§ 20-16. Authority of Division to suspend license. - North Carolina Statutes

§ 20‑16.  Authority ofDivision to suspend license.

(a)        The Division shallhave authority to suspend the license of any operator with or without apreliminary hearing upon a showing by its records or other satisfactoryevidence that the licensee:

(1)        through (4) Repealedby Session Laws 1979, c. 36;

(5)        Has, under theprovisions of subsection (c) of this section, within a three‑year period,accumulated 12 or more points, or eight or more points in the three‑yearperiod immediately following the reinstatement of a license which has beensuspended or revoked because of a conviction for one or more traffic offenses;

(6)        Has made orpermitted an unlawful or fraudulent use of such license or a learner's permit,or has displayed or represented as his own, a license or learner's permit notissued to him;

(7)        Has committed anoffense in another state, which if committed in this State would be grounds forsuspension or revocation;

(8)        Has been convictedof illegal transportation of alcoholic beverages;

(8a)      Has been convicted ofimpaired instruction under G.S. 20‑12.1;

(8b)      Has violated on amilitary installation a regulation of that installation prohibiting conductsubstantially similar to conduct that constitutes impaired driving under G.S.20‑138.1 and, as a result of that violation, has had his privilege todrive on that installation revoked or suspended after an administrative hearingauthorized by the commanding officer of the installation and that commandingofficer has general court martial jurisdiction;

(9)        Has, within a periodof 12 months, been convicted of (i) two or more charges of speeding in excessof 55 and not more than 80 miles per hour, (ii) one or more charges of recklessdriving and one or more charges of speeding in excess of 55 and not more than 80miles per hour, or (iii) one or more charges of aggressive driving and one ormore charges of speeding in excess of 55 and not more than 80 miles per hour;

(10)      Has been convicted ofoperating a motor vehicle at a speed in excess of 75 miles per hour on a publicroad or highway where the maximum speed is less than 70 miles per hour;

(10a)    Has been convicted ofoperating a motor vehicle at a speed in excess of 80 miles per hour on a publichighway where the maximum speed is 70 miles per hour; or

(11)      Has been sentenced bya court of record and all or a part of the sentence has been suspended and acondition of suspension of the sentence is that the operator not operate amotor vehicle for a period of time.

However, if the Division revokeswithout a preliminary hearing and the person whose license is being revokedrequests a hearing before the effective date of the revocation, the licenseeretains his license unless it is revoked under some other provision of the law,until the hearing is held, the person withdraws his request, or he fails toappear at a scheduled hearing.

(b)        Pending an appealfrom a conviction of any violation of the motor vehicle laws of this State, nodriver's license shall be suspended by the Division of Motor Vehicles becauseof such conviction or because of evidence of the commission of the offense forwhich the conviction has been had.

(c)        The Division shallmaintain a record of convictions of every person licensed or required to belicensed under the provisions of this Article as an operator and shall entertherein records of all convictions of such persons for any violation of themotor vehicle laws of this State and shall assign to the record of such person,as of the date of commission of the offense, a number of points for every suchconviction in accordance with the following schedule of convictions and points,except that points shall not be assessed for convictions resulting insuspensions or revocations under other provisions of laws: Further, any pointsheretofore charged for violation of the motor vehicle inspection laws shall notbe considered by the Division of Motor Vehicles as a basis for suspension orrevocation of driver's license:

Schedule of Point Values

Passingstopped school bus............................................................................................. 5

Aggressivedriving........................................................................................................... 5

Recklessdriving.............................................................................................................. 4

Hitand run, property damage only................................................................................... 4

Followingtoo close......................................................................................................... 4

Drivingon wrong side of road......................................................................................... 4

Illegalpassing.................................................................................................................. 4

Failureto yield right‑of‑way to pedestrian

pursuantto G.S. 20‑158(b)(2)b.      ............................................................................... 4

Failureto yield right‑of‑way to bicycle,

motorscooter, or motorcycle.......................................................................................... 4

Runningthrough stop sign................................................................................................ 3

Speedingin excess of 55 miles per hour........................................................................... 3

Failingto yield right‑of‑way............................................................................................. 3

Runningthrough red light................................................................................................. 3

Nodriver's license or license expired more than one year................................................. 3

Failureto stop for siren................................................................................................... 3

Drivingthrough safety zone.............................................................................................. 3

Noliability insurance....................................................................................................... 3

