GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 2013

S                                                                                                                                                     2

SENATE BILL 353

Second Edition Engrossed 4/8/13

 

Short Title:        Motorcycle Safety Act.

(Public)

Sponsors:

Senators Harrington (Primary Sponsor);  Daniel, J. Davis, Rabon, and Soucek.

Referred to:

Transportation.

March 20, 2013

 

 

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT to increase penalties for unsafe movements by drivers that threaten the property and safety of motorcyclists.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  G.S. 20-154 reads as rewritten:

"§ 20-154.  Signals on starting, stopping or turning.

(a1)      A person who violates subsection (a) of this section and causes a motorcycle operator to change travel lanes or leave that portion of any public street or highway designated as travel lanes shall be responsible for an infraction and shall be assessed a fine of not less than two hundred dollars ($200.00). A person who violates subsection (a) of this section that results in a crash causing property damage or personal injury to a motorcycle operator or passenger shall be responsible for an infraction and shall be assessed a fine of not less than five hundred dollars ($500.00).($500.00) unless subsection (a2) of this section applies.

(a2)      A person who violates subsection (a) of this section and the violation results in a crash causing property damage in excess of five thousand dollars ($5,000) or a serious bodily injury as defined in G.S. 20-160.1(b) to a motorcycle operator or passenger shall be responsible for an infraction and shall be assessed a fine of not less than seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00). A violation of this subsection shall be treated as a failure to yield right-of-way to a motorcycle for purposes of assessment of points under G.S. 20-16(c). In addition, the trial judge shall have the authority to order the license of any driver violating this subsection suspended for a period not to exceed 30 days. If a judge orders suspension of a person's drivers license pursuant to this subsection, the judge may allow the licensee a limited driving privilege for a period not to exceed the period of suspension. The limited driving privilege shall be issued in the same manner and under the terms and conditions prescribed in G.S. 20-16.1(b)(1), (2), (3), (4), (5), and G.S. 20-16.1(g).

…."

SECTION 2.  This act becomes effective October 1, 2013, and applies to violations committed on or after that date.