{ "id": 8953762, "name": "STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA v. JEFFREY BOWES, Defendant", "name_abbreviation": "State v. Bowes", "decision_date": "2003-07-15", "docket_number": "No. COA02-323", "first_page": "18", "last_page": "29", "citations": [ { "type": "official", "cite": "159 N.C. App. 18" } ], "court": { "name_abbreviation": "N.C. Ct. App.", "id": 14983, "name": "North Carolina Court of Appeals" }, "jurisdiction": { "id": 5, "name_long": "North Carolina", "name": "N.C." }, "cites_to": [ { "cite": "560 S.E.2d 802", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "weight": 2, "year": 2002, "pin_cites": [ { "parenthetical": "citations omitted" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "355 N.C. 285", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 220177, 219997, 220157, 220014 ], "year": 2002, "pin_cites": [ { "parenthetical": "citations omitted" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/355/0285-03", "/nc/355/0285-01", "/nc/355/0285-02", "/nc/355/0285-04" ] }, { "cite": "554 S.E.2d 856", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "weight": 2, "year": 2001, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "861" }, { "page": "861", "parenthetical": "citations omitted" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "147 N.C. App. 195", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 9378844 ], "weight": 2, "year": 2001, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "204" }, { "page": "204" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/147/0195-01" ] }, { "cite": "561 S.E.2d 887", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 2002, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "355 N.C. 292", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 219987, 220132, 219965, 220110 ], "year": 2002, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/355/0292-04", "/nc/355/0292-02", "/nc/355/0292-03", "/nc/355/0292-01" ] }, { "cite": "556 S.E.2d 38", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 2001, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "40" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "147 N.C. App. 336", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 9379559 ], "year": 2001, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "338" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/147/0336-01" ] }, { "cite": "78 S.E.2d 334", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1953, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "337", "parenthetical": "\"Jurisdiction is the power of a court to decide a case on its merits; it is the power of a court to inquire into the facts, to apply the law, and to enter and enforce judgment\"" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "238 N.C. 506", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8612118 ], "year": 1953, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "509", "parenthetical": "\"Jurisdiction is the power of a court to decide a case on its merits; it is the power of a court to inquire into the facts, to apply the law, and to enter and enforce judgment\"" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/238/0506-01" ] }, { "cite": "432 S.E.2d 303", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1993, "pin_cites": [ { "parenthetical": "sovereign immunity bars the court from holding administrative agencies in contempt" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "334 N.C. 428", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 2530640 ], "year": 1993, "pin_cites": [ { "parenthetical": "sovereign immunity bars the court from holding administrative agencies in contempt" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/334/0428-01" ] }, { "cite": "481 S.E.2d 86", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1997, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "472 S.E.2d 33", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "weight": 3, "year": 1996, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "35" }, { "page": "36" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "122 N.C. App. 685", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 11919615 ], "year": 1996, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/122/0685-01" ] }, { "cite": "380 S.E.2d 770", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1989, "pin_cites": [ { "parenthetical": "citations omitted" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "324 N.C. 543", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 2483650, 2488397, 2482318, 2484176, 2481778 ], "year": 1989, "pin_cites": [ { "parenthetical": "citations omitted" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/324/0543-03", "/nc/324/0543-01", "/nc/324/0543-04", "/nc/324/0543-02", "/nc/324/0543-05" ] }, { "cite": "375 S.E.2d 708", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1989, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "711", "parenthetical": "citations omitted" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "92 N.C. App. 719", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 8527584 ], "year": 1989, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "723", "parenthetical": "citations omitted" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/92/0719-01" ] }, { "cite": "352 S.E.2d 449", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1987, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "452" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "84 