North Carolina Transportation Safety Act.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2025
H 1
HOUSE BILL 1105

Short Title: North Carolina Transportation Safety Act. (Public)
Sponsors: Representatives Logan, Crawford, Morey, and Quick (Primary Sponsors).
For a complete list of sponsors, refer to the North Carolina General Assembly web site.
Referred to: Appropriations, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House
April 30, 2026
*H1105-v-1*
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
AN ACT TO INCREASE S TATE TROOPERS IN MEC KLENBURG COUNTY, TO 2
INCREASE MAGISTRATES IN MECKLENBURG COUN TY, TO REVISE CERTAI N 3
PENALTIES FOR FAILURE TO STOP FOR A SCHO OL BUS AND AUTHORIZE THE 4
USE OF VEHICLE REGIS TRATION AS PRIMA FAC IE EVIDENCE OF 5
RESPONSIBILITY, TO P ROHIBIT DISCLOSURE O F HIGHWAY CAMERA VID EO 6
RECORDS STORED BY TH E NORTH CAROLINA DEP ARTMENT OF 7
TRANSPORTATION WITH CERTAIN EXCEPTIONS, TO EXPAND THE 8
OPERATIONAL HOURS OF THE NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF 9
TRANSPORTATION METROLINA TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT CENTER IN 10
CHARLOTTE, TO INCREA SE THE MONETARY PENA LTY FOR VIOLATIONS O F 11
THE MOVE OVER LAW, TO ADD A MONETARY PENALTY FOR VIOLATIONS OF 12
THE STREET TAKEOVER LAW, TO ESTABLISH TH E OFFENSE OF DEATH O R 13
SERIOUS INJURY BY RE CKLESS BOATING, AND TO INCREAS E THE PENALTY 14
FOR ASSAULT ON PUBLIC TRANSIT OPERATORS. 15
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 16
17
INCREASE TROOPERS IN MECKLENBURG COUNTY 18
SECTION 1.(a) There is appropriated from the General Fund to the State Highway 19
Patrol the sum of nine hundred ninety-nine thousand four hundred dollars ($999,400) in recurring 20
funds beginning in the 2026 -2027 fiscal year to be used to fund 12 full -time State Trooper 21
positions. 22
SECTION 1.(b) Notwithstanding G.S. 143B-1724 and any rules and regulations 23
created pursuant to that statute, the State Trooper positions funded in this act shall result in an 24
increase of at least 12 State Troopers assigned to State Highway Patrol District H5 of Troop H. 25
SECTION 1.(c) This section becomes effective July 1, 2026. 26
27
INCREASE MAGISTRATES IN MECKLENBURG COUNTY 28
SECTION 2.(a) G.S. 7A-133(c) reads as rewritten: 29
"(c) Each county shall have the numbers of magistrates and additional seats of district 30
court, as set forth in the following table: 31
Magistrates Additional 32
County Min. Seats of Court 33
… 34
Mecklenburg 38.543.5 35
General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 2 House Bill 1105-First Edition
…." 1
SECTION 2.(b) There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Administrative 2
Office of the Courts the sum of four hund red two thousand seventy dollars ($402,070) in 3
recurring funds beginning in the 2026 -2027 fiscal year to be used to hire five additional 4
magistrates to serve in Mecklenburg County pursuant to subsection (a) of this section. There is 5
appropriated from the General Fund to the Administrative Office of the Courts the sum of fifteen 6
thousand one hundred forty dollars ($15,140) in nonrecurring funds for the 2026-2027 fiscal year 7
to be used to hire five additional magistrates to serve in Mecklenburg County pursuan t to 8
subsection (a) of this section. 9
SECTION 2.(c) This section becomes effective July 1, 2026. 10
11
INCREASE OF FINES FOR FAILURE TO STOP FOR A SCHOOL BUS AND 12
EXPANSION OF WHAT CONSTITUTES PRIMA FACIE EVIDENCE IN THOSE 13
CASES 14
SECTION 3.(a) G.S. 20-217 reads as rewritten: 15
"§ 20 -217. Motor vehicles to stop for properly marked and designated school buses in 16
certain instances; evidence of identity of driver. 17
… 18
(e) Except as provided in subsection (g) of this section, any person violating this section 19
shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor and shall pay a minimum fine of five hundred dollars 20
($500.00). one thousand dollars ($ 1,000). A person who violates subsection (a) of this section 21
shall not receive a prayer for judgment continued under any circumstances. 22
… 23
(g) Any person who willfully violates subsection (a) of this section and strikes any person 24
shall be guilty of a Class I felony and shall pay a minimum fine o f one thousand two hundred 25
fifty dollars ($1,250). four thousand five hundred dollars ($4,500). Any person who willfully 26
violates subsection (a) of this section and strikes any person, resulting in the death of that person, 27
shall be guilty of a Class H fel ony and shall pay a minimum fine of two thousand five hundred 28
dollars ($2,500).seven thousand dollars ($7,000). 29
… 30
(i) Whenever evidence is presented in any court or administrative hearing of the fact that 31
a vehicle was operated in violation of this section, it shall be prima facie evidence that the vehicle 32
was operated by the person in whose name the vehicle was registered at the time of the violation 33
according to the Division's records. If the vehicle is rented, then proof of that rental shall be prima 34
