The last day of voting for the short session of the North Carolina General Assembly saw the approval of House Bill 250, which introduces several changes to state laws focusing on public safety and other modifications. One notable change is the expansion of automatic license plate readers in a pilot program authorized by state legislators at the end of the 2023 session. The program allows the North Carolina Department of Transportation to collaborate with the State Bureau of Investigations (SBI) to place and use automatic license plate readers on state property.
The changes will allow the SBI to make agreements to use automatic license plate readers for federal, state, or local law enforcement agencies, although some critics, including Republican Representative Keith Kidwell, consider this a violation of rights and an invasion of privacy. Kidwell was the only Republican in both chambers to vote against the bill, expressing concerns about government overreach.
House Bill 250 also includes provisions such as removing residency requirements for veteran burials and adding tianeptine, a drug with addictive properties commonly sold in gas stations, to the controlled substance list. Additionally, the bill restores driving privileges for certain individuals whose licenses were revoked for DWI charges, provided they use ignition interlock devices in their vehicles.
The legislation also includes changes to county medical examiner offices, clarifying procedures for bodies in their care and setting a timeline for notifying the district attorney’s office if an autopsy is intended. The bill was sent to Governor Cooper’s desk for final approval on Friday.
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