NC Highway Patrol Retirees Association

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For several years, the DMV local registration offices across the state has refused to re-register an official NCSHP registration plate to a qualified surviving spouse of a deceased retiree.  Several months ago, a surviving spouse in Alamance County attempted to re-register her deceased husband's retiree NCSHP plate.  The local DMV refused her request and stated hat she had no legal right to register the plate.  She called me and asked if I could help with her problem.  I talked with Joe Dugdale, retired attorney for the CCPS and he said he would look into the legal side.  In  a few days, Joe called and said that he believed that the statute was clear that a surviving spouse under the terms of the statute had a legal right to a re-registration of the retiree plate.  He furnished a copy of the statute.  I mailed a copy to the Alamance spouse and advised her to go to the same DMV office for a registration plate.  In a few days, she called and advised that the office still refused and she requested they call the main DMV office in Raleigh.  They did and after some conversation, the Raleigh DMV still refused to honor the statute.  I talked with Joe and he said he would follow up on the problem.  Joe sent me information whereby, with the cooperation of Colonel Johnson, and the legal section of the DMV, agreed that any surviving spouse of a deceased retiree had a right to re-register an official NCSHP registration plate as long as the spouse met the statute requirement.  Please help with  getting this information to as many retirees and surviving spouses as possible.  Thanks again to Joe Dugdale and Colonel Johnson for their assistance.  Bill Ethridge      FEEL FREE TO COPY THE STATUTE BELOW.

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November 12, 2023

TO: All SHP Retirees and Spouses
FROM: North Carolina Highway Patrol Retirees Association (NCHPRA)

William S. Ethridge, Secretary/Treasurer

SUBJECT: ISSUANCE AND RENEWAL OF RETIRED SHP TAGS UPON DEATH OF

RETIREE

The NCHPRA has received several requests for clarification as to when, if ever, the surviving
spouse of deceased Highway Patrol retiree (sworn or civilian) may be eligible to receive or
renew a Retired State Highway Patrol special registration plate.
The criteria for issuance of this special registration plate is set out in North Carolina Statutory
Law (N.C. Gen. Stat. 20-79.4) which states, in pertinent part, as follows:
N.C.G.S. § 20-79.4.  Special registration plates.

(a) General. - Upon application and payment of the required registration fees, a person
may obtain from the Division a special registration plate for a motor vehicle
registered in that person's name if the person qualifies for the registration plate. . . .

(b)        Types. - The Division shall issue the following types of special registration plates:

(206)    Retired State Highway Patrol. - The plate authorized by this subdivision shall
bear the phrase SHP, Retired. The Division may not issue the plate
authorized by this subdivision unless it receives at least 300 applications for
the plate. The plate is issuable to one of the following:
1.         An individual who has retired from the North Carolina State Highway
Patrol, presenting to the Division, along with the application for the
plate, a copy of the retiree identification card or letter of
retirement.
2.         The surviving spouse of a person who had retired from the State
Highway Patrol who, along with the application for the plate, presents
a copy of the deceased retiree identification card or letter of
retirement and certifies in writing that the retiree is deceased and that
the applicant is not remarried.

As evidenced by the above statute, the surviving spouse of a deceased Highway Patrol employee,
who has not remarried, is lawfully entitled to apply for and to be issued or to renew a previously
issued Retired State Highway Patrol tag provided, at the time of application, the surviving
spouse:

1. Provides DMV with a copy of the deceased spouse’s retired identification card or letter of
retirement; and
2. Certifies in writing that the retiree is deceased and that the applicant has not remarried.

Ideally, DMV will have a pre-printed certification form for the surviving spouse to sign. If not,
the written certification required by the statute may be any typed or handwritten document that
that is signed by the applicant.

I hope this memorandum clarifies any misconceptions or questions related to this important
matter. Please do not hesitate to contact me or any of our association’s officers if you have any
additional questions or we can be of assistance in any way. Contact information for the
NCHPRA can be found on our website www.nchpra.org.

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UPDATE ON THE 95TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION.  EXPECT TO GO TO PRINT LATE SPRING 2024.

On 1 May 2019, I had printed the first copies of "A History of the North Carolina State Highway Patrol".   When I started collecting the history, I made up my mind that I wanted to present the "working history" not just facts, dates and pictures.  Is it a complete history?  Far from it.  I have volumes of research material that I continue to research and edit.  I hope to have a more complete history at some time in the future.

A brief description of this document is as follows; bound with protective covers, front and back.  248 pages of easy to read material set out in years 1921 to 2019.  The majority of the SHP History is from 1929 to 1990.  I have included "Killed in the Line of Duty" up to 2019 with additional important history notes.
There are over 150 pictures included with information attached.  The pictures are in black and white and over half in color.  Due to the large number of colored pictures, the cost of printing has been substantial.  At Staples, the original cost was $42.06.  By ordering a large number of copies, I received a $12.24 discount per copy.  Hence $29.82 per copy.  To receive a copy, the document, SHP History $30.00, cushioned shipping pouch and mailing cost, $8.00.  To break even, I have to charge $38.00 per copy to mail.

If you wish to purchase a copy, please make your check payable to William S. Ethridge, 107 Price Point Drive, Monroe, NC 28110.  Allow 10 to 14 days for delivery.
I have introduced the history document to six retiree meetings across the state.  The reception to the history has been successful.  Thanks to the many retirees that have shared their personal history with me.
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First ever reunion (August 2018) for retirees and family members in Troop G, District 4.  The reunion was held at the Governor's Western Residence with over fifty attending.  They enjoyed a great meal, followed by fellowship and shared experiences.  The G-4 group plan to make this an annual event and encourage all active and retired personnel to join in.
I am developing a new page entitled SHP History.  Its a working history of the Highway Patrol.  Some of you may have seen the initial effort of several years ago.  I have roughed out the history from 1921 to the 1960 era.  I hope to research the history up to the year 1990, the year I retired.  Every day I find that I need to go back and add some information to the earlier years.  If you would like to add some to the history report, please give me a phone call or e-mail.  I'm looking for special events, SHP crisis, timelines to speed detection devices, alcohol breath testing devices, etc.  Example:  What year did the SHP began issuing the "Serving Since" plate that attached to the name plate?  Any information, pictures or material would be appreciated.
Note:  NCHPRA web site publishing policy.  I received a call from a retiree several days ago concerning some information  (sickness) on another retiree.  The information had been sent via the SHP e-mail system.  The SHP and NCHPRA e-mail systems are fairly secure in that it is an invited list.  Generally, any information shared is to a small number of active and retired personnel.  The NCHPRA web site is available world wide.  I have received comments posted from every continent in the world.  Since I started the web site in 2002, I have had several occasions where a retiree or family member ask that I delete the information posted on the web site.  My policy for the last ten years is that I do not post information unless I receive it from the retiree or receive assurances that the posting is OK with all involved.  I continue to use e-mail , telephone and Facebook to disseminate information to SHP retirees
The NCHPRA Memorial Plaque being presented to Jay Waugh in honor of his father's service.  From left to right: Mike Dupree, Jerry Music, Ralph Newton, Tommy Cook, Jay Waugh and Clifton Walker.
Make a decision, But always keep your mind open.

Stay flexible and consider the possibility that you're wrong.

There might be a better way.

Like all weak men, he laid exaggerated stress on not changing one's mind.

- W. Somerset Maugham -

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