North Carolina HB 113 becomes law effective December 1, 2011.

Basically, run a biker off the road = $200 fine, run a biker off the road causing damage or injury = $500 fine. Not much, but it's something. In reality, if I need to hit the ditch because some jack-wagon in a cage drifts across the center line and causes me injury/damage, I could give a rat's azz about his $500 fine.

I imagine, most of these will be handed out after an accident. I can't really see too many times a cop will observe a cage causing a biker to change lanes and pull them but ya never know, stranger stuff has happened.

 

Good to hear. When I clicked on the thread I was afraid it was about more government restrictions on the biking community.

 

It will probably be like the texting law. It is nothing more than one of those feel good laws. I know of no one getting a ticket for texting or heard of anyone getting a ticket for texting. Also the fact that everyday I see people texting and driving. So unless I am in the ditch there will be no fine. Also only if the person stops. Like the idea but dont see it being the effective.

 

I found out about it by scanning the new laws that go into effect here over the next couple months. I was afraid of the same thing - more gubber-munt interference. Glad it wasn't.

I shot the sponsor of the bill an email thanking him for thinking about us. I got a reply from one of his staffers that he can't reply. He's deployed to Afganistan.

I asked her to thank him twice for me then.

 

As far as a deterrent fine, or punishment type of thing, it's ineffective.

Where it's really going to help is in civil court. If someone runs you off the road and causes damage/injury....sue their pants off in civil court. If they get a ticket and fine, it will help you tremendously in your legal proceedings. It's like having an "at fault judgement" levied against the idiot that hurt you.

 

Good intensions...That's about it. As a previous poster said, It's like the texting law...Never enforced. Everytime I have a cage drift into my lane, I look as I'm going by with the bird wave...Sure enough...Texting. Sometimes I have to honk the horn so they look up to recieve my message.

 

The problem with the NC texting law is that it's impossible to enforce because the officer has to "prove" that the driver was actually texting and not just looking at his phone or dialing a number which are NOT illegal...

 

Or, they confess to texting when then hit and kill a biker

 

Not enough in my book!

 

You have to understand how terminology works in ordinances and statutes.

shall be assessed a fine of not less than five hundred dollars ($500.00).


"shall" = must: when you see "shall" used, it is mandatory.

"not less than" = minimum: $500.00 is the minimum fine. This also means that the fine will normally be set by a judge, which will require a mandatory court appearance.

The same terminology is used for the non-crash violation.


Looks like a great start to me.