Failureto report accident where such report is required................................................... 3

Speedingin a school zone in excess of the posted school

zonespeed limit.............................................................................................................. 3

Failureto properly restrain a child in a restraint or seat belt............................................... 2

Allother moving violations............................................................................................... 2

Litteringpursuant to G.S. 14‑399 when the littering

involvesthe use of a motor vehicle................................................................................... 1

Schedule of Point Values for Violations WhileOperating a Commercial Motor Vehicle

Passingstopped school bus............................................................................................. 8

Rail‑highwaycrossing violation........................................................................................ 6

Carelessand reckless driving in violation of

G.S.20‑140(f)............................................................................................................... 6

Speedingin violation of G.S. 20‑141(j3)......................................................................... 6

Aggressivedriving........................................................................................................... 6

Recklessdriving.............................................................................................................. 5

Hitand run, property damage only................................................................................... 5

Followingtoo close......................................................................................................... 5

Drivingon wrong side of road......................................................................................... 5

Illegalpassing.................................................................................................................. 5

Failureto yield right‑of‑way to pedestrian

pursuantto G.S. 20‑158(b)(2)b...................................................................................... 5

Failureto yield right‑of‑way to bicycle,

motorscooter, or motorcycle.......................................................................................... 5

Runningthrough stop sign................................................................................................ 4

Speedingin excess of 55 miles per hour........................................................................... 4

Failingto yield right‑of‑way............................................................................................. 4

Runningthrough red light................................................................................................. 4

Nodriver's license or license expired more than one year................................................. 4

Failureto stop for siren................................................................................................... 4

Drivingthrough safety zone.............................................................................................. 4

Noliability insurance....................................................................................................... 4

Failureto report accident where such report is required................................................... 4

Speedingin a school zone in excess of the posted school

zonespeed limit.............................................................................................................. 4

Possessingalcoholic beverages in the passenger area of

acommercial motor vehicle............................................................................................. 4

Allother moving violations............................................................................................... 3

Litteringpursuant to G.S. 14‑399 when the littering

involvesthe use of a motor vehicle................................................................................... 1

The above provisions of thissubsection shall only apply to violations and convictions which take placewithin the State of North Carolina. The Schedule of Point Values for ViolationsWhile Operating a Commercial Motor Vehicle shall not apply to any commercialmotor vehicle known as an "aerial lift truck" having a hydraulic armand bucket station, and to any commercial motor vehicle known as a "linetruck" having a hydraulic lift for cable, if the vehicle is owned,operated by or under contract to a public utility, electric or telephonemembership corporation or municipality and used in connection withinstallation, restoration or maintenance of utility services.

No points shall be assessedfor conviction of the following offenses:

Overloads

Over length

Over width

Over height

Illegal parking

Carrying concealed weapon

Improper plates

Improper registration

Improper muffler

Improper display of licenseplates or dealers' tags

Unlawful display of emblemsand insignia

Failure to display currentinspection certificate.

In case of the conviction of alicensee of two or more traffic offenses committed on a single occasion, suchlicensee shall be assessed points for one offense only and if the offensesinvolved have a different point value, such licensee shall be assessed for theoffense having the greater point value.

Upon the restoration of thelicense or driving privilege of such person whose license or driving privilegehas been suspended or revoked because of conviction for a traffic offense, anypoints that might previously have been accumulated in the driver's record shallbe cancelled.

Whenever any licenseeaccumulates as many as seven points or accumulates as many as four pointsduring a three‑year period immediately following reinstatement of hislicense after a period of suspension or revocation, the Division may requestthe licensee to attend a conference regarding such licensee's driving record.The Division may also afford any licensee who has accumulated as many as sevenpoints or any licensee who has accumulated as many as four points within athree‑year period immediately following reinstatement of his licenseafter a period of suspension or revocation an opportunity to attend a driverimprovement clinic operated by the Division and, upon the successful completionof the course taken at the clinic, three points shall be deducted from thelicensee's conviction record; provided, that only one deduction of points shallbe made on behalf of any licensee within any five‑year period.

When a license is suspendedunder the point system provided for herein, the first such suspension shall befor not more than 60 days; the second such suspension shall not exceed sixmonths and any subsequent suspension shall not exceed one year.

Whenever the driver's licenseof any person is subject to suspension under this subsection and at the sametime also subject to suspension or revocation under other provisions of laws,such suspensions or revocations shall run concurrently.

