Non-impaired driving based limited driving privileges are a complex but wonderful addition to North Carolina’s statutory authority. This statute, N.C.G.S. 20-20.1, requires close reading, and is failrly complex.

Essentially, these privileges are effective when the revocation period for an underlying offense has expired, and an individual is now revoked solely under 20-28(a) or 20-28.1. A person must wait out a “compliance period,” 90 days if facing a one year revocation, one year if facing a two year revocation, and 2 years if permanently revoked.

The petition is considered a civil action, with all of the costs (civil filing fees and limited privilege fee) that entails.

Geographic boundaries, routes and times may apply for work-related driving reasons that fall outside of the standard hours and days.

The best news is this: these privileges remain valid for only one year or less (if the remaining revocation period is less than a year). Afterwards, the DMV must reinstate the person’s license upon payment of the restoration fee, proof of financial responsibility, and proof required for reinstatement in accordance with N.C.G.S. 20-28(c1) (i.e., no current revocations).