NC General Statutes

N.C. Gen. Stat. § 20-17 (2026)

Mandatory revocation of license by Division

✓ current as of July 2026

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(a) The Division shall forthwith revoke the license of any driver upon receiving a record of the driver's conviction for any of the following offenses:

(1) Manslaughter (or negligent homicide) resulting from the operation of a motor vehicle.

(2) Either of the following impaired driving offenses:

a. Impaired driving under G.S. 20-138.1.

b. Impaired driving under G.S. 20-138.2, if the driver's alcohol concentration level was .06 or higher. For the purposes of this sub-subdivision, the driver's alcohol concentration level result, obtained by chemical analysis, shall be conclusive and is not subject to modification by any party, with or without approval by the court.

(3) Any felony in the commission of which a motor vehicle is used.

(4) Repealed by Session Laws 2025-71, s. 7(a), effective December 1, 2025, and applicable to offenses committed on or after that date.

(5) Perjury or the making of a false affidavit or statement under oath to the Division under this Article or under any other law relating to the ownership of motor vehicles.

(6) Conviction, within a period of 12 months, of (i) two charges of reckless driving, (ii) two charges of aggressive driving, or (iii) one or more charges of reckless driving and one or more charges of aggressive driving.

(7) Conviction upon one charge of aggressive driving or reckless driving while engaged in the illegal transportation of intoxicants for the purpose of sale.

(8) Conviction of using a false or fictitious name or giving a false or fictitious address in any application for a drivers license, or learner's permit, or any renewal or duplicate thereof, or knowingly making a false statement or knowingly concealing a material fact or otherwise committing a fraud in any such application or procuring or knowingly permitting or allowing another to commit any of the foregoing acts.

(9) Any offense set forth under G.S. 20-141.4.

(10) Repealed by Session Laws 1997-443, s. 19.26(b).

(11) Conviction of assault with a motor vehicle.

(12) A second or subsequent conviction of transporting an open container of alcoholic beverage under G.S. 20-138.7.

(13) A second or subsequent conviction, as defined in G.S. 20-138.2A(d), of driving a commercial motor vehicle after consuming alcohol under G.S. 20-138.2A.

(14) A conviction of driving a school bus, school activity bus, or child care vehicle after consuming alcohol under G.S. 20-138.2B.

(15) A conviction of malicious use of an explosive or incendiary device to damage property (G.S. 14-49(b) and (b1)); making a false report concerning a destructive device in a public building (G.S. 14-69.1(c)); perpetrating a hoax concerning a destructive device in a public building (G.S. 14-69.2(c)); possessing or carrying a dynamite cartridge, bomb, grenade, mine, or powerful explosive on educational property (G.S. 14-269.2(b1)); or causing, encouraging, or aiding a minor to possess or carry a dynamite cartridge, bomb, grenade, mine, or powerful explosive on educational property (G.S. 14-269.2(c1)).

(16) A second or subsequent conviction of larceny of motor fuel under G.S. 14-72.5. A conviction for violating G.S. 14-72.5 is a second or subsequent conviction if at the time of the current offense the person has a previous conviction under G.S. 14-72.5 that occurred in the seven years immediately preceding the date of the current offense.

(17) A third or subsequent conviction of operating a private passenger automobile with prohibited modifications on any highway or public vehicular area under G.S. 20-135.4(d). A conviction for violating G.S. 20-135.4(d) is a third or subsequent conviction if at the time of the current infraction the person has two or more previous convictions under G.S. 20-135.4 that occurred in the 12 months immediately preceding the date of the current infraction.