N.C. App. 167", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 12167895 ], "year": 1987, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "170-71" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/84/0167-01" ] }, { "cite": "242 S.E.2d 653", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1978, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "654" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "35 N.C. App. 768", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 8552412 ], "year": 1978, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "770" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/35/0768-01" ] }, { "cite": "502 S.E.2d 590", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1998, "opinion_index": 1 }, { "cite": "347 N.C. 575", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 551177, 551166, 551349, 551230, 551359 ], "year": 1998, "opinion_index": 1, "case_paths": [ "/nc/347/0575-05", "/nc/347/0575-04", "/nc/347/0575-03", "/nc/347/0575-02", "/nc/347/0575-01" ] }, { "cite": "490 S.E.2d 576", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1997, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "577", "parenthetical": "citations omitted" } ], "opinion_index": 1 }, { "cite": "127 N.C. App. 488", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 11797877 ], "year": 1997, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "490", "parenthetical": "citations omitted" } ], "opinion_index": 1, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/127/0488-01" ] }, { "cite": "27 S.E.2d 281", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "weight": 2, "year": 1943, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "282" }, { "page": "282", "parenthetical": "citation omitted" } ], "opinion_index": 1 }, { "cite": "223 N.C. 495", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8611958 ], "year": 1943, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "496" } ], "opinion_index": 1, "case_paths": [ "/nc/223/0495-01" ] }, { "cite": "185 S.E.2d 97", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "weight": 2, "year": 1971, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "99", "parenthetical": "emphasis added" }, { "page": "99", "parenthetical": "where allegations sufficiently allege cause of action for mandamus, the court may treat it as a petition and grant the appropriate relief" } ], "opinion_index": 1 }, { "cite": "280 N.C. 89", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8569879 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1971, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "92", "parenthetical": "emphasis added" }, { "page": "92" } ], "opinion_index": 1, "case_paths": [ "/nc/280/0089-01" ] }, { "cite": "209 S.E.2d 366", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1974, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "368", "parenthetical": "citation omitted" } ], "opinion_index": 1 }, { "cite": "23 N.C. App. 418", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 8550884 ], "year": 1974, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "420", "parenthetical": "citation omitted" } ], "opinion_index": 1, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/23/0418-01" ] }, { "cite": "68 S.E.2d 862", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1952, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "867" } ], "opinion_index": 1 }, { "cite": "234 N.C. 673", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8625681 ], "year": 1952, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "680" } ], "opinion_index": 1, "case_paths": [ "/nc/234/0673-01" ] }, { "cite": "301 N.C. 94", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8562510, 8562484, 8562391, 8562457, 8562431 ], "year": 1980, "opinion_index": 1, "case_paths": [ "/nc/301/0094-05", "/nc/301/0094-04", "/nc/301/0094-01", "/nc/301/0094-03", "/nc/301/0094-02" ] }, { "cite": "265 S.E.2d 890", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "weight": 2, "year": 1980, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "912" }, { "page": "912", "parenthetical": "citations omitted" } ], "opinion_index": 1 }, { "cite": "46 N.C. App. 350", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 8551011 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1980, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "385" }, { "page": "384-85" } ], "opinion_index": 1, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/46/0350-01" ] }, { "cite": "485 S.E.2d 295", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1997, "opinion_index": 1 }, { "cite": "346 N.C. 268", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 139644 ], "year": 1997, "opinion_index": 1, "case_paths": [ "/nc/346/0268-01" ] }, { "cite": "478 S.E.2d 816", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1996, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "821-23" } ], "opinion_index": 1 }, { "cite": "124 N.C. App. 698", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 11890512 ], "year": 1996, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "706-10" } ], "opinion_index": 1, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/124/0698-01" ] }, { "cite": "560 S.E.2d 802", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 2002, "opinion_index": 1 }, { "cite": "355 N.C. 285", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 220177, 219997, 220157, 220014 ], "year": 2002, "opinion_index": 1, "case_paths": [ "/nc/355/0285-03", "/nc/355/0285-01", "/nc/355/0285-02", "/nc/355/0285-04" ] }, { "cite": "554 S.E.2d 856", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 2001, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "861" } ], "opinion_index": 1 }, { "cite": "147 N.C. App. 195", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 9378844 ], "year": 2001, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "204" } ], "opinion_index": 1, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/147/0195-01" ] }, { "cite": "561 S.E.2d 887", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "weight": 2, "year": 2002, "opinion_index": 1 }, { "cite": "355 N.C. 292", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 219987, 220132, 219965, 220110 ], "year": 2002, "opinion_index": 1, "case_paths": [ "/nc/355/0292-04", "/nc/355/0292-02", "/nc/355/0292-03", "/nc/355/0292-01" ] }, { "cite": "556 S.E.2d 38", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 2001, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "40", "parenthetical": "citations omitted" } ], "opinion_index": 1 }, { "cite": "147 N.C. App. 336", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 9379559 ], "year": 2001, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "338", "parenthetical": "citations omitted" } ], "opinion_index": 1, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/147/0336-01" ] }, { "cite": "432 S.E.2d 303", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "weight": 4, "year": 1993, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "305", "parenthetical": "citations omitted" }, { "page": "430" }, { "page": "304" }, { "page": "305" } ], "opinion_index": 1 }, { "cite": "334 N.C. 428", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 2530640 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1993, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "431-32", "parenthetical": "citations omitted" }, { "page": "431" } ], "opinion_index": 1, "case_paths": [ "/nc/334/0428-01" ] } ], "analysis": { "cardinality": 1043, "char_count": 28394, "ocr_confidence": 0.772, "pagerank": { "raw": 6.342518707164032e-07, "percentile": 0.9587340806355892 }, "sha256": "303bfd844e826ae3138cba12f63b7f75492922df460a8ba042f0323714aeffc2", "simhash": "1:492cd069d42d9676", "word_count": 4605 }, "last_updated": "2023-07-14T16:27:55.515420+00:00", "provenance": { "date_added": "2019-08-29", "source": "Harvard", "batch": "2018" }, "casebody": { "judges": [ "Judge McGEE concurs.", "Chief Judge EAGLES dissents." ], "parties": [ "STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA v. JEFFREY BOWES, Defendant" ], "opinions": [ { "text": "HUDSON, Judge.\nThe pertinent background of this appeal is as follows: On 3 August 2001, Jeffrey Bowes pled guilty to driving while impaired and was sentenced as a Level 5 offender. At the time of his plea, Bowes was nineteen years old. Judge Joseph A. Blick ordered Bowes placed on twelve months of unsupervised probation, to pay $290.00 in costs and fines, to obtain a substance abuse assessment, to surrender his driver\u2019s license, to complete 24 hours of community service, to submit to any test for the detection of alcohol or drugs requested by a law enforcement officer, and not to operate a motor vehicle until properly licensed to do so.\nOn 6 August 2001, Judge David A. Leech signed an order in the same file (00 CR 64316) granting Bowes a limited driving privilege. By letter of 13 August 2001, the Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) notified Bowes that the DMV \u201cconsiders the [limited driving] privilege void and our records will not indicate [that he] has a limited driving privilege.\u201d Bowes then filed a \u201cMotion in the Cause for Contempt and for Injunctive Relief\u2019 in the DWI case seeking to have the court hold the DMV in criminal and/or civil contempt for refusing to honor the limited driving privilege and seeking to enjoin the DMV from denying him a limited driving privilege.\nOn 10 December 2001, District Court Judge Charles M. Vincent entered an Order in which he concluded that the DMV\u2019s actions in invalidating Bowes\u2019 limited driving privilege violated the separation of powers doctrine and also violated Bowes\u2019 constitutional rights to due process and equal protection. The pertinent conclusions of law are as follows:\n5. That G.S. 20-179.3(k) authorizing the Division of Motor Vehicles to reject and invalidate a Limited Driving Privilege Order issued by a District Court Judge without notice to the Defendant and an opportunity to be heard before the Judge, violates the separation of powers doctrine of the North Carolina Constitution by vesting judicial authority in an agency of the executive branch;\n6. That the Division of Motor Vehicles has no authority to unilaterally reject a Criminal Judgment ordered and issued by a District Court Judge;\n7. That the Division of Motor Vehicles without proper notification to the Court and by its inconsistent treatment of such privileges to other drivers similarly situated to the Defendant, has violated the Defendant\u2019s Federal and State Constitutional rights to equal protection of the law, and that there is no rational or reasonable basis for the Division\u2019s decision to treat the Defendant differently from other drivers who are similarly situated (that is, differently from other drivers who were also over eighteen years of age but under twenty-one years of age at the time they committed the offense of DWI);\n8. That the Division of Motor Vehicles\u2019 actions in denying a privilege to the Defendant and invalidating the Court\u2019s Criminal Judgment has been arbitrary and capricious and is in violation of Defendant\u2019s procedural due process of law[.]