§ 20-79.2. Transporter plates.
§ 20‑79.2. Transporterplates.
(a) Who Can Get aPlate. A person engaged in a business requiring the limited operation of amotor vehicle for any of the following purposes may obtain a transporter plateauthorizing the movement of the vehicle for the specific purpose:
(1) To facilitate themanufacture, construction, rebuilding, or delivery of new or used truck cabs orbodies between manufacturer, dealer, seller, or purchaser.
(2) To repossess a motorvehicle.
(3) To pick up a motorvehicle that is to be repaired or otherwise prepared for sale by a dealer, toroad‑test the vehicle, if it is repaired, within a 10‑mile radiusof the place where it is repaired, and to deliver the vehicle to the dealer.
(4) To move a motorvehicle that is owned by the business and is a replaced vehicle offered forsale.
(5) To take a motorvehicle either to or from a motor vehicle auction where the vehicle will be orwas offered for sale.
(6) To road‑test arepaired truck whose GVWR is at least 15,000 pounds when the test is performedwithin a 10‑mile radius of the place where the truck was repaired and thetruck is owned by a person who has a fleet of at least five trucks whose GVWRsare at least 15,000 pounds and who maintains the place where the truck wasrepaired.
(7) To move a mobileoffice, a mobile classroom, or a mobile or manufactured home.
(8) To drive a motorvehicle that is at least 25 years old to and from a parade or another publicevent and to drive the motor vehicle in that event. A person who owns a motorvehicle that is at least 25 years old is considered to be in the business ofcollecting those vehicles.
(9) To drive a motorvehicle that is part of the inventory of a dealer to and from a motor vehicletrade show or exhibition or to, during, and from a parade in which the motorvehicle is used.
(10) To drive specialmobile equipment in any of the following circumstances:
a. From themanufacturer of the equipment to a facility of a dealer.
b. From one facility ofa dealer to another facility of a dealer.
c. From a dealer to theperson who buys the equipment from the dealer.
(b) How to Get a Plate. A person may obtain a transporter plate by filing an application with theDivision and paying the required fee. An application must be on a form providedby the Division and contain the information required by the Division. The feefor a transporter plate is one‑half the fee set in G.S. 20‑87(5)for a passenger motor vehicle of not more than 15 passengers.
(b1) Number of Plates. The total number of transporter and dealer plates issued to a dealer may notexceed the number of dealer plates that can be issued to the dealer under G.S.20‑79(b). This restriction does not apply to a person who is not adealer. Transporter plates issued to a dealer shall bear the words "Dealer‑Transporter."
(b2) Sanctions. Thefollowing sanctions apply when a motor vehicle displaying a "Dealer‑Transporter"license plate is driven in violation of the restrictions on the use of theplate:
(1) The individualdriving the motor vehicle is responsible for an infraction and is subject to apenalty of fifty dollars ($50.00).
(2) The dealer to whomthe plate is issued is subject to a civil penalty imposed by the Division oftwo hundred dollars ($200.00).
(3) The Division mayrescind all dealer license plates issued to the dealer whose plate wasdisplayed on the motor vehicle.
A penalty imposed undersubdivision (1) of this subsection is payable to the county where theinfraction occurred, as required by G.S. 14‑3.1. A civil penalty imposedunder subdivision (2) of this subsection shall be credited to the Highway Fundas nontax revenue.
(c) (See editor'snote) Form, Duration, and Transfer. A transporter plate is a type ofcommercial license plate. A transporter plate issued to a dealer is issued on afiscal‑year basis. A transporter plate issued to a person who is not adealer is issued on a calendar‑year basis. During the year for which itis issued, a person may transfer a transporter plate from one vehicle toanother as long as the vehicle is driven only for a purpose authorized bysubsection (a) of this section. The Division may rescind a transporter platethat is displayed on a motor vehicle driven for a purpose that is notauthorized by subsection (a) of this section.
(d) A county may obtainone transporter plate, without paying a fee, by filing an application with theDivision on a form to be provided by the Division. A transporter plate issuedpursuant to this subsection may only be used to transport motor vehicles aspart of a program established by the county to receive donated motor vehiclesand make them available to low‑income individuals.
If a motor vehicle is operatedon the highways of this State using a transporter plate authorized by thissection, all of the following requirements shall be met:
(1) The driver of thevehicle shall have in his or her possession the certificate of title for themotor vehicle, which has been properly reassigned by the previous owner to thecounty or the affected donor program.
(2) The vehicle shall becovered by liability insurance that meets the requirements of Article 9A ofthis Chapter.
The form and duration of thetransporter plate shall be as provided in subsection (c) of this section. (1961, c. 360, s. 21; 1969,c. 600, s. 1; 1975, c. 222; 1979, c. 473, ss. 1, 2; c. 627, ss. 1‑3;1981, c. 727, ss. 1, 2; 1983, c. 426; 1987, c. 520; 1993, c. 440, s. 4; 1995,c. 50, s. 1; 1997‑335, s. 2; 2001‑147, s. 1.)