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HB 864

Traffic Law Revisions/Collegiate Plates.

2025-2026 Session Introduced by Chris Humphrey and 2 co-sponsors

HB 864 tightens slow-driving rules, raises posted minimum speeds on interstates, restricts heavy trucks in left lanes, and adds a new Collegiate Insignia Plate with funding for aca

Reptd Fav Com Substitute
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Bill Summary · HB 864

HB 864 — Traffic Law Revisions / Collegiate Insignia Plates

Status: Reported Favorable Committee Substitute (Reptd Fav Com Substitute)
Introduced: Nov. 12, 2024 (House) — Committee substitute reported 4/30/2025

Summary
HB 864 makes three main changes under North Carolina law: (1) tightens rules against impeding traffic, (2) raises and expands posted minimum operating speeds on the interstate and primary highway system, and (3) revises the process, design options, and revenue distribution rules for collegiate insignia license plates.

Key provisions

  1. Impeding traffic (G.S. 20‑141(h))
  2. Clarifies that a driver may not operate a motor vehicle so slowly that it "impedes the normal and reasonable movement of traffic," except when reduced speed is necessary for safety or compliance with law.
  3. Adds an explicit prohibition on operating a vehicle in the left lane of a multilane highway at a speed that impedes normal traffic flow.

  4. Existing exceptions for farm tractors and vehicles operating at reasonable speeds remain.

  5. Minimum operating speeds on interstates and primary highways (G.S. 20‑141(c))

  6. Updates posted minimum speed requirements for passenger vehicles (effective only where appropriate minimum speed signs are posted). Under the committee substitute the table of minimums includes:

    • 45 mph minimum in a 55 mph zone
    • 50 mph minimum in a 60 mph zone
    • 55 mph minimum in a 65 mph zone
    • 60 mph minimum in a 70 mph zone

  7. The Department of Transportation must replace posted signs to reflect the revised minimums where necessary.

  8. Trucks in left lane (G.S. 20‑146)

  9. Prohibits vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 26,001 pounds or more from operating in the left‑most lane of a controlled‑access highway that has six or more lanes, except when entering or exiting the highway.

  10. Collegiate insignia license plates (G.S. 20‑63(b1) & G.S. 20‑81.12(b30))

  11. Adds a new category, “Collegiate Insignia Plate,” and modifies the application thresholds required before the DMV (Division) may develop a collegiate plate:

    • 300 paid applications required for a plate on a “standard” background (per G.S. 20‑63(b)),
    • 500 paid applications required for a plate on a full‑color background (per G.S. 20‑63(b1)),
    • 100 paid applications required for public military colleges/universities.

  12. Requestors must submit the required paid applications and artwork that comply with design rules; plate color/design/material must be approved by the Division and the institution’s alumni association.

  13. The Division will transfer quarterly proceeds in the Collegiate and Cultural Attraction Plate Account (from in‑State collegiate plate sales) to:

    • the UNC Board of Governors for in‑State public institutions, and
    • the respective boards of trustees for in‑State private institutions, in proportion to the number of plates sold for each institution. Funds are designated for “academic enhancement.”

  14. The Revisor of Statutes is authorized to alphabetize/renumber special registration plates for ordering.

  15. Colleges/universities with plates already in production may convert an existing standard‑background plate to a full‑color background upon submission of approved artwork; holders of converted standard plates may request the full‑color plate at renewal or retain the standard plate until otherwise required to replace it.

Who is affected
- Motorists: new/clarified prohibitions on slow driving in left lanes and changes to posted minimum speeds may affect driving behavior and enforcement.
- Trucking/commercial vehicle operators: left‑lane restrictions apply to heavy vehicles (GVWR ≥ 26,001 lbs.) on certain multi‑lane controlled‑access highways.
- NCDOT: required to update posted minimum‑speed signage where applicable.
- NCDMV (Division): will implement the revised collegiate plate application, approval, production, transfer and accounting processes.
- Colleges/universities and alumni associations: responsible for artwork approval and organizing the required number of paid applications to qualify for plate issuance; will receive proportionate quarterly funds from plate sales for academic uses.
- Vehicle owners with existing collegiate plates: given conversion/renewal options as described.

Effective dates and implementation
- Section 4 (collegiate plates) becomes effective October 1, 2025.
- The remainder of the act (traffic provisions) becomes effective December 1, 2025, and applies to offenses committed on or after that date.
- DOT sign replacement and DMV administrative changes will be required before the effective dates to ensure compliance and proper plate rollout.

Fiscal/administrative notes
- The bill will create administrative tasks for NCDOT (sign replacement) and NCDMV (application processing, plate production, quarterly fund transfers). The bill does not specify appropriations; any implementation costs would be addressed through agency budgets or existing resources.

Procedural status (selection)
- Committee substitute reported favorably 4/30/2025. The bill moved through Transportation and Rules for further action; see agency and legislative records for final chamber passage status.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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