North Carolina HB 246: Liam's Law.

Bill Text

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 THE PENALTIES FOR RECKLESS DRIVING OR STREET 2
RACING THAT CAUSES SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH 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 PENALTIES FOR RECKLESS DRIVING 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 THE PENALTIES FOR UNLAWFUL RACING OR HIT AND 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SECTION 2.(a) G.S. 20-17(a)(4) is repealed. 19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 motor 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 th