\nJudge Vincent further determined that the DMV was collaterally estopped from contesting or relitigating the issue because the DMV had failed to object to the court\u2019s ruling on 6 August 2001 that found that Bowes was eligible for a limited driving privilege, that the State has impliedly waived its sovereign immunity to a limited extent by the enactment of G.S. \u00a7 20-179.3, and that the DMV had the ability to comply with the orders entered by Judge Blick on 3 August 2001 and Judge Leech on 6 August 2001.\nThe State filed notice of appeal to this Court. Following a hearing, the district court dismissed the appeal, concluding that appeal should have been filed with the superior court within ten days of the order. The State filed a petition for writ of certiorari in this Court, which we allowed. Thus, the case is properly before us. For the following reasons discussed below, we affirm.\nAnalysis\nBefore discussing the State\u2019s argument, we first address a question of mootness on our own motion. Since Judge Vincent\u2019s 10 December 2001 Order was entered, the revocation of Bowes\u2019 license has run and his limited driving privilege has expired.\nIn general, \u201can appeal presenting a question which has become moot will be dismissed.\u201d Matthews v. Dept. of Transportation, 35 N.C. App. 768, 770, 242 S.E.2d 653, 654 (1978). This general rule is, however, subject to exception, and one such exception is that courts may review cases that are otherwise moot but that are \u201ccapable of repetition yet evading review.\u201d In re Jackson, 84 N.C. App. 167, 170-71, 352 S.E.2d 449, 452 (1987). \u201cThere are two elements required for the exception to apply: (1) the challenged action [is] in its duration too short to be fully litigated prior to its cessation or expiration, and (2) there [is] a reasonable expectation that the same complaining party would be subjected to the same action again.\u201d Crumpler v. Thornburg, 92 N.C. App. 719, 723, 375 S.E.2d 708, 711, disc. review denied, 324 N.C. 543, 380 S.E.2d 770 (1989) (citations omitted).\nAs we have noted, Bowes\u2019 limited driving privilege has expired and the revocation of his license has run since Judge Vincent\u2019s 10 December 2001 order. However, we believe it reasonably likely that the DMV, in considering future orders granting limited driving privileges, could repeat the action that is at issue here and face similar challenges. Consequently, we will proceed to consider the issues raised on this appeal.\nA. Subject Matter Jurisdiction\nThe State first argues that the trial court lacked subject matter jurisdiction over the issues presented and lacked personal jurisdiction over the DMV. We disagree.\nG.S. \u00a7 20-179.3(a) provides that \u201c[a] limited driving privilege is a judgment issued in the discretion of a court for good cause shown.\u201d Subsection (d) provides that the application for a limited driving privilege may be made at or after the time of sentencing in the criminal matter to the judge presiding over the defendant\u2019s criminal trial or to the Chief District Court Judge, and no hearing may be held until a reasonable time after notice is given to the district attorney\u2019s office. Thus, we conclude that, as with other judgments, the appropriate court in which to seek enforcement of the judgment issuing the limited driving privilege is the court that issued the judgment.\nHere, the district court granted Bowes a limited driving privilege on 6 August 2001. On 13 August 2001, the DMV sent Bowes the letter informing him that it considered the limited driving privilege void. Bowes then filed a motion in the cause for contempt and injunctive relief in the DWI case, in an attempt to have the court order the DMV to honor the limited driving privilege. The State argues that since Bowes sought both civil and criminal remedies, that Bowes\u2019 proper avenue to enforce the judgment was in a separate civil action. However, in G.S. \u00a7 20-179.3, the General Assembly has specifically designated the district court to determine both civil and criminal remedies. Thus, the district court was the appropriate forum to pursue these remedies, as well as the underlying judgment.\nB. Personal Jurisdiction\nThe State also argues that the district court lacked personal jurisdiction over the DMV and, thus, any order issued compelling the DMV to act is a nullity. We disagree.\nIn Brower v. Kittens, this Court held that the district attorney and the DMV were in privity and as such the DMV was collaterally estopped from relitigating probable cause determinations made in a prior DWI case in which the district attorney was a party. 122 N.C. App. 685, 472 S.E.2d 33 (1996), disc. review denied, 345 N.C.625, 481 S.E.2d 86 (1997). Indeed, the Brower Court noted that \u201cas DMV is also a servant of the people . . ., we conclude the district attorney and DMV actually represent the same interest in driving while impaired cases \u2014 that of the citizens of North Carolina in prohibiting individuals who drive under the influence of intoxicating substances from using their roads.