Bill > H903

This bill addresses several key provisions related to public safety and transportation in North Carolina. First, it appropriates nearly $1 million in recurring and non-recurring funds to add 12 new State Trooper positions specifically assigned to State Highway Patrol District H5 in Mecklenburg County. Second, the bill increases the number of magistrates in Mecklenburg County from 38.5 to 43.5, with corresponding funding of approximately $400,000 to support these additional positions. Third, the bill significantly increases fines for failing to stop for a school bus, raising minimum penalties from $500 to $1,000 for standard violations, and from $1,250 to $4,500 for violations that strike a person, with even higher fines for incidents resulting in death. The bill also introduces a new legal provision that makes vehicle registration prima facie evidence of who was operating the vehicle during a violation. Additionally, the bill establishes detailed regulations for the recording, storage, and disclosure of highway camera video by the Department of Transportation, including strict guidelines for who can access these recordings and under what circumstances. Finally, the bill allocates $3 million from the Highway Fund and an additional $35 million from the General Fund to expand the operational hours of the North Carolina Department of Transportation Metrolina Transportation Management Center in Charlotte to a 24/7 operation, starting July 1, 2025.

Budget and Finance

https://www.ncleg.gov/BillLookUp/2025/H903