Liam's Law.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2025
H 2
HOUSE BILL 246
Committee Substitute Favorable 4/8/25

Short Title: Liam's Law. (Public)
Sponsors:
Referred to:
March 3, 2025
*H246-v-2*
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
AN ACT TO INCREASE T HE PENALTIES FOR REC KLESS DRIVING OR STR EET 2
RACING THAT CAUSES S ERIOUS INJURY OR DEA TH AND INCREASE 3
PENALTIES FOR HIT AND RUN OFFENSES THAT RESULT IN DEATH. 4
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 5
6
PART I. INCREASE THE PENALTI ES FOR RECKLESS DRIV ING THAT CAUSES 7
SERIOUS INJURY 8
SECTION 1. G.S. 20-140 reads as rewritten: 9
"§ 20-140. Reckless driving. 10
… 11
(g) Any person who violates this section is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor if the reckless 12
driving causes serious injury. 13
(h) Any person who violates this section is guilty of a Class A1 misdemeanor if the 14
reckless driving causes serious bodily injury as defined in G.S. 14-32.4." 15
16
PART II. INCREASE TH E PENALTIES FOR UNLA WFUL RACING OR HIT A ND 17
RUN OFFENSES THAT RESULT IN INJURY OR DEATH 18
SECTION 2.(a) G.S. 20-17(a)(4) is repealed. 19
SECTION 2.(b) G.S. 20-141.3 reads as rewritten: 20
"§ 20-141.3. Unlawful racing on streets and highways. 21
… 22
(c) It shall be unlawful for any person to authorize or knowingly permit a moto r vehicle 23
owned by him the person or under his the person's control to be operated on a public street, 24
highway, or thoroughfare in prearranged speed competition with another motor vehicle, or to 25
place or receive any bet, wager, or other thing of value from the outcome of any prearranged 26
speed competition on any public street, highway, or thoroughfare. vehicle. Any person violating 27
the provisions of this subsection shall be is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. 28
(c1) It shall be unlawful for any person to place or receive any bet, wager, or other thing 29
of value from the outcome of any prearranged speed competition on any public street, highway, 30
or thoroughfare. Any person who violates this subsection is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. 31
(c2) Any person who violates subsection (a), (b), or (c) of this section is guilty of a Class 32
H felony if the speed competition causes serious injury. 33
(c3) Any person who violates subsection (a), (b), or (c) of this section is guilty of a Class 34
G felony if the speed competition causes serious bodily injury or death. 35
General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 2 House Bill 246-Second Edition
(d) The Commissioner of Motor Vehicles shall revoke the driver's license or privilege to 1
drive of every person convicted of violating the provisions of subsection (a) or subsection (c) of 2
this section, said revocation to be for three years; provided any person whose license has been 3
revoked under this section may apply for a new license after 18 months from revocation. Upon 4
filing of such application the Division may issue a new license upon satisfactory proof that the 5
former licensee has been of good behavior for the past 18 months and that his conduct and attitude 6
are such as to entitle him to favorable consideration and upon such terms and conditions which 7
the Division may see fit to impose for the balance of the three -year revocation period, which 8
period shall be computed from the date of the original revocation.section as follows: 9
(1) If the violation is punishable under subsection ( c2) of this section, for four 10
years. Any person whose license has been revoked under this subdivision may 11
apply for a new license after three years from revocation. 12
(2) If the violation is punishable under subsection (c3) of this section , 13
permanently. Any person whose license has been revoked under this 14
subdivision may apply for a new license after seven years from revocation. 15
(3) For any other violation , three years. Any person whose license has been 16
revoked under this subdivision may apply for a new license after 18 months 17
from revocation. 18
(d1) Upon filing of an application for a new license pursuant to subsection (d) of this 19
section, the Division may issue a new license upon satisfactory proof that the former licensee has 20
been of good behavior during the revocation period and that the applicant's conduct and attitude 21
entitle the applicant to favorable consideration. The Division may impose terms and conditions 22
upon the new license for the balance of the revocation period. When the revocation period is 23
permanent, the restrictions and conditions imposed by the Division may not exceed three years. 24
… 25
(g) The following provisions apply to this section: 26
… 27
(3) Upon conviction of the operator of said motor vehicle of a violation of 28
subsection (a) of this section or in violation of G.S. 20-141.10, the court shall 29
order a sale at public auction of said motor vehicle and the officer making the 30
sale, after deducting the expenses of keeping the motor vehicle, the fee for the 31
seizure, and the costs of the sale, shall pay all liens, according to their 32
priorities, which are established, by intervention or otherwise, at said hearing 33
or in other proceeding brought for said purpose, as being bona fide, and shall 34
pay the balance of the proceeds to the proper officer of the county who 35
receives fines and forfeitures to be used for the school fund of the county. All 36
liens against a motor vehicle sold under the provisions of this section shall be 37
transferred from the motor vehicle to the proceeds of its sale. If, at the time of 38