\u201d Id. at 688, 472 S.E.2d at 35.\nAlthough the Brower Court limited its holding to collateral attacks upon probable cause determinations, we find it easily distinguishable because the Brower decision was based upon the \u201cfundamental difference between criminal prosecutions and civil license revocation proceedings.\u201d Id. at 690, 472 S.E.2d at 36. Here, we are faced not with two separate proceedings \u2014 one criminal and one civil \u2014 rather, we are faced with a single criminal proceeding. In addition, we note that section 20-179.3 mandates that the district attorney receive notice of the application for a limited driving privilege prior to a hearing on such. Since the DMV is the intended audience of a limited driving privilege, the statute implicitly places the district attorney in privity with the DMV for purposes of limited driving proceedings.\nG. Sovereign Immunity\nThe State further contends that Bowes is barred by sovereign immunity from seeking to hold the DMV in contempt or from seeking injunctive relief against the DMV. We note that the doctrine of sovereign immunity does bar the Court from holding the DMV in contempt because the State has not waived immunity to that extent. N. C. Dept. of Transportation v. Davenport, 334 N.C. 428, 432 S.E.2d 303 (1993) (sovereign immunity bars the court from holding administrative agencies in contempt). However, the district court, having jurisdiction over the parties and the subject matter, could properly enter and enforce its judgment. See Jones v. Brinson, 238 N.C. 506, 509, 78 S.E.2d 334, 337 (1953) (\u201cJurisdiction is the power of a court to decide a case on its merits; it is the power of a court to inquire into the facts, to apply the law, and to enter and enforce judgment\u201d). Sovereign immunity acts as a bar to suit against the State unless the State has given consent to be sued or the legislature has waived immunity. Wood v. N.C. State Univ., 147 N.C. App. 336, 338, 556 S.E.2d 38, 40 (2001), disc. review denied, 355 N.C. 292, 561 S.E.2d 887 (2002). We agree with the trial court that, by enacting G.S. \u00a7 20-179.3, the State has given the court the authority to order the state agency (DMV) to issue a limited driving privilege. Thus, we conclude that the State has waived immunity for the purposes of enforcement of such order.\nD. Separation of Powers\nThe State next argues that the trial court erred in determining that the statutory scheme through which the DMV invalidated Bowes\u2019 limited driving privilege violates the separation of powers doctrine, and, to the contrary, that the DMV, an agency of the executive branch, has the authority to disregard judgments entered by a court when the DMV believes that the judgments do not comply with the law.\nG.S. \u00a7 20-179.3(e) provides that \u201c[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\u2019s license is revoked under any other statute, the limited driving privilege is invalid.\u201d Further, subsection (k) provides that \u201c[i]f the limited driving privilege is invalid on its face, the Division must immediately notify the court and the holder of the privilege that it considers the privilege void and that the Division records will not indicate that the holder has a limited driving privilege.\u201d The DMV argues that since Bowes was under the age of 21 at the time he was convicted of driving while impaired, his license was revoked under both section 20-17(a)(2) (impaired driving) and 20-13.2(b) (impaired driving while under the age of 21). Thus, his license was not revoked \u201csolely under G.S. 2047(a)(2),\u201d and therefore the limited driving privilege was invalid on its face. Although true, for the following reasons, we affirm the district court.\nArticle I, section 6 of the North Carolina Constitution is entitled \u201cseparation of powers\u201d and provides that the \u201clegislative, executive, and supreme judicial powers of the State government shall be forever separate and distinct from each other.\u201d Article IV, section 1 provides that the judicial power of the state shall be vested in the General Court of Justice, and that \u201c[t]he General Assembly shall have no power to deprive the judicial department of any power or jurisdiction that rightfully pertains to it as a coordinate branch of the government.\u201d Further, in Article IV, section 3, the General Assembly has the authority to \u201cvest in administrative agencies . . . such judicial powers as may be reasonably necessary as an incident to the accomplishment of the purposes for which the agencies were created. Appeals from administrative agencies shall be to the General Court of Justice.\u201d\nG.S. \u00a7 20479.3(a) specifically provides that \u201c[a] limited driving privilege is a judgment issued in the discretion of a court for good cause shown.\u201d (emphasis added). This Court has previously held that:\na judgment of a Superior Court must be honored unless the judgment is void. Where a court has authority to hear and determine the questions in dispute and has control over the parties to the controversy, a judgment issued by the court is not void, even if contrary to law. Such a judgment is voidable, but not void ab initio, and is binding until vacated or corrected.