GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 2005

H                                                                                                                                                    1

HOUSE BILL 217

 

 

 

 

Short Title:     Driving From/Leaving Scene of Accident.

(Public)

Sponsors:

Representatives Harrison, Bordsen, Insko, Luebke (Primary Sponsors);  Adams, Alexander, B. Allen, L. Allen, Allred, Blust, Brown, Capps, Carney, Cleveland, Cole, Coleman, Culp, Culpepper, Current, Dickson, Faison, Farmer-Butterfield, Fisher, Folwell, Gibson, Glazier, Goforth, Goodwin, Hackney, Hill, Jeffus, Jones, Justice, Kiser, LaRoque, Lucas, Martin, McAllister, McGee, McLawhorn, Miller, Moore, Parmon, Pate, Pierce, Rapp, Sherrill, Stiller, Tolson, Tucker, Underhill, Wainwright, Warren, Weiss, Wiley, Wilkins, Wray, and Wright.

Referred to:

Judiciary I.

February 14, 2005

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT to make it unlawful to drive away from or otherwise leave the scene of a motor vehicle accident in certain circumstances.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  G.S. 20-166 is amended by adding four new subsections to read:

"(c3)    A person who was the driver of or a passenger in a motor vehicle when the vehicle was involved in an accident, who knows or has reason to know that the vehicle was involved in an accident that results in damage to property of one thousand dollars ($1,000) or more, and who drives a motor vehicle away from, or otherwise leaves, the scene of the accident prior to the completion of the investigation of the accident by a law enforcement officer or without the consent of a law enforcement officer, except for the purpose of calling for a law enforcement officer or for medical assistance, shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.

(c4)     A person who was the driver of or a passenger in a motor vehicle when the vehicle was involved in an accident, who knows or has reason to know that the vehicle was involved in an accident that results in personal injury or death to another person, and who drives a motor vehicle away from, or otherwise leaves, the scene of the accident prior to the completion of the investigation of the accident by a law enforcement officer or without the consent of a law enforcement officer, except for the purpose of calling for a law enforcement officer or for medical assistance, shall be guilty of a Class H felony.

(c5)     A driver of a motor vehicle that was involved in an accident who knows or has reason to know that the vehicle was involved in an accident that results in damage to property of one thousand dollars ($1,000) or more and who allows, consents to, agrees to, or acquiesces in the removal of that vehicle from the scene of the accident prior to the completion of the investigation of the accident by a law enforcement officer or without the consent of a law enforcement officer, except for the purpose of calling for a law enforcement officer or for medical assistance, shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.

(c6)     A driver of a motor vehicle that was involved in an accident who knows or has reason to know that the vehicle was involved in an accident that results in personal injury or death to another person and who allows, consents to, agrees to, or acquiesces in the removal of that vehicle from the scene of the accident prior to the completion of the investigation of the accident by a law enforcement officer or without the consent of a law enforcement officer, except for the purpose of calling for a law enforcement officer or for medical assistance, shall be guilty of a Class H felony."

SECTION 2.  This act becomes effective December 1, 2005, and applies to offenses committed on or after that date.