NORTH CAROLINA GENERAL ASSEMBLY
1981 SESSION

CHAPTER 750
SENATE BILL 50

AN ACT TO PLACE THE PHRASE "FIRST IN FLIGHT" AND A REPRESENTATION OF THE WRIGHT BROTHERS' AIRPLANE ON REGISTRATION PLATES.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

Section 1. G.S. 20‑63 is amended by adding the following sentences to the end of subsection (b):
"Subject to the provisions hereof, every private passenger vehicle and all private hauler vehicles licensed for 4,000 pounds gross weight registration plate manufactured for use after January 1, 1982, 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 Department shall deplete the license plates in stock, on order, or for which a contract has been signed at the time of the ratification of this bill. Until all of the license plates previously referred to have been depleted, all plates issued to replace faded, worn‑out or damaged plates shall be regular plates. Any person desiring to trade in a regular plate and thereby secure a First in Flight plate may do so by paying the fee provided in G.S. 20‑85(5). As soon as feasible, but not later than July 1, 1983, all newly issued plates shall be issued as First in Flight plates; and as soon as feasible, but not later than January 1, 1984, all Special Issue, official and personalized plates shall be issued as First in Flight plates. Beginning July 1, 1983, the Department shall, as the same comes up for renewal, begin systematically replacing all regular license plates with First in Flight license plates beginning with the oldest series of existing plates and continuing thereafter on a staggered basis."
Sec. 2. This act is effective upon ratification.
In the General Assembly read three times and ratified, this the 1st day of July, 1981.