\nHamilton v. Freeman, 147 N.C. App. 195, 204, 554 S.E.2d 856, 861 (2001), disc. review denied, 355 N.C. 285, 560 S.E.2d 802 (2002) (citations omitted).\nG.S. \u00a7 20-179.3 specifically vests the district court with jurisdiction to issue limited driving privileges. Also, having previously held that the court had jurisdiction over the DMV in this matter, we hold that the judgment granting Bowes a limited driving privilege is not void, even if entered contrary to law. See id.\nThough the North Carolina Constitution empowers the General Assembly to grant administrative agencies certain judicial powers, it may not do so in a way that violates the separation of powers doctrine. By enacting G.S. \u00a7 20-197.3, which allows the DMV to invalidate a judgment of the court, the General Assembly has, in effect, given the DMV the power to reverse the district court. The North Carolina Constitution, specifically Article IV, section 3, does not permit an administrative agency of the executive branch to exercise appellate review of decisions of the General Court of Justice. To the contrary, it provides that appeals from administrative agencies shall be to the General Court of Justice. This vesting of what is essentially appellate power in the DMV, we believe, violates the separation of powers doctrine of our Constitution. Thus, we conclude that by allowing the DMV to, in essence, invalidate a properly entered court order, G.S. \u00a7 20-179.3(k) violates the provisions requiring separation of powers contained in Article I, section 6; Article IV, section 1; and Article IV, section 3 of the North Carolina Constitution.\nWe find strong support for our conclusion in Hamilton. There, plaintiffs were inmates under the control of the North Carolina Department of Corrections serving prison terms resulting from plea agreements. Plaintiff Hamilton was serving a fourteen-year sentence as a Committed Youth Offender (\u201cCYO\u201d). At the time, CYO\u2019s were eligible for parole consideration immediately upon entering DOC\u2019s custody. However, when Hamilton entered DOC\u2019s custody, DOC determined that Hamilton did not qualify for CYO status under our General Statutes and refused to consider her for immediate parole.\nSimilarly, plaintiffs Hayes and Huggins entered into plea agreements with the State, whereby the trial court sentenced them to concurrent terms of imprisonment. However, Hayes and Huggins were statutorily ineligible for concurrent sentences, and upon entering DOC\u2019s custody, DOC informed them that their sentences would run consecutively rather than concurrently. The trial court granted plaintiffs\u2019 declaratory relief, and the DOC appealed.\nAddressing the issue of the propriety of DOC\u2019s actions, this court held that:\nIt is well established that a judgment of a Superior Court must be honored unless the judgment is void. Where a court has authority to hear and determine the questions in dispute and has control over the parties to the controversy, a judgment issued by the court is not void, even if contrary to law. Such a judgment is voidable, but not void ab initio, and is binding until vacated or corrected. Because the sentencing courts had authority over the disputes and control over the parties, the resulting judgments were not void and must be honored as received by DOC.\nFurthermore, we note that \u201c[t]he legislative, executive, and supreme judicial powers of the State government [are] . . . separate and distinct from each other.\u201d The Department of Correction is a part of the executive branch of North Carolina. By independently amending judgments to reflect compliance with DOC\u2019s interpretation of statutory authority, DOC has usurped the power of the judiciary, thereby violating separation of powers.\nHamilton, 147 N.C. App. at 204, 554 S.E.2d at 861 (citations omitted).\nHere, Bowes was issued a limited driving privilege, in the form of a judgment, by the district court pursuant to G.S. \u00a7 179.3. Acting unilaterally under G.S. \u00a7 20-179.3(k), the DMV notified Bowes that the DMV determined that the limited driving privilege was invalid and that it considered the judgment void. Such an action, in which the DMV invalidates a court order, without the court itself taking any action to vacate or amend the order, thus violates the separation of powers clause of our Constitution.\nIn addition, we agree with the trial court that, by invalidating Bowes\u2019 limited driving privilege without returning to court, or even notifying the court in accordance with the statute and its usual procedure, the DMV has violated Bowes\u2019 rights to due process of law.\nAffirmed.\nJudge McGEE concurs.\nChief Judge EAGLES dissents.", "type": "majority", "author": "HUDSON, Judge." }, { "text": "EAGLES, Chief Judge,\ndissenting.\nBecause the doctrine of sovereign immunity bars all in personam contempt proceedings against the State and its administrative agencies; and because the action, as filed, was insufficient to give the district court either personal or subject matter jurisdiction, I respectfully dissent.