§ 20-37.02. Verification of drivers license information. - North Carolina Statutes

§ 20‑37.02. Verification of drivers license information.

(a)        The Commissionershall establish and operate an electronic system that can be used to verifydrivers licenses and identification cards issued by the Division and the datesof birth on these documents in order to facilitate access to drivers licenseinformation by retailers and persons holding ABC permits to prevent theutilization of fictitious identification for the purpose of underage purchasesof certain age‑restricted products or to commit certain crimes.

(b)        The electronicsystem established and operated by the Commissioner pursuant to subsection (a)of this section shall allow a retailer, as defined in G.S. 105‑164.3(14),a person who holds an ABC permit, as defined in G.S. 18B‑101(2), or anagent of the retailer or a person holding an ABC permit, to verify the validityof a drivers license or identification card issued by the Division and the dateof birth of the person issued the drivers license or identification card. TheCommissioner shall make drivers license and identification card informationavailable in a read‑only format, and the information to be made availableshall not exceed the information contained on the face of the drivers license.The Division shall not keep a record of the inquiry. The retailer or a personholding an ABC permit may retain such information as is necessary to provideevidence that the person's drivers license or identification card was validatedor that the person's age was verified. A retailer or permittee shall agree tocomply with the requirements of this section prior to using the system.

(c)        Except for purposesallowed in this section, a person using the electronic system established inaccordance with subsection (a) of this section shall not collect or retain anyinformation obtained through the use of the electronic system, nor transfer ormake accessible to a third party any information obtained through an inquirypermitted under this section. A violation of the provisions of this subsectionshall be punished as a Class 2 misdemeanor.

(d)        A retailer orpermittee using the electronic system established pursuant to this sectionshall be responsible for the costs of the equipment and communication linesapproved by the Division needed by the retailer or permittee to access thesystem.

(e)        The establishmentand operation of an electronic system pursuant to this section may be fundedthrough grants received from the State, the federal government, a privateentity, or any other funding source made available to the Drivers LicenseTechnology Fund. All funds obtained through grants to the Fund shall beremitted to the State Treasurer to be held in the Drivers License TechnologyFund established in G.S. 20‑37.01. (2001‑461, s. 4.)