facie evidence that the vehicle was operated by the renter of the vehicle at the time of the 35
violation." 36
SECTION 3.(b) This section becomes effective December 1, 2026, and applies to 37
offenses committed on or after that date. 38
39
PROVISIONS REGARDING THE RECORDING, STORAGE, AND DISCLOSURE OF 40
VIDEO FROM DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION HIGHWAY CAMERAS 41
SECTION 4.(a) G.S. 132-1.1 is amended by adding a new subsection to read: 42
"(i) Highway camera video records stored by the Department of Transportation may not 43
be disclosed except as provided in G.S. 132-1.7B." 44
SECTION 4.(b) Chapter 132 of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new 45
section to read: 46
"§ 132-1.7B. Highway camera video records. 47
(a) Definitions. – The following definitions apply in this section: 48
(1) Disclose or disclosure. – To make a recording available for viewing or 49
listening to by the person requesting disclosure, at a time and location chosen 50
General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
House Bill 1105-First Edition Page 3
by the custodial law enforcement agency. This term does not include the 1
release of a recording. 2
(2) Highway camera. – A Department of Transportation video or digital camera, 3
located on highway right -of-way, for the purpose of monitoring vehicle 4
traffic. 5
(3) Personal representative. – A parent, court -appointed guardian, spouse, or 6
attorney of a person who se image or voice is in the recording. If a person 7
whose image or voice is in the recording is deceased, the term also means the 8
personal representative of the estate of the deceased person; the deceased 9
person's surviving spouse, parent, or adult child; t he deceased person 's 10
attorney; or the parent or guardian of a surviving minor child of the deceased. 11
(4) Recording. – A visual, or visual and audio , recording captured by a highway 12
camera. 13
(5) Release. – To provide a copy of a recording. 14
(b) Highway camera s shall record and store incidents upon the request of law 15
enforcement agencies to assist the following types of incident investigations along the interstates 16
and highways: 17
(1) Vehicle chases. 18
(2) Hit and run crashes. 19
(3) Road rage altercations. 20
(4) Street races. 21
(5) Street takeovers. 22
(6) Any other incident investigations of which law enforcement agencies feel the 23
assistance of this technology would support and expedite. 24
(c) Public Record Classification. – Recordings under this section are not public records, 25
as defined by G.S. 132-1. 26
(d) Disclosure; General. – Except as provided under subsection (b) of this section, 27
recordings shall be disclosed only as provided by this section. A person requesting disclosure of 28
a recording must make a written request to the Department of Transportation. The request shall 29
include the name of the person making the request, date and approximate time of the activity 30
captured in the recording , or otherwise identify the activity with reasonable particularity 31
sufficient to identify the recording to which the request refers. The Department may only disclose 32
a recording to the following: 33
(1) A person whose image or voice is in the recording. 34
(2) A personal representative of an adult person whose image or voice is in the 35
recording, if the adult person has consented to the disclosure. 36
(3) A personal representative of a minor or of an adult person under lawful 37
guardianship whose image or voice is in the recording. 38
(4) A personal representative of a deceased person whose image or voice is in the 39
recording. 40
(5) A personal representative of an adult person who is incapacitated and unable 41
to provide consent to disclosure. 42
When disclosing the recording, the Department shall disclose only those portions of the 43
recording that are relevant to the person's request. A person who receives disclosure pursuant to 44
this subsection shall not record or copy the recording. 45
(e) Disclosure; Factors for Consideration. – Upon receipt of the written request for 46
disclosure under subsection (d) of thi s section, as promptly as possible, the Department must 47
either disclose the portion of the recording relevant to the person's request or notify the requestor 48
of the decision not to disclose the recording to the requestor. The Department may consider any 49
of the following factors in determining if a recording is disclosed: 50
General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
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(1) If the person requesting disclosure of the recording is a person authorized to 1
receive disclosure pursuant to subsection (d) of this section. 2
(2) If the recording contains information that is otherwise confidential or exempt 3
from disclosure or release under State or federal law. 4
(3) If disclosure would reveal information regarding a person that is of a highly 5
sensitive personal nature. 6
(4) If disclosure may harm the reputation or jeopardize the safety of a person. 7