(b) On the basis of information provided by the child support enforcement agency or the clerk of court, the Division shall:

(1) Ensure that no license or right to operate a motor vehicle under this Chapter is renewed or issued to an obligor who is delinquent in making child support payments when a court of record has issued a revocation order pursuant to G.S. 110-142.2 or G.S. 50-13.12. The obligor shall not be entitled to any other hearing before the Division as a result of the revocation of his license pursuant to G.S. 110-142.2 or G.S. 50-13.12; or

(2) Revoke the drivers license of any person who has willfully failed to complete court-ordered community service and a court has issued a revocation order. This revocation shall continue until the Division receives certification from the clerk of court that the person has completed the court-ordered community service. No person whose drivers license is revoked pursuant to this subdivision shall be entitled to any other hearing before the Division as a result of this revocation. (1935, c. 52, s. 12; 1947, c. 1067, s. 14; 1967, c. 1098, s. 2; 1971, c. 619, s. 7; 1973, c. 18, s. 1; c. 1081, s. 3; c. 1330, s. 2; 1975, c. 716, s. 5; c. 831; 1979, c. 667, ss. 20, 41; 1981, c. 412, s. 4; c. 747, s. 66; 1983, c. 435, s. 15; 1989, c. 771, s. 11; 1991, c. 726, s. 7; 1993 (Reg. Sess., 1994), c. 761, s. 1; 1995, c. 506, s. 7; c. 538, s. 2(b); 1997-234, s. 3; 1997-443, s. 19.26(b); 1998-182, s. 18; 1999-257, s. 4.1; 2001-352, s. 3; 2001-487, s. 52; 2004-193, ss. 4, 5; 2006-253, s. 22.2; 2007-493, s. 2; 2021-128, s. 2; 2025-71, s. 7(a).)

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 40 cases, 1944–2008 · leading case: Winesett v. Scheidt, 79 S.E.2d 501 (N.C. 1954).

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Winesett v. Scheidt, 79 S.E.2d 501 (N.C. 1954). · cites it 19× “Thus it would seem that the mandatory revocation prescribed by G.S. § 20-17 in consequence of conviction for driving a motor vehicle while under the influence of intoxicating liquor is not reviewable under G.”

Person v. Garrett, Comr. of Motor Vehs., 184 S.E.2d 873 (N.C. 1971). · cites it 9× “We quote pertinent portions of G.S. 20-17 and G.S. 20-16: § 20-17. Mandatory revocation of license by Department.”

Bio-Med. Applications of North Carolina, Inc. v. North Carolina Dep't of Health & Human Servs., 634 S.E.2d 572 (N.C. Ct. App. 2006). · cites it 4× “2d 338, 340 (1990) (The petitioner, whose driving privilege was mandatorily suspended under N.C. Gen. Stat. §§ 20-17 (2) and 20-19(e), did not have the right to appeal under this Chapter.”

Sumler v. City of Winston-Salem, 448 F. Supp. 519 (M.D.N.C. 1978). · cites it 6× “Section 20-17 of the Code of the City of Winston-Salem, in effect at the time of the plaintiff’s dismissal, provided: “A department head may demote or dismiss any city employee for good cause.”

Davis v. Hiatt, 390 S.E.2d 338 (N.C. 1990). · cites it 5× “G.S. § 20-17(2) and N.C.G.S. § 20-19(e) and the petitioner did not have the right to appeal under N.”

Harrell v. Scheidt, 92 S.E.2d 182 (N.C. 1956). · cites it 6× “*738 G.S. 20-17 is captioned “MANDATORY RevoCation op LiceNSe by DEPARTMENT,” and reads: “The Department shall forthwith revoke the license of any operator or chauffeur upon receiving a record of such operator’s or chauffeur’s conviction for any of the following offenses when…”

State v. Bowes, 583 S.E.2d 294 (N.C. Ct. App. 2003). · cites it 7× “3(e) provides that "[a] limited driving privilege issued under this section authorizes a person to drive if his license is revoked solely under G.S. 20-17(a)(2) ...; if the person's license is revoked under any other statute, the limited driving privilege is invalid.”

In Re Austin, 169 S.E.2d 20 (N.C. Ct. App. 1969). · cites it 10× “"There is no right of judicial review when the revocation is mandatory pursuant to the *23 provisions of G.S. § 20-17." Carmichael v. Scheidt, Comr.”