hearing, or other proceeding in which the matte r is considered, the owner of 39
the vehicle can establish to the satisfaction of the court that said motor vehicle 40
was used in a prearranged speed competition with another motor vehicle on a 41
street or highway or in a street takeover without the knowledge or consent of 42
the owner, and that the owner had no reasonable grounds to believe that the 43
motor vehicle would be used for such purpose, the court shall not order a sale 44
of the vehicle but shall restore it to the owner, and the said owner shall, at his 45
upon request, be entitled to a trial by jury upon such issues. 46
…." 47
SECTION 2.(c) G.S. 20-166 reads as rewritten: 48
"§ 20-166. Duty to stop in event of a crash; furnishing information or assistance to injured 49
person, etc.; persons assisting exempt from civil liability. 50
(a) The driver of any vehicle who knows or reasonably should know: 51
General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
House Bill 246-Second Edition Page 3
(1) That the vehicle which he or she is operating is involved in a crash; and 1
(2) That the crash has resulted in serious bodily injury, as defined in G.S. 14-32.4, 2
or death to any person; 3
shall immediately stop his or her the driver's vehicle at the scene of the crash. The driver shall 4
remain with the vehicle at the scene of the crash until a law -enforcement officer completes the 5
investigation of the crash or authorizes the driver to leave and the vehicle to be removed, unless 6
remaining at the scene places the driver or others at significant risk of injury. 7
Prior to the completion of the investigation of the crash by a law enforcement officer, or the 8
consent of the officer to leave, the driver may not facilitate, allow, or agree to the removal of the 9
vehicle from the scene for any purpose other than to call for a law enforcement officer, to call 10
for medical assistance or medical treatment as set forth in subsection (b) of this secti on, or to 11
remove oneself or others from significant risk of injury. If the driver does leave for a reason 12
permitted by this subsection, then the driver must return with the vehicle to the accident scene 13
within a reasonable period of time, unless otherwise instructed by a law enforcement officer. A 14
willful violation of this subsection shall be punished as a Class F felony. Notwithstanding the 15
provisions of G.S. 15A-1340.17, if the crash results in the death of another person, the court shall 16
sentence the defendant in the aggravated range of the appropriate Prior Record Level. 17
(a1) The driver of any vehicle who knows or reasonably should know: 18
(1) That the vehicle which he or she is operating is involved in a crash; and 19
(2) That the crash has resulted in injury; 20
shall immediately stop his or her the driver's vehicle at the scene of the crash. The driver shall 21
remain with the vehicle at the scene of the crash until a law enforcement officer completes the 22
investigation of the crash or authorizes the driver to leave and the vehicle to be removed, unless 23
remaining at the scene places the driver or others at significant risk of injury. 24
Prior to the completion of the investigation of the crash by a law enforcement officer, or the 25
consent of the officer to leave, the driver may not facilitate, allow, or agree to the removal of the 26
vehicle from the scene for any purpose other than to call for a law enforcement officer, to call 27
for medical assistance or medical treatment as set forth in subsection (b) of this section, or to 28
remove oneself or others from significant risk of injury. If the driver does leave for a reason 29
permitted by this subsection, then the driver must return with the vehicle to the crash scene within 30
a reasonable period of time, unless otherwise instructed by a law enforcement officer. A willful 31
violation of this subsection shall be punished as a Class H felony. 32
(b) In addition to complying with the requirements of subsections (a) and (a1) of this 33
section, the driver as set forth in subsections (a) and (a1) Any driver required to stop at the scene 34
of a crash pursuant to subsection (a) or (a1) of this section shall give his or her additionally 35
provide the following information to the person struck and the driver or occupants of any vehicle 36
collided with , unless those indivi duals are physically or mentally incapable of receiving 37
information: (i) the driver 's name, address, driver's license number and (ii) the license plate 38
number of the vehicle to the person struck or the driver or occupants of any vehicle collided with, 39
provided that the person or persons are physically and mentally capable of receiving such 40
information, and shall driver's vehicle. The driver shall also render reasonable assistance to any 41
person injured in such crash reasonable assistance, including the injured person. Reasonable 42
assistance includes calling for medical assistance if it is apparent that such assistance is necessary 43
or is requested by the injured person. A violation of this subsection is a Class 1 misdemeanor. 44
(c) The driver of any vehicle, when the driver knows or reasonably should know that the 45
vehicle which the driver is operating is involved in a crash which results: 46
(1) Only in damage to property; or 47
(2) In injury or death to any person, but only if the operator of the vehicle did not 48
know and did not have reason to know of the death or injury; 49
shall immediately stop the vehicle at the scene of the crash. If the crash is a reportable crash, the 50
driver shall remain with the vehicle at the scene of the crash until a law enfo rcement officer 51