\nI begin by noting that I agree with the conclusion reached in section D of the majority opinion: To the extent that G.S. 20-179.3(k) permits the DMV to unilaterally invalidate a properly entered court order, it violates the separation of power provisions of the North Carolina Constitution. See N.C. Const. art. I, \u00a7 6. Accord Hamilton v. Freeman, 147 N.C. App. 195, 204, 554 S.E.2d 856, 861 (2001), disc. review denied sub nom., Hamilton v. Beck, 355 N.C. 285, 560 S.E.2d 802 (2002); Thomas v. N.C. Dept. of Human Resources, 124 N.C. App. 698, 706-10, 478 S.E.2d 816, 821-23 (1996), aff'd per curiam, 346 N.C. 268, 485 S.E.2d 295 (1997). However, for the following reasons, I believe the district court was without authority to enter the order that is at issue in this case.\nFirst, our \u201ccontempt statutes refer generally to persons. \u2018In common usage, the term \u2018person\u2019 does not include the sovereign and statutes employing the word are ordinarily construed to exclude it.\u2019 \u201d N.C. Dept. of Transportation v. Davenport, 334 N.C. 428, 431-32, 432 S.E.2d 303, 305 (1993) (citations omitted). Accordingly, the doctrine of sovereign immunity bars the State and its administrative agencies, as entities, from being held in contempt. Id. at 430, 432 S.E.2d at 304. Sovereign immunity also bars the issuance of injunctions against the State and its administrative agencies; as entities, because \u201can injunction . . . use[s] the in personam contempt power of the court. . . .\u201d Orange County v. N.C. Dept. of Transportation, 46 N.C. App. 350, 385, 265 S.E.2d 890, 912, disc. review denied, 301 N.C. 94, \u2014 S.E.2d \u2014 (1980).\nHere, defendant sought to have \u201cDMV... adjudged in willful criminal and/or civil contempt,\u201d and \u201c[a] preliminary and permanent injunction issue[d] from the court restraining and enjoining DMV from denying the defendant a limited driving privilege . . . .\u201d (Emphasis added.) Nowhere in his motion did defendant seek to have any individual officer of the DMV held in contempt or enjoined. Furthermore, the district court entered an order \u201cenjoining the Division of Motor Vehicles from denying the Defendant a Limited Driving Privilege[.]\u201d (Emphasis added.) Since all of the remedies prayed for and granted were directed toward the North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles, as an entity, and not toward any individual public officer, I would hold that the doctrine of sovereign immunity barred the district court from granting the prayed for relief.\nThe majority reasons that by enacting G.S. 20-179.3 and giving the court the authority to order the DMV to issue a limited driving privilege, the State has by necessary implication waived its sovereign immunity for purposes of enforcing these orders. I disagree. The State and its governmental units can only be deprived of sovereign immunity by a \u201c \u2018plain, unmistakable mandate\u2019 \u201d of the lawmaking body. Wood v. N.C. State University, 147 N.C. App. 336, 338, 556 S.E.2d 38, 40 (2001) (citations omitted), disc. review denied, 355 N.C. 292, 561 S.E.2d 887 (2002). \u201c[Sovereign immunity] should not and cannot be waived by indirection or by procedural rule.\u201d Id.\nOur Supreme Court has concluded that there are no North Carolina statutes in existence \u201cin which the sovereign State of North Carolina has consented to be subject to the contempt power of the court.\u201d Davenport, 334 N.C. at 431, 432 S.E.2d at 305. Nothing contained in G.S. 20-179.3 purports to alter this conclusion. Since sovereign immunity may not be waived indirectly, I would hold that it has not been waived here.\nSecond, while I agree with the majority insofar as it reasons that the district court must be able to enforce its own judgments, I do not agree that the mechanism chosen in this case was appropriate. \u201cMandamus is the proper remedy to compel public officials ... to perform a purely ministerial duty imposed by law, where it is made to appear that the plaintiff, being without other adequate remedy, has a present, clear, legal right to the thing claimed and it is the duty of the respondents to render it to him.\u201d Hamlet Hospital and Training School for Nurses, Inc. v. Joint Committee on Standardization, 234 N.C. 673, 680, 68 S.E.2d 862, 867 (1952). Although the statutory authority for the special remedy of mandamus by civil action has been repealed, see G.S. 1-511 et seq., \u201cthe remedy formerly provided by the writ of mandamus is still available . . . and the substantive grounds for granting the remedy as developed under our former practice still control.\u201d Fleming v. Mann, 23 N.C. App. 418, 420, 209 S.E.2d 366, 368 (1974) (citation omitted) (emphasis added). See also G.S. 4-1 (2001) (declaring all parts of common law not otherwise repealed or abrogated in full force and effect). Moreover, \u201cin this State, where the court exercises both legal and equitable jurisdiction, in a suit against a public official or board there is no practical difference in the results to be obtained by the common-law remedy of mandamus and the equitable remedy of mandatory injunction.\u201d Sutton v. Figgatt, 280 N.C. 89, 92, 185 S.E.2d 97, 99 (1971) (emphasis added). However, \u201cneither a mandamus nor an injunction is effective against the public office; rather, they both use the in personam contempt power of the court to coerce the individual public officer in the performance of a plain duty or to prevent the official from taking actions outside of his legal authority.