(5) If disclosure would create a serious threat to the fair, impartial, and orderly 8
administration of justice. 9
(6) If confidentiality is necessary to protect either an active or inactive internal or 10
criminal investigation or potential internal or criminal investigation. 11
(f) Appeal of Disclosure Denial. – If the Department denies disclosure pursuant to 12
subsection (e) of this section, or has failed to provide disclosure more than three business days 13
after the request for disclosure, the person seeking disclosure may apply to the superior court in 14
any county where any portion of the recording was made for a review of the denial of disclosure. 15
The court may conduct an in-camera review of the recording. The court may order the disclosure 16
of the recording only if the court finds that the Department abused its discretion in denying the 17
request for disclosure. The court may only order disclosure of those portions of the recording that 18
are relevant to the person's request. A person who receives disclosure pursuant to this subsection 19
shall not record or copy the recording. An order issued pursuant to this subsection may not order 20
the release of the recording. 21
In any proceeding pursuant to this subsection, the following persons shall be notified and 22
those persons, or their designated representative, shall be given an opportunity to be heard at any 23
proceeding: (i) the head of the Department, (ii) any law enforcement agency personnel whose 24
image or voice is in the recording and the head of that person 's employing law enforcement 25
agency, and (iii) the district attorney. Actions brought pursuant to this subsection shall be set 26
down for hearing as soon as practicable, and subsequent proceedings in such actions shall be 27
accorded priority by the trial and appellate courts. 28
(g) Release of Recordings; General; Court Order Required. – Except as provided under 29
subsection (b) of this section, r ecordings shall only be released pursuant to court order. Any 30
person requesting release of a recording may fi le an action in the superior court in any county 31
where any portion of the recording was made for an order releasing the recording. The request 32
for release must state the date and approximate time of the activity captured in the recording or 33
otherwise identify the activity with reasonable particularity sufficient to identify the recording to 34
which the action refers. The court may conduct an in -camera review of the recording. In 35
determining whether to order the release of all or a portion of the recording, in addition to any 36
other standards the court deems relevant, the court shall consider the applicability of all of the 37
following standards: 38
(1) Release is necessary to advance a compelling public interest. 39
(2) The recording contains information that is otherw ise confidential or exempt 40
from disclosure or release under State or federal law. 41
(3) The person requesting release is seeking to obtain evidence to determine legal 42
issues in a current or potential court proceeding. 43
(4) Release would reveal information regarding a person that is of a highly 44
sensitive personal nature. 45
(5) Release may harm the reputation or jeopardize the safety of a person. 46
(6) Release would create a serious threat to the fair, impartial, and orderly 47
administration of justice. 48
(7) Confidentiality is necessary to protect either an active or inactive internal or 49
criminal investigation or potential internal or criminal investigation. 50
(8) There is good cause shown to release all portions of a recording. 51
General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
House Bill 1105-First Edition Page 5
The court shall release only those porti ons of the recording that are relevant to the person 's 1
request and may place any conditions or restrictions on the release of the recording that the court, 2
in its discretion, deems appropriate. 3
In any proceeding pursuant to this subsection, the following persons shall be notified and 4
those persons, or their designated representative, shall be given an opportunity to be heard at any 5
proceeding: (i) the head of the Department, (ii) any law enforcement agency personnel whose 6
image or voice is in the recording and the head of that person 's employing law enforcement 7
agency, and (iii) the district attorney. Actions brought pursuant to this subsection shall be set 8
down for hearing as soon as practicable, and subsequent proceedings in such actions shall be 9
accorded priority by the trial and appellate courts. 10
(h) Release of Recordings; Law Enforcement Purposes. – Notwithstanding any provision 11
of this section to the contrary , the Department shall disclose or release a recording to a district 12
attorney (i) for review of potential criminal charges, (ii) in order to comply with discovery 13
requirements in a criminal prosecution, (iii) for use in criminal proceedings in district court, or 14
(iv) for any other law enforcement purpose and may disclose or release a recording for s uspect 15
