GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2003
SESSION LAW 2004-131
SENATE BILL 1144
AN ACT to authorize the Division of Motor Vehicles to issue an "In god we trust" special registration plate with the proceeds going to the aubrey Mclellan soldier and airman assistance fund for families of deployed north carolina national guardsmen.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1. G.S. 20-63(b) reads as rewritten:
"(b) Every license plate shall have displayed upon it 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".
Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, 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 a "First in Flight" 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 plate shall depict the Wright Brothers biplane flying over Kitty Hawk Beach, with the plane flying slightly upward and to the right. The following special registration plates do not have to be a "First in Flight" plate. 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.
(1) Friends of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
(2) Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation.
(3) Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation.
(4) Friends of the Appalachian Trail.
(5) NC Coastal Federation.
(6) In God We Trust."
SECTION 2. G.S. 20-79.4(b) is amended by adding a new subdivision to read:
"(b) Types. - The Division shall issue the following types of special registration plates:
…
(19a) In God We Trust. - Issuable to the registered owner of a motor vehicle in accordance with G.S. 20-81.12. The plate shall bear the phrase 'In God We Trust.'
(19a)(19b)
International Association of Fire Fighters. - Issuable to a member of the
International Association of Fire Fighters. The plate shall bear the logo of
the International Association of Fire Fighters. The Division may not issue the
plate authorized by this subdivision unless it receives at least 300
applications for the plate."
SECTION 3. G.S. 20-79.7(a) reads as rewritten:
"§ 20-79.7. Fees for special registration plates and distribution of the fees.
(a) Fees. - Upon request, the Division shall provide and issue free of charge one registration plate to a recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor, a 100% disabled veteran, and an ex-prisoner of war. All other special registration plates, including additional Congressional Medal of Honor, 100% Disabled Veteran, and Ex-Prisoner of War plates, are subject to the regular motor vehicle registration fee in G.S. 20-87 or G.S. 20-88 plus an additional fee in the following amount:
Special Plate Additional Fee Amount
Crystal Coast $30.00
Historical Attraction $30.00
In God We Trust $30.00
Personalized $30.00
State Attraction $30.00
Buffalo Soldiers $25.00
Collegiate Insignia $25.00
Goodness Grows $25.00
Kids First $25.00
Olympic Games $25.00
NC Agribusiness $25.00
NC Coastal Federation $25.00
Nurses $25.00
Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation $25.00
Special Olympics $25.00
Surveyor Plate $25.00
The V Foundation for Cancer Research Division $25.00
University Health Systems of Eastern Carolina $25.00
Animal Lovers $20.00
Audubon North Carolina $20.00
Be Active NC $20.00
Ducks Unlimited $20.00
Harley Owners' Group $20.00
First in Forestry $20.00
Litter Prevention $20.00
March of Dimes $20.00
Omega Psi Phi Fraternity $20.00
Save the Sea Turtles $20.00
Scenic Rivers $20.00
School Technology $20.00
Soil and Water Conservation $20.00
Special Forces Association $20.00
Support Public Schools $20.00
Wildlife Resources $20.00
Zeta Phi Beta Sorority $20.00
Active Member of the National Guard None
100% Disabled Veteran None
Ex-Prisoner of War None
Legion of Valor None
Purple Heart Recipient None
Silver Star Recipient None
All Other Special Plates $10.00."
SECTION 4. G.S. 20-79.7(b) reads as rewritten:
"(b) Distribution of Fees. - The Special Registration Plate Account and the Collegiate and Cultural Attraction Plate Account are established within the Highway Fund. The Division must credit the additional fee imposed for the special registration plates listed in subsection (a) among the Special Registration Plate Account (SRPA), the Collegiate and Cultural Attraction Plate Account (CCAPA), the Natural Heritage Trust Fund (NHTF), which is established under G.S. 113-77.7, and the Parks and Recreation Trust Fund, which is established under G.S. 113-44.15, as follows:
Special Plate SRPA CCAPA NHTF PRTF
Animal Lovers $10 $10 0 0
Audubon North Carolina $10 $10 0 0
Be Active NC $10 $10 0 0
Buffalo Soldiers $10 $15 0 0
Crystal Coast $10 $20 0 0
Ducks Unlimited $10 $10 0 0
First in Forestry $10 0 $10 0
Goodness Grows $10 $15 0 0
Harley Owners' Group $10 $10 0 0
Historical Attraction $10 $20 0 0
In God We Trust $10 $20 0 0
In-State Collegiate Insignia $10 $15 0 0
Kids First $10 $15 0 0
Litter Prevention $10 $10 0 0
March of Dimes $10 $10 0 0
NC Agribusiness $10 $15 0 0
NC Coastal Federation $10 $15 0 0
Nurses $10 $15 0 0
Olympic Games $10 $15 0 0
Omega Psi Phi Fraternity $10 $10 0 0
Out-of-state Collegiate Insignia $10 0 $15 0
Personalized $10 0 $15 $5
Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation $10 $15 0 0
Save the Sea Turtles $10 $10 0 0
Scenic Rivers $10 $10 0 0
School Technology $10 $10 0 0
Soil and Water Conservation $10 $10 0 0
Special Forces Association $10 $10 0 0
Special Olympics $10 $15 0 0
State Attraction $10 $20 0 0
Support Public Schools $10 $10 0 0
Surveyor Plate $10 $15 0 0
The V Foundation for
Cancer Research $10 $15 0 0
University Health Systems of
Eastern Carolina $10 $15 0 0
Wildlife Resources $10 $10 0 0
Zeta Phi Beta Sorority $10 $10 0 0
All other Special Plates $10 0 0 0."
SECTION 5. G.S. 20-81.12 is amended by adding a new subsection to read:
"(b31) In God We Trust. - The Division must receive 300 or more applications for the In God We Trust plate before the plate may be developed. The Division shall transfer quarterly the money in the Collegiate and Cultural Attraction Plate Account derived from the sale of the In God We Trust plates to the Department of Crime Control and Public Safety to be deposited into The N.C. National Guard Soldiers and Airmen Assistance Fund of The Minuteman Partnership to help provide assistance to the families of North Carolina National Guardsmen who have been activated and deployed in federal service."
SECTION 6. This act is effective when it becomes law.
In the General Assembly read three times and ratified this the 8th day of July, 2004.
s/ Beverly E. Perdue
President of the Senate
s/ Richard T. Morgan
Speaker of the House of Representatives
s/ Michael F. Easley
Governor
Approved 11:22 a.m. this 29th day of July, 2004