NORTH CAROLINA GENERAL ASSEMBLY

1973 SESSION

CHAPTER 438

HOUSE BILL 190

AN ACT TO PROVIDE FOR THE ISSUANCE OF SPECIAL IDENTIFICATION CARDS TO RESIDENTS OF THIS STATE NOT POSSESSING A DRIVER'S LICENSE.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

Section 1.  Chapter 20 of the General Statutes is hereby amended by adding a new Article as follows:

"Article 2B.

"Special Identification Cards for Nonoperators.

"§ 20-37.7.  Special identification card — (a) The Department of Motor Vehicles shall upon satisfactory proof of identification issue a special identification card to any person 16 years or older who is a resident of the State of North Carolina and for any reason does not possess a valid driver's license issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles.

(b)        Every application for a special identification card shall be made upon the approved form furnished by the Department.

(c)        A special identification card issued under this section shall be similar in size, shape, and design to a driver's license and shall include a photograph, but the card shall be of a distinctive color and shall clearly state that it does not enable the person to whom it is issued to operate a motor vehicle.

(d)        A special identification card shall not expire but may be reissued. The fee for the issuance or reissuance of a special identification card shall be one dollar ($1.00) and shall be placed in the 'operator's and chauffeur's license fund' for use as provided in G.S. 20-7(j).

(e)        Any fraud or misrepresentation in the application for or use of a special identification card issued under this section is a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars ($500.00) or by imprisonment of 90 days, or both.

(f)         The Department of Motor Vehicles shall maintain hard copies of applications and information pertaining to the recipients of a special identification card and such indices as deemed appropriate, but such information shall not be required to be computerized. The Department may promulgate any rules and regulations it deems necessary for the effective implementation of the provisions of this section.

(g)        The fact of issuance of a special identification card pursuant to this section shall not place upon the State of North Carolina or any agency thereof any liability for the misuse thereof and the acceptance thereof as valid identification is a matter left entirely to the discretion of any person to whom such card is presented.

(h)        The Department may utilize the various communications media throughout the State to inform North Carolina residents of the provisions of this section."

Sec. 2.  This act shall become effective on October 1, 1973.

In the General Assembly read three times and ratified, this the 10th day of May, 1973.