Cole v. Faulkner, 573 S.E.2d 614 (N.C. Ct. App. 2002). · cites it 2× “In Davis , the petitioner’s driving privileges were permanently revoked pursuant to N.C. Gen. Stat. § 20-17 (2), and, as here, N.”

Barbour v. Scheidt, 97 S.E.2d 855 (N.C. 1957). · cites it 3× “In-this v isions of G.S. 20-17, it is mandatory upon the Department of Motor Vehicles to revoke the license of any operator upon receiving the record of such operator’s conviction for any one of certain enumerated offenses when such conviction has become final.”

State v. Teasley, 176 S.E.2d 838 (N.C. Ct. App. 1970). · cites it 2× “” Upon conviction in North Carolina of two charges of reckless driving committed within a period of twelve months, it is mandatory, under the provisions of G.S. 20-17(6) and G.”

Underwood v. Howland, 164 S.E.2d 2 (N.C. 1968). “20-16(a)(1), or G.S. 20-17. Furthermore, since Gibson was not charged with and convicted of the offense of driving while his license was suspended or revoked, as he might have been, the Department of Motor Vehicles was without authority to revoke his license under G.”

Show all 40 citing cases →

— N.C. Gen. Stat. § 20-17(2) — 11 cases

Davis v. Hiatt, 390 S.E.2d 338 (N.C. 1990). “G.S. § 20-17(2) and N.C.G.S. § 20-19(e) and the petitioner did not have the right to appeal under N.”

Bio-Med. Applications of North Carolina, Inc. v. North Carolina Dep't of Health & Human Servs., 634 S.E.2d 572 (N.C. Ct. App. 2006). “2d 338, 340 (1990) (The petitioner, whose driving privilege was mandatorily suspended under N.C. Gen. Stat. §§ 20-17 (2) and 20-19(e), did not have the right to appeal under this Chapter.”

In Re Austin, 169 S.E.2d 20 (N.C. Ct. App. 1969). “"There is no right of judicial review when the revocation is mandatory pursuant to the *23 provisions of G.S. § 20-17." Carmichael v. Scheidt, Comr.”

Harrell v. Scheidt, 92 S.E.2d 182 (N.C. 1956). “*738 G.S. 20-17 is captioned “MANDATORY RevoCation op LiceNSe by DEPARTMENT,” and reads: “The Department shall forthwith revoke the license of any operator or chauffeur upon receiving a record of such operator’s or chauffeur’s conviction for any of the following offenses when…”

State v. Curtis, 326 S.E.2d 90 (N.C. Ct. App. 1985).

— N.C. Gen. Stat. § 20-17(3) — 1 case

Evans v. Roberson, 317 S.E.2d 715 (N.C. Ct. App. 1984).

— N.C. Gen. Stat. § 20-17(6) — 4 cases

Person v. Garrett, Comr. of Motor Vehs., 184 S.E.2d 873 (N.C. 1971). “We quote pertinent portions of G.S. 20-17 and G.S. 20-16: § 20-17. Mandatory revocation of license by Department.”

State v. Teasley, 176 S.E.2d 838 (N.C. Ct. App. 1970). “” Upon conviction in North Carolina of two charges of reckless driving committed within a period of twelve months, it is mandatory, under the provisions of G.S. 20-17(6) and G.”

Snyder v. Scheidt, 97 S.E.2d 461 (N.C. 1957).

Simpson v. Garrett, 190 S.E.2d 251 (N.C. Ct. App. 1972).

— N.C. Gen. Stat. § 20-17(a)(2) — 2 cases

State v. Bowes, 583 S.E.2d 294 (N.C. Ct. App. 2003). “3(e) provides that "[a] limited driving privilege issued under this section authorizes a person to drive if his license is revoked solely under G.S. 20-17(a)(2) ...; if the person's license is revoked under any other statute, the limited driving privilege is invalid.”

State v. Benbow, 610 S.E.2d 297 (N.C. Ct. App. 2005).

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