In the discretion of theDivision, a period of probation not to exceed one year may be substituted forsuspension or for any unexpired period of suspension under subsections (a)(1)through (a)(10a) of this section. Any violation of probation during theprobation period shall result in a suspension for the unexpired remainder ofthe suspension period. Any accumulation of three or more points under thissubsection during a period of probation shall constitute a violation of thecondition of probation.

(d)        Upon suspending thelicense of any person as authorized in this section, the Division shallimmediately notify the licensee in writing and upon his request shall affordhim an opportunity for a hearing, not to exceed 60 days after receipt of therequest, unless a preliminary hearing was held before his license was suspended.Upon such hearing the duly authorized agents of the Division may administeroaths and may issue subpoenas for the attendance of witnesses and theproduction of relevant books and papers and may require a reexamination of thelicensee. Upon such hearing the Division shall either rescind its order ofsuspension, or good cause appearing therefor, may extend the suspension of suchlicense. Provided further upon such hearing, preliminary or otherwise,involving subsections (a)(1) through (a)(10a) of this section, the Division mayfor good cause appearing in its discretion substitute a period of probation notto exceed one year for the suspension or for any unexpired period ofsuspension. Probation shall mean any written agreement between the suspendeddriver and a duly authorized representative of the Division and such period ofprobation shall not exceed one year, and any violation of the probationagreement during the probation period shall result in a suspension for theunexpired remainder of the suspension period. The authorized agents of theDivision shall have the same powers in connection with a preliminary hearingprior to suspension as this subsection provided in connection with hearingsheld after suspension. These agents shall also have the authority to takepossession of a surrendered license on behalf of the Division if the suspensionis upheld and the licensee requests that the suspension begin immediately.

(e)        The Division mayconduct driver improvement clinics for the benefit of those who have beenconvicted of one or more violations of this Chapter. Each driver attending adriver improvement clinic shall pay a fee of fifty dollars ($50.00).

(e1)      Notwithstanding anyother provision of this Chapter, if the Division suspends the license of anoperator pursuant to subdivisions (a)(9), (a)(10), or (a)(10a) of this section,upon the first suspension only, a district court judge may allow the licensee alimited driving privilege or license for a period not to exceed 12 months,provided he has not been convicted of any other motor vehicle moving violationwithin the previous 12 months. The limited driving privilege shall be issued inthe same manner and under the terms and conditions prescribed in G.S. 20‑16.1(b)(1),(2), (3), (4), and (5).

(e2)      If the Divisionrevokes a person's drivers license pursuant to G.S. 20‑17(a)(16), a judgemay allow the licensee a limited driving privilege for a period not to exceedthe period of revocation. The limited driving privilege shall be issued in thesame manner and under the terms and conditions prescribed in G.S. 20‑16.1(b)(1),(2), (3), (4), (5), and (g). (1935, c. 52, s. 11; 1947, c. 893, ss. 1, 2; c. 1067,s. 13; 1949, c. 373, ss. 1, 2; c. 1032, s. 2; 1953, c. 450; 1955, c. 1152, s.15; c. 1187, ss. 9‑12; 1957, c. 499, s. 1; 1959, c. 1242, ss. 1‑2;1961, c. 460, ss. 1, 2(a); 1963, c. 1115; 1965, c. 130; 1967, c. 16; 1971, c.234, ss. 1, 2; c. 793, ss. 1, 2; c. 1198, ss. 1, 2; 1973, c. 17, ss. 1, 2;1975, c. 716, s. 5; 1977, c. 902, s. 1; 1979, c. 36; c. 667, ss. 18, 41; 1981,c. 412, s. 4; c. 747, ss. 33, 66; 1981 (Reg. Sess., 1982), c. 1256; 1983, c.435, s. 10; c. 538, ss. 3‑5; c. 798; 1983 (Reg. Sess., 1984), c. 1101, s.4; 1987, c. 744, ss. 1, 2; 1987 (Reg. Sess., 1988), c. 1037, s. 75; 1989, c.784, s. 9; 1991, c. 682, s. 3; 1999‑330, s. 7; 1999‑452, s. 10;2000‑109, s. 7(d); 2000‑117, s. 2; 2000‑155, s. 10; 2001‑352,s. 2; 2004‑172, s. 3; 2004‑193, ss. 2, 3; 2005‑276, s.44.1(d).)