General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 4 House Bill 246-Second Edition
completes the investigation of the crash or authorizes the driver to leave and the vehicle to be 1
removed, unless remaining at the scene places the driver or others at significant risk of injury. 2
Prior to the completion of the investigation of the crash by a law enforcement officer, or the 3
consent of the officer to leave, the driver may not facilitate, allow, or agree to the removal of the 4
vehicle from the scene, for any purpose other than to call for a law enforcement officer, to call 5
for medical assistance or medical treatment, or to remove oneself or others from significant risk 6
of injury. If the driver does leave for a reason permitted by this subsection, then the driver must 7
return with the vehicle to the accident scene within a reasonable period of time, unless otherwise 8
instructed by a law enforcement officer. A willful violation of this subsection is a Class 1 9
misdemeanor. 10
(c1) In addition to complying with the requirement of subsection (c) of this section, the 11
driver as set forth in su bsection (c) Any driver required to stop at the scene of a crash pursuant 12
to subsection ( c) of this section shall give his or her additionally provide the following 13
information to the driver or occupants of any other vehicle involved in the crash or to any person 14
whose property is damaged in the crash : (i) the driver's name, address, driver's license number 15
and (ii) the license plate number of his vehicle to the driver or occupants of any other vehicle 16
involved in the crash or to any person whose property is damaged in the crash. the driver 's 17
vehicle. If the damaged property is a parked and unattended vehicle and the name and location 18
of the owner is not known to or readily ascertainable by the driver of the responsible vehicle, the 19
driver shall furnish the information required by this subsection to the nearest available peace 20
officer, or, in the alternative, and provided the driver thereafter within 48 hours f ully complies 21
with G.S. 20-166.1(c), shall immediately place a paper -writing containing the information in a 22
conspicuous place upon or in the damaged vehicle. If the damaged property is a guardrail, utility 23
pole, or other fixed object owned by the Departme nt of Transportation, a public utility, or other 24
public service corporation to which report cannot readily be made at the scene, it shall be 25
sufficient if the responsible driver shall furnish the information required to the nearest peace 26
officer or make wr itten report thereof containing the information by U.S. certified mail, return 27
receipt requested, to the North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles within five days following 28
the collision. A violation of this subsection is a Class 1 misdemeanor. 29
… 30
(e) The Division of Motor Vehicles shall revoke shall: 31
(1) Revoke the drivers license of a person convicted of violating subsection (a) of 32
this section for a period of four years unless the crash results in the death of 33
another person. Any person whose license has been revoked under this 34
subdivision may apply for a new license after three years from revocation. 35
(2) Revoke the drivers license of a person convicted of violating subsection (a) of 36
this section p ermanently if the crash resul ts in the death of another person. 37
Any person whose license has been revoked under this subdivision may apply 38
for a new license after seven years from revocation. 39
(3) Revoke the drivers license of a person convicted of violating subsection (a) or 40
(a1) or (b) of this section for a period of one year, unless the court makes a 41
finding that a longer period of revocation is appropriate under the 42
circumstances of the case. If the court makes this finding, the Division of 43
Motor Vehicles shall revoke that person's drivers license for two years. Upon 44
a first conviction only for a violation of subsection (a1) or (b) of this section, 45
a trial judge may allow limited driving privileges in the manner set forth in 46
G.S. 20-179.3(b)(2) during any period of time during which the drivers license 47
is revoked. Any person whose license has been revoked under this subdivision 48
may apply for a new license after a year from revocation. 49
(e1) Upon filing of an application for a new license pursuant to subsection ( e) of this 50
section, the Division may issue a new license upon satisfactory proof that the former licensee has 51
General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
House Bill 246-Second Edition Page 5
been of good behavior during the revocation period and that the applicant's conduct and attitude 1
entitle the applicant to favorable consideration. The Division may impose terms and conditions 2
upon the new license for the balance of the revocation period. When the revocation period is 3
permanent, the restrictions and conditions imposed by the Division may not exceed three years." 4
SECTION 2.(d) G.S. 20-179.3(b)(2) reads as rewritten: 5
"(2) Any person whose licensing privileges are forfeited pursuant to 6
G.S. 15A-1331.1 G.S. 15A-1331.1, 20-166(a1), or 20-166(b) is eligible for a 7
limited driving privilege if the court finds that at the time of the forfeiture, the 8
person held either a valid drivers license or a drivers license that had been 9
expired for less than one year and either of the following requirements is met: 10
…." 11
12
PART III. EFFECTIVE DATE 13
SECTION 3. This act becomes effective December 1, 2025, and applies to offenses 14
committed on or after that date. 15