\u201d Orange County, 46 N.C. App. at 384-85, 265 S.E.2d at 912 (citations omitted) (emphasis added).\nHere, defendant did not seek relief against any individual public officer; rather, defendant sought a court order directing that the DMV, as an entity, comply with the order granting him a limited driving privilege. Therefore, notwithstanding the sufficiency of the remaining factual allegations, see Figgatt, 280 N.C. at 92, 185 S.E.2d at 99 (where allegations sufficiently allege cause of action for mandamus, the court may treat it as a petition and grant the appropriate relief), defendant\u2019s motion fails as a matter of law to sufficiently invoke the district court\u2019s subject matter jurisdiction to grant either mandamus or a mandatory injunction.\nFurthermore, \u201c[d]ue service of process is necessary to subject a party to the jurisdiction of the court.\u201d Southern Mills, Inc. v. Armstrong, 223 N.C. 495, 496, 27 S.E.2d 281, 282 (1943). \u201c \u2018Jurisdiction in case of actions in personam can only be acquired by personal service of process within the territorial jurisdiction of the court . . . and unless jurisdiction of the party can be acquired, the attempted procedure is a nullity ....\u2019\u201d Id. at 497, 27 S.E.2d at 282 (citation omitted).\nIt is well established that a court may obtain personal jurisdiction over a defendant only by the issuance of summons and service of process by one of the statutorily specified methods. Absent valid service of process, a court does not acquire personal jurisdiction over the defendant and the action must be dismissed.\nGlover v. Farmer, 127 N.C. App. 488, 490, 490 S.E.2d 576, 577 (1997) (citations omitted), disc. review denied, 347 N.C. 575, 502 S.E.2d 590 (1998). See N.C.R. Civ. P. 4(j)(1).\nHere, no complaint or petition was filed instituting the action. Likewise, no summons was issued and neither a complaint nor a summons were served on any DMV officer. While DMV, as an entity was given notice of the hearing and DMV\u2019s attorneys appeared on the agency\u2019s behalf, this was insufficient to establish personal jurisdiction over any individual DMV officer. Accordingly, I would hold that the district court lacked personal jurisdiction over the proper party defendants.\nFor all the foregoing reasons, I would hold that the decision of the trial court should be reversed.", "type": "dissent", "author": "EAGLES, Chief Judge," } ], "attorneys": [ "Attorney General Roy Cooper, by Assistant Attorney General Jeffrey R. Edwards, for the State.", "The Robinson Law Firm, by Leslie S. Robinson, and Law Offices of Keith A. Williams, P.A., by Keith A. Williams, for defendant-appellee." ], "corrections": "", "head_matter": "STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA v. JEFFREY BOWES, Defendant\nNo. COA02-323\n(Filed 15 July 2003)\n1. Appeal and Error\u2014 mootness \u2014 likelihood of repeated action\nThe issue of whether DMV could disregard a limited driving privilege granted by a court was not moot even though the original revocation and the limited privilege had expired by the time of the Court of Appeals decision. It is reasonably likely that DMV could repeat its action in considering future cases.\n2. Jurisdiction\u2014 subject matter \u2014 limited driving privilege issued by court \u2014 invalidated by DMV\nThe trial court had subject matter jurisdiction to consider the DMV\u2019s invalidation of a limited driving privilege because the court that issues a judgment (the limited privilege) is the appropriate court in which to seek enforcement of the judgment, and because the General Assembly specifically designated the district court to determine both civil and criminal remedies in N.C.G.S. \u00a7 20-179.3.\n3. Motor Vehicles\u2014 invalidation of limited driving privilege\u2014 DMV \u2014 personal jurisdiction\nThe district court had personal jurisdiction over the DMV in an action concerning DMV\u2019s invalidation of a court-issued limited driving privilege. The district attorney is in privity with. DMV because this involves a single criminal proceeding and because N.C.G.S. \u00a7 20-179.3 implicitly places the district attorney in privity with DMV for purposes of limited driving proceedings.\n4. Immunity\u2014 sovereign \u2014 limited driving privilege \u2014 action to enforce against State\nThe State\u2019s enactment of N.C.G.S. \u00a7 20-179.3 waived sovereign immunity for enforcement of a limited driving privilege granted by a court and invalidated by DMV.\n5. Constitutional Law; Motor Vehicles\u2014 separation of powers \u2014 due process \u2014 limited driving privilege \u2014 granted by court \u2014 invalidated by DMV\nDMV violated both due process and separation of powers by unilaterally invalidating a limited driving privilege which had been granted as a judgment by a district court. The court was not notified and took no action to vacate its order.\nJudge Eagles dissenting.\nAppeal by the State from judgment entered 10 December 2001 by Judge Charles M. Vincent in Pitt County District Court. Heard in the Court of Appeals 13 November 2002.\nAttorney General Roy Cooper, by Assistant Attorney General Jeffrey R. Edwards, for the State.\nThe Robinson Law Firm, by Leslie S. Robinson, and Law Offices of Keith A. Williams, P.A., by Keith A. Williams, for defendant-appellee." }, "file_name": "0018-01", "first_page_order": 48, "last_page_order": 59 }