North Carolina HB 1199: The Seatbelt Act.

Bill Text

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2025
H 2
HOUSE BILL 1199
Committee Substitute Favorable 6/9/26

Short Title: The Seatbelt Act. (Public)
Sponsors:
Referred to:
May 5, 2026
*H1199-v-2*
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
AN ACT TO ENACT THE STRONGER ENFORCEMENT AND ACCOUNTABILITY FOR 2
TRANSPORTATION BEHAVIOR AND EMERGING LIVE-SAVING TECHNOLOGY 3
(SEATBELT) ACT. 4
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 5
6
PART I. TITLE 7
SECTION 1.1. This act shall be known as "The Stronger Enforcement and 8
Accountability for Transportation Behavior and Emerging Live-saving Technology 9
(SEATBELT) Act." 10
11
PART II. INTELLIGENT SPEED ASSISTANCE SYSTEMS 12
SECTION 2.1. Article 2 of Chapter 20 of the General Statutes is amended by adding 13
the following new sections to read: 14
"§ 20-17.10. Restriction of a license after certain speeding convictions; Intelligent Speed 15
Assistance system. 16
(a) Definition. – The term Intelligent Speed Assistance system (ISA system) means an 17
aftermarket system that uses location-based technology to automatically regulate vehicle 18
acceleration or speed in accordance with the applicable speed limit. 19
(b) Scope. – This section applies to a person whose drivers license was revoked, or whose 20
driving privilege was limited, pursuant to either (i) G.S. 20-16.1 or (ii) a violation of any of the 21
following: 22
(1) G.S. 20-140. 23
(2) G.S. 20-141. 24
(3) G.S. 20-141.1. 25
(4) G.S. 20-141.3. 26
(5) G.S. 20-141.4. 27
(6) G.S. 20-141.5. 28
(7) G.S. 20-141.6. 29
(8) G.S. 20-141.10. 30
(c) ISA System Required. – When the Division restores the license of, or grants a limited 31
driving privilege to, a person who is subject to this section, in addition to any other restriction or 32
condition, it shall require the person to agree to and shall indicate on the person's drivers license 33
that the person may only operate a vehicle equipped with a functioning ISA system approved by 34
the Commissioner. 35

General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 2 House Bill 1199-Second Edition
(d) Length of Requirement. – The requirements of subsection (c) of this section shall 1
remain in effect for one year from the date of restoration. 2
(e) Vehicles Subject to Requirement. – A person subject to this section shall designate in 3
accordance with the policies of the Division any registered vehicles owned by that person that 4
the person operates or intends to operate and have the designated vehicles equipped with a 5
functioning ISA system of a type approved by the Commissioner. The Commissioner shall not 6
issue a license to a person subject to this section until presented with proof of the installation of 7
an ISA system in at least one of the person's designated vehicles. The Commissioner shall cancel 8
the drivers license of any person subject to this section for operating a vehicle that has not been 9
designated and equipped with a functioning ISA system in accordance with this subsection, or 10
removal of the ignition interlock system from any designated motor vehicle owned by the person, 11
other than when changing ISA system providers or upon sale of the designated vehicle. 12
(f) Notice of Requirement. – When a court reports to the Division a conviction of a 13
person who is subject to this section, the Division must send the person written notice of the 14
requirements of this section and of the consequences of failing to comply with these 15
requirements. The notification must include a statement that the person may contact the Division 16
for information on obtaining and having installed an ISA system of a type approved by the 17
Commissioner. 18
(g) Effect of Violation of Restriction. – A person subject to this section who violates any 19
of the restrictions of this section commits the offense of driving while license revoked under 20
G.S. 20-28 and is subject to punishment as provided in that section. 21
(h) Notification of Revocation. – If the person's license has not already been surrendered 22
to the court, the Division must expeditiously notify the person that the person's license to drive 23
is revoked pursuant to subsection (g) of this section effective on the thirtieth calendar day after 24
the mailing of the revocation order. 25
(i) Restoration After Violation. – When the Division restores the license of a person 26
whose license was revoked pursuant to subsection (g) of this section and the revocation occurred 27
prior to completion of time period required by subsection (d) of this section, in addition to any 28
other restriction or condition, it shall require the person to comply with the conditions of 29
subsection (c) of this section until the person has complied with those conditions for the 30
cumulative period of time as set forth in subsection (d) of this section. The period of time for 31
which the person successfully complied with subsection (c) of this section prior to revocation 32
pursuant to subsection (g) of this section shall be applied toward the requirem