identification or apprehension or to locate a missing or abducted person. 16
(i) Retention of Recordings. – The Department shall not be required to retain any 17
recording subject to the provisions of this section for more than 30 days, unless a court of 18
competent jurisdiction orders otherwise. 19
(j) No civil liability shall arise from compliance with the provisions of this section, 20
provided that the acts or omissions are made in good faith and do not constitute gross negligence, 21
willful or wanton misconduct, or intentional wrongdoing. 22
(k) Fee for Copies. – The Department may charge a fee to offset the cost incurred by it 23
to make a copy of a recording for release. The fee shall not exceed the actual cost of making the 24
copy. 25
(l) Attorneys' Fees. – The court may not award attorneys' fees to any party in any action 26
brought pursuant to this section. 27
(m) Use of Recordings. – Recordings subject to this section may not be used for fines or 28
private investigation. 29
(n) Elected Official. – No elected official may review recordings subject to this section, 30
unless they meet the criteria in subsection (d) of this section. This subsection does not apply to a 31
county sheriff or district attorney if review of the recordings is within the scope of a criminal 32
investigation." 33
SECTION 4.(c) This section becomes effective July 1, 2026. 34
35
FUND THE 24-HOUR OPERATION OF THE NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF 36
TRANSPORTATION METROLINA TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT CENTER 37
IN CHARLOTTE 38
SECTION 5.(a) There is appropriated from the Highway Fund to the Department of 39
Transportation the sum of three million dollars ($3,000,000) in recurring funds beginning in the 40
2026-2027 fiscal year to be used for expanding the operational hours of the IMap and North 41
Carolina Department of Transportation Metrolina Transportation Management Center in 42
Charlotte, North Carolina, to 24 hours a day, every day of the year. 43
SECTION 5.(b) Of the funds appropriated from the General Fund to the Department 44
of Transportation for the 2026-2027 fiscal year, the sums of fifteen million dollars ($15,000,000) 45
in recurring funds and twenty million dollars ($20,000,000) in nonrecurring funds are allocated 46
to be used by the Department for the purpose of expanding the operational hours of the IMap and 47
North Carolina Department of Transportation Metrolina Transportation Management Center in 48
Charlotte, North Carolina, to 24 hours a day, every day of the year. 49
SECTION 5.(c) This section becomes effective July 1, 2026. 50
51
General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
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INCREASE THE MONETARY PENALTY FOR VIOLATIONS OF THE MOVE OVER 1
LAW 2
SECTION 6.(a) G.S. 20-157 reads as rewritten: 3
"§ 20 -157. Approach of law enforcement, fire department or rescue squad vehicles or 4
ambulances; driving over fire hose or blocking fire fighting equipment; parking, 5
etc., near law enforcement, fire department, or rescue squad vehicle or 6
ambulance. 7
… 8
(g) Except as provided in subsections (a), (h), and (i) of this section, violation of this 9
section shall be is an infraction punishable by a fine of two hundred fifty dolla rs ($250.00).not 10
less than three hundred dollars ($300.00) nor more than five hundred dollars ($500.00). 11
…." 12
SECTION 6.(b) This section becomes effective December 1, 2026, and applies to 13
offenses committed on or after that date. 14
15
ADD A MONETARY PENALTY FOR VIOLATIONS OF THE STREET TAKEOVER 16
LAW 17
SECTION 7.(a) G.S. 20-141.10 reads as rewritten: 18
"§ 20-141.10. Street takeover. 19
… 20
(b) It shall be is unlawful for any person to operate a motor vehicle in a street takeover. 21
Any person who knowingly violates this subsection is guilty of a Class A1 misdemeanor and 22
shall pay a fine of no less than one thousand dollars ($1,000). A subsequent violation of this 23
subsection within a 24 -month period is a Class H felony, including a minimum fine equal to 24
twice the value of the vehicle involved in the offense but no less than one thousand dollars 25
($1,000). Additionally, and notwithstanding any provision of G.S. 15A-1340.37 to the contrary, 26
the court shall order a person who knowingly violates this subsection and causes damag e to a 27
curb, road surface, or any other portion of a highway, street, or public vehicular area to pay 28
restitution for the cost of the damages to the State pursuant to Article 81C of Chapter 15A of the 29
General Statutes. 30
(c) It shall be is unlawful to knowingly participate in, coordinate through social media or 31
otherwise, commit an overt act in furtherance of, or facilitate a street takeover. Any person who 32
violates this subsection is guilty of a Class A1 misdemeanor. Mere presence alone without an 33
intentional act is not sufficient to sustain a conviction under this section. 34
(e) A person who violates subsection (b) of this section and assaults a law enforcement 35
