Aggressive Driving, School Bus Passing Statutes and Recent Motor Vehicle Laws

Aggressive Driving, School Bus Passing Statutes and Recent Motor Vehicle Laws

Do you get angry at drivers?... • Never • Sometime • Often • Always

Do you get angry when someone cuts in front of you? • Never • Sometimes • Often • Always

Do you get angry at traffic jams, tailgaters or malfunctioning traffic lights? • Never • Sometimes • Often • Always

Do you get impatient at stoplights, in lines, or waiting for a parking space? • Never • Sometimes • Often • Always

When cars ahead of you slow down, or pedestrians take a long time to cross, are you impatient? • Never • Sometimes • Often • Always

Do you ‘punish’ other drivers? • Never • Sometimes • Often • Always

Do you curse at other drivers or make obscene gestures at them? • Never • Sometimes • Often • Never

Do you block cars trying to pass or change lanes? • Never • Sometimes • Often • Always

Do you ride on another car’s tail or brake suddenly to punish a tailgater? • Never • Sometimes • Often • Never

Number Aggressive Driving Charges in 2005 • 25 • 450 • 900 • 1800 • 3600

Convictions for Aggressive Driving • 35 • 105 • 250 • 350 • 400

School Bus Passing Charges • 300 • 1100 • 2500 • 4800

School Bus Passing Convictions • 500 • 700 • 850 • 1000

Have you had an aggressive driving case? • Yes • No

Are you more likely to sentence an aggressive driver more harshly than reckless driver? • Yes • No

Do you regularly give PJC’s in school bus cases? • Yes • No

Do You Ever Give PJC’s in School Bus Cases • Yes • No

Number “Move-over” Charges • 450 • 1350 • 3150

Number Convictions • 150 • 250 • 350

GS 20-217 • Failing to stop and remain stopped until • School Bus (public school bus, private bus carrying children, and public school bus carrying seniors—must be marked with plainly visible sign) that • Displaying stop signal or flashing red lights for purpose of • Receiving or discharging passengers • Has withdrawn the stop signal, turned off the red lights and has started to move

Exceptions to GS 20-217 • Road divided into two roadways (including one with a center turn lane) • Bus driver or school administrator who requires child to cross multiple roadway highway road commits misdemeanor

Felony Bus Passing • Class I felony to: • Violate bus passing statute and • Willfully strike a person • Causing serious bodily injury to that person • No specific license consequences • No points • Possible license revocation under “any felony” revocation

Aggressive Driving-GS 20-141.6 • Drive motor vehicle on highway or public vehicular area while • Violating speeding or speeding in school zone statute, and • Driving carelessly and heedlessly in willful and wanton disregard of the rights or safety of others • Special proof required to prove this, even though the language identical to reckless driving under GS 20-140

Aggressive Driving • Special proof of reckless driving: • Two or more of following: • Running a red light • Running a stop sign • Illegal passing • Failure to yield right of way • Following too closely • Violation is Class 1 misdemeanor • Five point on drivers licenses

Move Over Changes • Effective July 1, 2005 • Expanded to include “public service vehicles” • Assists with wrecked or disabled vehicles • Has amber light • Violations of GS 20-157—mandatory $250 fine, subject to exceptions • Includes blocking fire trucks, parking too near accidents, general move over violations

Move Over Punishment Changes • Failure to stop for police or emergency vehicles remains Class 2 misdemeanor • Move over violation that results in more than $500 property damage or injury to emergency worker-- Class 1 misdemeanor • Move over violation causing serious injury or death to such worker—Class I felony • DMV may suspend license for up to 6 mos • Judge may issue limited privilege under GS 20-16.1, if not otherwise revoked

Aggressive Driving, School Bus Passing Statutes and Recent Motor Vehicle Laws