Written by THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

The mandatory supervised driving period in North Carolina for young people before they can drive by themselves will be scaled back permanently after Gov. Roy Cooper said on Friday he’ll let a bill become law without his signature.

The General Assembly sent Cooper last month legislation addressing in part when a teen can move up from a learner’s permit to what’s called a limited provisional license and drive by themselves.

State law has required a young person to hold the permit for at least 12 months, although lawmakers reduced it to six months temporarily during the COVID-19 pandemic to address delayed driver’s education classes.

The law reverted to 12 months at the end of 2022, but legislators said they were still receiving complaints from parents whose children are trying to get to the next level of driving. So the latest measure reinstates the six-month minimum for the rest of 2023 before settling the time at nine months.

In a news release, Cooper recognized that the legislation passed the General Assembly by a large margin because it should help reduce waiting times for youths seeking their license.

But “I have concerns that this law could make our roads less safe and I encourage the Division of Motor Vehicles and the legislature to monitor its effects closely,” the governor said. Cooper had until Friday night to sign the bill or veto it. Since he’ll do neither, it will become law.

Other rules remain in place. A young driver is eligible to obtain a learner’s permit at age 15 but must be at least 16 to move up to the limited provisional license. In between, the youth must complete 60 hours of supervised driving with an adult — usually a parent — and pass a road test.

As regulations around young drivers’ permit durations undergo adjustments, it’s equally crucial for individuals, especially parents, to stay informed about consumer protections when purchasing vehicles. Lemon laws, designed to address persistent issues with newly bought automobiles, play a pivotal role in ensuring buyers’ rights. If, despite meeting the stipulated requirements, a vehicle consistently exhibits defects that affect its safety or functionality, consumers have recourse under lemon laws.

To understand how these laws apply in your jurisdiction and to stay abreast of any changes, it’s recommended to explore information on this page. Being aware of your rights as a consumer can be instrumental in navigating potential challenges related to vehicle purchases and ensuring a safe driving experience for young and novice drivers.

The bill also would slightly ease passenger constraints for a limited provisional licensee so that the person could drive someone unrelated to them to and from school. This change begins Aug. 1. The Division of Motor Vehicles said later Friday that the supervised driving period change to six months will take effect starting Monday.

 

Photo by Mathias Reding.

 

Related Stories
‹
North Carolina’s GOP-Controlled House Overrides Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper’s Vetoes
North Carolina's Republican-led House quickly overrode three of Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper's vetoes on Wednesday.
Rep. Buansi is 'Proud to Put Forward' Bill for NC Venus Flytrap License Plate
What is more unlikely: that a state representative’s first bill as a primary sponsor is passed unanimously or that a bill involves the Venus flytrap? For District 56 Rep. Allen Buansi, both of those elements were true earlier this month, as he introduced and helped pass House Bill 734, which aims to formalize a Venus […]
NC Governor Vetoes Another Bill Reining in Emergency Powers
Written by GARY D. ROBERTSON North Carolina Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper on Monday vetoed the latest Republican bill seeking to rein in his powers, this time legislation that would have required other elected leaders to sign off on long-term emergency declarations like those for COVID-19. The governor vetoed a measure that is somewhat similar to […]
NC Officials: Gov’t Surplus Became Even Larger Than Planned
North Carolina’s tax windfall for the last fiscal year turned out even larger than the bonanza that state government economists predicted would arrive due to the recovering economy. The state ended up collecting $29.7 billion in revenues during the year that ended June 30, according to the Office of State Budget & Management. That’s $190 […]
Cooper Vetoes Bill That Would Have Stopped Federal Benefits
Written by GARY D. ROBERTSON Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper vetoed legislation Friday that would have ended additional federal benefits created during the pandemic for North Carolina’s unemployed before the program expires nationwide. His action counters trends by Republican governors to no longer accept the supplemental payments. Cooper said he blocked the measure originating from the […]
N. Carolina Bill Ending Extra $300 Benefits Heads to Cooper
Written by GARY D. ROBERTSON North Carolina would end offering supplemental benefits from the federal government to the state’s unemployed in roughly a month under legislation finalized Wednesday by Republicans in charge of the General Assembly. But House and Senate Democrats voted almost unanimously against the compromise hammered out by GOP leaders from both chambers, […]
Cooper Address Focuses On COVID, Finding Agreement With GOP
Written by GARY D. ROBERTSON North Carolina Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper recalled the pain and courage stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic in his State of the State address Monday, while urging Republicans to cooperate with him this year on health care, education and infrastructure needs. “In a year of hardship and loss, we owe it to […]
NC House Votes for Guardrails on Governor's Emergency Powers
Written by GARY D. ROBERTSON North Carolina’s governor would have to get formal support from other elected leaders to carry out long-term emergency orders in a measure approved Wednesday by the state House. The 69-50 party-line result favored Republicans, who’ve chafed under Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper’s directives during the COVID-19 pandemic and drafted the legislation. Cooper’s […]
N.C. 6-12 Graders OK'd to Return with Less Desk Separation
North Carolina middle schools and high schools are now able to reopen under less stringent social-distancing requirements between students inside the classroom, state health officials announced Tuesday in an easing of pandemic restrictions. Revised guidance for schools previously distinguished between elementary school children and older students, with more social distancing restrictions in place for pupils between […]
Bill Shortens NC Teen Drivers' Wait for Next-Level Permit
The time new teenage drivers must wait to receive a provisional license would be trimmed in legislation approved Monday evening by the state Senate. The measure, which now goes to the House for consideration, also would allow the Division of Motor Vehicles to hire commercial driver training schools to conduct road tests necessary to obtain licenses. […]
›