officer or knowingly and willfully threatens a law enforcement officer shall be is guilty of a Class 36
H felony. 37
…." 38
SECTION 7.(b) This section becomes effective December 1, 2026, and applies to 39
offenses committed on or after that date. 40
41
ESTABLISH THE OFFENSE OF DEATH OR SERIOUS INJURY BY RECKLESS 42
BOATING 43
SECTION 8.(a) Article 1 of Chapter 75A of t he General Statutes is amended by 44
adding a new section to read: 45
"§ 75A-10.4. Death or serious injury by reckless boating. 46
(a) Death by Reckless Boating. – A person commits the offense of death by reckless 47
boating if all of the following apply: 48
(1) The person unintentionally causes the death of another person while operating 49
a vessel. 50
General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
House Bill 1105-First Edition Page 7
(2) The person was engaged in an offense under G.S. 75A-10(a) for recklessly 1
operating a vessel. 2
(3) The person was not engaged in the offense of impaired boating under 3
G.S. 75A-10(b1). 4
(4) The commission of the offense in subdivision (2) of this subsection is the 5
proximate cause of the death. 6
(b) Serious Injury by Reckless Boating. – A person commits the offense of serious injury 7
by reckless boating if all of the following apply: 8
(1) The person unintentionally causes the serious injury of another person while 9
operating a vessel. 10
(2) The person was engaged in an offense under G.S. 75A-10(a) for recklessly 11
operating a vessel. 12
(3) The person was not engaged in the offense of impaired boating under 13
G.S. 75A-10(b1). 14
(4) The commission of the offense in subdivision (2) of this subsection is the 15
proximate cause of the serious injury. 16
(c) Aggravated Death by Reckless Boating. – A person co mmits the offense of 17
aggravated death by reckless boating if all of the following apply: 18
(1) The person unintentionally causes the death of another person while operating 19
a vessel. 20
(2) The person was engaged in an offense under G.S. 75A-10(a) for recklessly 21
operating a vessel. 22
(3) The person was not engaged in the offense of impaired boating under 23
G.S. 75A-10(b1). 24
(4) The commission of the offense in subdivision (2) of this subsection is the 25
proximate cause of the death. 26
(5) The person has a previo us conviction under G.S. 75A-10(a) for recklessly 27
operating a vessel within seven years of the date of the offense. 28
(d) Aggravated Serious Injury by Reckless Boating. – A person commits the offense of 29
aggravated serious injury by reckless boating if all of the following apply: 30
(1) The person unintentionally causes the serious injury of another person while 31
operating a vessel. 32
(2) The person was engaged in an offense under G.S. 75A-10(a) for recklessly 33
operating a vessel. 34
(3) The person was not engaged in the offense of impaired boating under 35
G.S. 75A-10(b1). 36
(4) The commission of the offense in subdivision (2) of this subsection is the 37
proximate cause of the serious injury. 38
(5) The person has a previous conviction under G.S. 75A-10(a) for recklessly 39
operating a vessel within seven years of the date of the offense. 40
(e) Punishments. – Unless the conduct is covered under some other provision of law 41
providing greater punishment, the following classifications apply to the offenses set forth in this 42
section: 43
(1) Death by reckless boating is a Class A1 misdemeanor. 44
(2) Serious injury by reckless boating is a Class 1 misdemeanor. 45
(3) Aggravated death by reckless boating is a Class F felony. 46
(4) Aggravated serious injury by reckless boating is a Class I felony. 47
(f) No Double Prosecutions. – No person who has been placed in jeopardy upon a charge 48
of death by reckless boating may be prosecuted for the offense of manslaughter arising out of the 49
same death; and no person who has been placed in jeopardy upon a charge of manslaughter may 50
be prosecuted for death by reckless boating arising out of the same death." 51
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SECTION 8.(b) This section becomes effective December 1, 2026, and applies to 1
offenses committed on or after that date. 2
3
ASSAULT ON PUBLIC TRANSIT OPERATORS 4
SECTION 9.(a) G.S. 14-33(c)(7) is repealed. 5
SECTION 9.(b) Article 8 of Chapter 14 of the General Statutes is amended by 6
adding a new section to read: 7
"§ 14-34.6A. Assault on a public transit operator. 8
(a) A person is guilty of a Class I felony if the person commits an assault causing physical 9
injury on any public transit operator, including a public employee or a private contractor 10
employed as a public transit operator, when the operator is discharging or attempting to discharge 11
the operator's official duties. 12
(b) Unless a person 's conduct is covered under some other provision of law providing 13
greater punishment, a person is guilty of a Class D felony if the person violates subsection (a) of 14
this section and uses a firearm." 15
16
EFFECTIVE DATE 17
SECTION 10. Except as otherwise provided, this act is effective when it becomes 18
law. 19