages in conduct that is likely to endanger the safety of persons and property. (3) The continuance in force of a license to drive is predicated upon compliance with laws and ordinances relating to the operation of motor vehicles in whichever jurisdiction the vehicle is operated. (b) Policy. - It is the policy of the General Assembly and of each of the states that is a member of the Drivers License Compact to: (1) Promote compliance with the laws, ordinances, and administrative rules and regulations of a member state relating to the operation of motor vehicles. (2) Make the reciprocal recognition of licenses to drive and the eligibility for a license to drive more just and equitable by making consideration of overall compliance with motor vehicle laws, ordinances, and administrative rules and regulations a condition precedent to the continuance or issuance of any license that authorizes the holder of the license to operate a motor vehicle in a member state. (1993, c. 533, s. 1.)

G.S. 20-4.24 Reports of convictions; effect of reports.

§ 20-4.24. Reports of convictions; effect of reports. (a) Reports. - A state that is a member of the Drivers License Compact shall report to another member state of the compact a conviction for any of the following: (1) Manslaughter or negligent homicide resulting from the operation of a motor vehicle. (2) Driving a motor vehicle while impaired. (3) A felony in the commission of which a motor vehicle was used. (4) Failure to stop and render aid in the event of a motor vehicle accident resulting in the death or personal injury of another. If the laws of a member state do not describe the listed violations in precisely the words used in this subsection, the member state shall construe the descriptions to apply to offenses of the member state that are substantially similar to the ones described. A state that is a member of the Drivers License Compact shall report to another member state of the compact a conviction for any other offense or any other information concerning convictions that the member states agree to report. (b) Effect. - A state that is a member of the Drivers License Compact shall treat a report of a conviction received from another member state of the compact as a report of the conduct that resulted in the conviction. For a conviction required to be reported under subsection (a), a member state shall give the same effect to the report as if the conviction had occurred in that state. For a conviction that is not required to be reported under subsection (a), a member state shall give the effect to the report that is required by the laws of that state. G.S. 20-23 governs the effect in this State of convictions that are not required to be reported under subsection (a). (1993, c. 533, s. 1.)

G.S. 20-4.25 Review of license status in other states upon application for license in member state.

§ 20-4.25. Review of license status in other states upon application for license in member state. Upon application for a license to drive, the licensing authority of a state that is a member of the Drivers License Compact must determine if the applicant has ever held, or currently holds, a license to drive issued by another member state. The licensing authority of the member state where the application is made may not issue the applicant a license to drive if: (1) The applicant has held a license, but it has been revoked for a violation and the revocation period has not ended. If the revocation period is for more than one year and it has been at least one year since the license was revoked, the licensing authority may allow the applicant to apply for a new license if the laws of the licensing authority's state permit the application. (2) The applicant currently holds a license to drive issued by another member state and does not surrender that license. (1993, c. 533, s. 1.)

G.S. 20-4.26 Effect on other laws or agreements.

§ 20-4.26. Effect on other laws or agreements. Except as expressly required by the provisions of this Article, this Article does not affect the right of a member state to the Drivers License Compact to apply any of its other laws relating to licenses to drive to any person or circumstance, nor does it invalidate or prevent any driver license agreement or other cooperative arrangement between a member state and a state that is not a member. (1993, c. 533, s. 1.)

G.S. 20-4.27 Effect on other State driver license laws.

§ 20-4.27. Effect on other State driver license laws. To the extent that this Article conflicts with general driver licensing provisions in this Chapter, this Article prevails. Where this Article is silent, the general driver licensing provisions apply. (1993, c. 533, s. 1.)

G.S. 20-4.28 Administration and exchange of information.

§ 20-4.28. Administration and exchange of information. The head of the licensing authority of each member state is the administrator of the Drivers License Compact for that state. The administrators, acting jointly, have the power to formulate all necessary procedures for the exchange of information under this compact. The administrator of each member state shall furnish to the administrator of each other member state any information or documents reasonably necessary to facilitate the administration of this compact. (1993, c. 533, s. 1.)

G.S. 20-4.29 Withdrawal from Drivers License Compact.

§ 20-4.29. Withdrawal from Drivers License Compact. A member state may withdraw from the Drivers License Compact. A withdrawal may not become effective until at least six months after the heads of all other member states have received notice of the withdrawal. Withdrawal does not affect the validity or applicability by the licensing authorities of states remaining members of the compact of a report of a conviction occurring prior to the withdrawal. (1993, c. 533, s. 1.)

G.S. 20-4.30 Construction and severability.

§ 20-4.30. Construction and severability. This Article shall be liberally construed to effectuate its purposes. The provisions of this Article are severable; if any part of this Article is declared to be invalid by a court, the invalidity does not affect other parts of this Article that can be given effect without the invalid provision. If the Drivers License Compact is declared invalid by a court in a member state, the compact remains in full force and effect in the remaining member states and in full force and effect for all severable matters in that member state. (1993, c. 533, s. 1.)

Source: North Carolina General Assembly (ncleg.gov)URL: https://www.ncleg.gov/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/HTML/ByChapter/Chapter_20.htmlFetched: 10/19/2026