Rep. Wray’s Raleigh report


Many of the new laws that we approved this past session went into place at the beginning of this month.

Several of them are designed to protect drivers and other people who use our roads. Last year more than 1,500 people were killed on North Carolina roads, many because of drunken driving. These new laws will help us save lives.

If you would like more information about these laws or any of the 45 new laws that went into effect on Dec. 1, please visit the General Assembly’s Web site.

Thank you as always for your interest in state government and please let me know if I can ever be of assistance.

Alcohol Inhalers

A new statute (SB 125) makes it unlawful for anyone to manufacture, sell or possess an alcohol vaporizing device. The devices are used to mix ethyl alcohol with gases to produce an alcoholic vapor people can inhale or snort. This is more dangerous than drinking alcohol because the alcohol goes directly to the bloodstream.

Alcohol Monitoring

Convicted drunken drivers will be allowed to wear alcohol-monitoring ankle bracelets instead of serving jail time under a bill (SB 1290) we ratified this session. The bracelets cost $12 a day, some of which will be paid by the convicted drivers. Supporters say some counties may be willing to bear the cost since the bracelets would keep drunken drivers off the road and be less expensive than jail.

Underage Drinking

The General Assembly ratified and Gov. Easley signed a law that will help decrease underage drinking and drunken driving. The bill (SB 999) gives courts the authority to take custody of juveniles charged with underage drinking or driving while impaired and considered to be a danger to others.

Lawmakers passed a new law (HB 1277) to punish people who give alcohol to anyone under age 21. Under the law, anyone who gives or helps purchase alcohol for an underage person will have their driver’s license revoked.

Motorcyclists

We passed a bill (SB 1359) that will allow motorcyclists to go through red lights if the signal doesn’t turn green within three minutes. The law requires riders to come to a complete stop at the intersection. Motorcycles are sometimes not heavy enough to trip the weight sensors in the road that caused a traffic signal to change. A motorcyclist can drive through the intersection after three minutes if there are no pedestrians or approaching vehicles. This law was created to protect motorcyclists forced to wait at intersections late at night.

School Buses and Drivers

Anyone who strikes a person while a school bus is stopped will be guilty of a Class I felony, even if the victim is not seriously harmed. The new law (SB 924) is intended to protect children as they get on and off of school buses and also requires the buses to be painted yellow.

It is now unlawful for a school bus driver to talk on a cell phone or similar device while transporting students. Under the new law (HB 183), bus drivers caught talking on cell phones can be charged with a misdemeanor and will have to pay a fine of at least $100, even if they are using a hands-free set.

Speeding

Another new law (SB 925) will make it more difficult for speeding motorists to plead down to a lesser charge. Now, drivers speeding at more than 25 mph over the posted speed limit cannot claim that their speedometer was broken. These speeders will also be ineligible for a disposition of prayer for judgment continued. Under the terms of a prayer for judgment, a person is adjudicated guilty by the court, but no judgment is entered and no punishment is imposed unless there is a subsequent violation within a specified period of time.

Please remember that you can visit the General Assembly’s website at www.ncleg.net to look up bills, view lawmaker biographies and access other information.

I plan to attend the following meetings/events:

  • First United Methodist Church Breakfast, Henderson-December 9
  • Speaker-Secretary of State Elaine Marshall
  • Roanoke Rapids Christmas Parade-December 9
  • Reception, Mayor Walter Newman’s Retirement-December 9
  • Norlina Volunteer Fire Department
  • Meadows Water/Sewer District Meeting, Hollister-December 10
  • Northampton Economic Development Commission, Christmas
  • Dinner, Lasker-December 11
  • Senator Ed Jones’ Event, Roanoke Rapids-December 12
  • J. W. Faison Senior Center Advisory Board Christmas Party, Jackson-

    December 13

  • Northampton Chamber of Commerce Social/Dinner, Lasker-December 13
  • Warren County Youth Services Banquet, Closing Remarks, Warrenton-

    December 13

  • Superintendent Kathi Gibson’s Retirement, Northampton Schools Central Office,

    Jackson-December 14

  • Haliwa-Saponi Legislative Brunch, Hollister-December 14
  • Please invite me to attend your county, city, community or civic, etc. meetings or events.

    As I’ve said many times before, I hope you will continue to let me know how you feel about the issues that are being debated by the North Carolina Legislature and the challenges you and your family are facing each day.

    By working together, we can make Northampton, Vance and Warren Counties and all regions of North Carolina a better place to live, work and raise a family.