By NICOLE CARTRETTE
Staff Writer

Whiteville’s fulltime license plate office will reopen soon but this time at a new location and under new management.

The agency office located on Love Mill Road was abruptly closed at the end of the business day on Sept. 18.

A new office located at 28 Hill Plaza is scheduled to open on Jan. 3, according to Margaret Howell, a spokesperson with the state Department of Transportation.

The Department of Transportation oversees the Division of Motor Vehicles.

The state has entered into a contract with Michele Thompson to operate the agency, according to Howell.

Few details are available surrounding the quick closure of the old office, managed under contract by Linda Richardson Russ.

At the time of the closure Howell said the contract dating back to February 1998 had to be terminated because of notary problems.

“Basically, this was a situation where contracts between the N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles had to be terminated because they were not completed as written,” Howell said at the time. “We required valid notary public capabilities and there were insufficient notary public capabilities.”

The license plate agency is responsible for receiving applications for registrations, and motor vehicles titles and issuing license plates and validation stickers, among other responsibilities.

The agency is set to open just three days after a new law related to the bonding of commission contractors goes into effect.

Under the legislation passed this year and effective Jan. 1, 2008, contracts to operate a license plate agency for the state are required to maintain at least a minimum bond of $100,000.

That bond is to cover bankruptcy, employee embezzlement or theft, foreclosure, or ceasing to operate.

Those unable to secure a bond may apply for a waiver from the division and, if approved, comply with alternative measures such as filing with the clerk of superior court or register of deeds savings account or certificate of deposit information.