Sunday, April 21, 2013

NORTH CAROLINA - Motorcycle Safety Act.

OFF THE WIRE
 This is on Bikernet Sunday Post, page 2 http://www.bikernet.com/pages/story_detail.aspx?id=11007
It is a pay section so I will post here.

On Thursdays post I found the following Very Interesting!
SENATE OKAYS NEW PENALTIES TO PROTECT MOTORCYCLISTS--By Laura Leslie
Raleigh, N.C. — The Senate made quick work Monday night of a bill that increases penalties for drivers whose unsafe movements cause serious motorcycle accidents. If a driver causes a motorcycle wreck that results in serious bodily injury or at least $5,000 in property damage, Senate Bill 353 would increase the minimum fine for the driver to from $500 to $750.
The infraction would cost four points on the driver's license, and a judge could also choose to temporarily suspend the driver's license for up to 30 days. ??Sponsored by Sen. Kathy Harrington, R-Gaston, the bill passed 48-0 with no debate and now moves to the House.??From WRAL.com, Raleigh, Durham, Fayetteville

I would like to see the full bill because I would question why anyone would support a bill that Makes More Money for The State.

Any bill that increases fines Should Make A Portion Of The Fines Go To The Victim and or Their Family.

No State Should Profit From The Injury or Death of Their Residents and or Those Traveling Through Their Jurisdiction.

I will attempt to find out more about the exact wording BUT maybe someone supporting this legislation will supply it.

What are the motorcycle rights groups in North Carolina doing about this?


GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2013
S
D
SENATE DRS75188
-
MH
-
84 (03/07)
Short Title:
Motorcycle Safety Act.
(Public)
Sponsors:
Senator Harrington (Primary Sponsor).
Referred to:
*DRS75188
-
MH
-
84*
1
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
2
AN ACT
TO
INCREASE PENALTIES F
OR UNSAFE MOVEMENTS
BY DRIVERS THAT
3
THREATEN THE PROPERT
Y AND SAFETY OF
MOTORCYCLISTS
.
4
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
5
SECTION 1
.
G.S.
20
-
154 reads as rewritten:
6
"
§ 20
-
154. Signals on st
arting, stopping or turning.
7
...
8
(a1)
A person who violates subsection (a) of this section and causes a motorcycle
9
operator to change travel lanes or leave that portion of any public street or highway designated
10
as travel lanes shall be responsible for an in
fraction and shall be assessed a fine of not less than
11
two hundred dollars ($200.00). A person who violates subsection (a) of this section that results
12
in a crash causing property damage or personal injury to a motorcycle operator or passenger
13
shall be res
ponsible for an infraction and shall be assessed a fine of not less than five hundred
14
dollars
($500.00).
($500.00) unless
subsection (a2) of this section applies.
15
(a2)
A person who violates
subs
ection
(a) of this section
and
the violation results in a
16
crash
caus
ing
property damage in excess of
five thousand dollars (
$
5
,
000)
or
a serious bodily
17
injury
as defined in
G.S.
20
-
160.1
(b)
to a motorcycle operator or passenger
shall
be responsible
18
for an infraction
and
shall be assessed a fine of not less than seven
hundred fifty dollars
19
($750.00)
.
A violation of this subsection shall be
treated as
a
failure to yield right
-
of
-
way
to a
20
motorcycle for purposes of
assess
ment of
points
under
G.S.
20
-
16(c).
In addition, the trial
21
judge shall have the authority to order the
license of any driver violating this subsection
22
suspended for
a period not to exceed 30 days.
23
....
"
24
SECTION
2
.
This act becomes effective October 1, 2013, and applies to violations
25
committed on or after that date.