House committee substitute amends the 1st edition as follows.
Revises the definition of emergency vehicle in new GS 14-34.1A to include State or local emergency management vehicles and vehicles owned or operated by the Department of Adult Correction and the Division of Juvenile Justice of the Department of Public Safety.
Makes a technical change to the proposed changes to GS 14-34.8(b).
Makes conforming changes to the long title.
Bill Summaries: H34 (2023-2024 Session)
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Bill H 34 (2023-2024)Summary date: Feb 15 2023 - View summary
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Bill H 34 (2023-2024)Summary date: Jan 30 2023 - View summary
Enacts GS 14-34.1A, making it a Class H felony to willfully or wantonly discharge or attempt to discharge any firearm or barreled weapon capable of discharging shot, bullets, pellets, or other missiles at a muzzle velocity of at least 600 feet per second at or into any unoccupied emergency vehicle. Defines emergency vehicle to include a vehicle of law enforcement and fire departments, ambulances, rescue squads, the National Guard, the US Armed Forces, or the Division of Adult Corrections and Juvenile Justice of the Department of Public Safety.
Amends GS 14-34.8, making it a Class I felony to intentionally point a laser at any of the specified categories of persons while that person is in the performance of his or her duties. Persons specified include law enforcement officers; probation officers; parole officers; certain detention facility, youth development center, or correctional institution employees; firefighters; emergency medical technicians/providers; National Guard members; US Armed Forces members; and certain court counselors (previously, intentionally pointing a laser at a law enforcement officer was an infraction; other specified persons were not included in the statute, and the precondition that the persons be in the performance of his or her duty was not included). Additionally, makes it a Class A1 misdemeanor to intentionally point a laser at a law enforcement agency animal or a search and rescue animal while the animal is in the performance of its duty. Makes conforming changes.
Applies to offenses committed on or after December 1, 2023.